Creating Custom Objects
Veeva Professional Services
Copyright 2012, Veeva Systems. All rights reserved.
Module Objectives
Define custom objects
Create a custom object
Add custom fields to a custom object:
Lookup
Master-Detail
Picklist
Configure field level dependency
Modify columns displayed in tabs, related lists, and search layouts
Create a custom application
Review Salesforce.com Platform Limits
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Custom Objects
Copyright 2012, Veeva Systems. All rights reserved.
What is a Custom Object?
Custom objects are custom database tables that allow you
to store information unique to your organization
Veeva Pre-defined
Custom Objects
Product
Account List Address Call Call Detail Sample Lot
Catalog
Your organization may still need to define custom objects
For example: Training custom object to store data for your
companys training events
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Custom Object Components
Standard
Fields
Custom
Custom
Button
Fields
and Links
Validation Page
Rules Custom Layouts
Object
Components
Related Record
Lists Types
Search
Triggers
Layouts
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Steps to Create a Custom Object
1. Create custom object
2. Create custom fields
3. Define a custom tab for the object
4. Configure page layout(s)
5. Configure columns displayed for:
a) List view
b) Search layouts
c) Custom object tab
6. Configure record types
7. Assign page layouts
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1. Create Custom Object
Setup Create Objects click the New Custom Object
button
Naming convention best practice
is to include companys initials as
the suffix
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1. Create Custom Object
Auto Number creates an auto
number standard field.
Every record will have a value
automatically generated starting
with 001 and up to 10 digits long.
Create the custom object tab as
part of the wizard or add it later
manually
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Standard Fields
All objects have standard fields
Standard fields cannot be deleted
Veeva adds __c to the Object API Name
which is used to reference the object in
configuration and code
4 standard fields are created when the
object was defined, including the (Name)
Auto Number field
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2. Create Custom Fields
To create custom fields for custom objects go to:
Setup Create Objects [Object] Custom Fields and
Relationships section Click the New button
To create custom fields for SFDC standard objects such as
Accounts go to:
Setup Customize [Object] Fields Account Custom
Fields and Relationships Click the New button
Create menu: Veeva Customize menu:
custom objects and SFDC standard
any custom objects objects; mainly use
you create this for Accounts
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2. Create Custom Fields
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2. Create Custom Fields
Select the Field Type and click Next
Field types are explained in the wizard and in the SFDC Custom
Field Types help page
See Appendix for additional information
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2. Create Custom Fields Naming Convention
Field names should be self explanatory
Add company initials as a suffix to custom object/field
names, e.g., Medical_Inquiry_ID_TR__c (where TR is the
company name)
Dont restrict it by adding country or business unit codes as they will
become useless when expanding down the road
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2. Create Custom Fields Description
Description should be meaningful to address future changes
What happens when customer wants to add a new business unit?
What happens when customer wants to add a new country?
What happens to the integration mappings?
Is it clear to that new implementation team what these changes will
affect and who?
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2. Create Custom Fields Establish FLS
For every custom field you create, the wizard allows you to
establish the Field Level Security
Make the field visible
for all profiles or
specific profiles
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2. Create Custom Fields Add to Page Layout
For every custom field you create, the wizard allows you to
add the field to a page layout
Custom object wizard
automatically creates the page
layout which you can edit later
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Field Type Lookup Relationship
Creates a relationship between two records of different
objects
Example: associate a particular contact with a training event
Allows users to click a lookup icon and select a record
(Contact) from a popup window
On the associated record (Contacts), you can then display a
related list to show all of the records (Training) that are linked
to it
On the contact record, see all the training events he/she attended
Deleting a record does not delete the associated lookup
record
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Field Type Lookup Relationship
Wizard allows you to pick the
object to relate to
Add custom related lists
Wizard automatically adds a
related list for the object in
all Contact page layouts
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Field Type Master-Detail Relationship
Creates a relationship between a record of a parent
(master) object and records of a child (detail) object
For example, one account (master) can have one or more training
events (detail)
Master record controls certain behaviors of the detail record
Deleting master record will automatically delete all associated child
records
Available for custom objects only
You can create a master-detail relationship field on a custom object
that links to a standard object
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Field Type Master-Detail Relationship
Once you decide which object is
the master and which is the
detail, go to the detail object Account
and create a Master-Detail Master
Relationship field
Training
Detail
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Field Type Master-Detail Relationship
Wizard allows you to pick the
Master object to relate to
Add detail object related list
to master objects page
layouts
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Lookup vs. Master-Detail Relationship
Lookup Master-Detail
Access to parent Not required Required
record
Record deletion No effect on associated When deleting master record,
records automatically deletes the
associated child (detail) records
Re-parent object Yes No
Roll-up Summary No Yes (on the master object)
Required field No Yes
SFDC Limit 25 per object 2 per object
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Field Type Picklist Field
Allows users to select a value from a list you define
For example, Course Status picklist should have values Planned,
Confirmed, and Cancelled
Enter each picklist
field value on a
separate line
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Dependent Picklists
Make values in one picklist field dependent on values from
another picklist field
Must identify both the controlling and dependent picklist
fields
For example, Course Status values only display when Course
Registration value = Open, otherwise none of the Course Status
values will display
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Dependent Picklists
To create a new picklist field dependency:
1. Setup Create Objects [Object] and click the Field
Dependencies button
2. Click the New button to create a new dependency
3. Select the Controlling Field and the Dependent Field
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Dependent Picklists
Configure the dependent picklist field value(s) for each
controlling picklist field value
When Course Registration value
When Course Registration
is Closed then all Course Status
value is Open then all Course
values are excluded and field is
Status values are available
grayed-out
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Object Validation Rules
Validation rules verify that the data a user enters in a record
meets the standards you specify before the user can save the
record
Can contain a formula or expression that evaluates the data in one
or more fields and returns a value of True or False
Display an error message to the user when the rule returns a value
of True due to an invalid value
For example, you may require users to enter a Start Date for a
training course when the Course Status value is Confirmed
See Appendix for more information
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3. Create a Custom Tab for the Object
If users will need to access the custom object from its own
tab then define a custom tab for the object:
Setup Create Tabs and click the New button
Select the Object and Tab Style
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3. Create a Custom Tab for the Object
Configure which profile will
have access to the new tab
Configure which application
will display the new tab:
vBioPharma
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4. Configure Page Layouts
Page Layouts determine
how records will display
to the users
Page Layouts display in
two modes:
View/Read Mode
Edit Mode
Note: Formula fields,
read-only fields, and
related records are not
displayed in Edit mode
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4. Configure Page Layouts
To modify a page layout for a custom object:
Setup Create Objects [Object] Page Layout section
and click the Edit button
Note: Administrator can also access the page layout
configuration page by clicking the Edit Layout link when viewing
the detail page of an object
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4. Configure Page Layouts
Page Layout
Properties
Components you can place
on the page layout
Click X to remove
section from page layout
Individual fields can be
dragged around/off the
page layout
Click on the wrench
to edit section
properties
Related list properties can
be edited or removed
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4. Configure Page Layouts
Configure columns and buttons for related lists
Move desired fields to the Selected
Fields list and use the arrows to
Click wrench to display the arrange the display order
properties of the related list
Specify a Sort
By field
Expand the buttons section to configure
the standard (New) or custom buttons
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5. Configure Search Layouts
After configuring custom page layout(s), modify:
Search Results Add/remove custom fields to display on search
results page
Lookup Dialogs Add/remove custom fields to display on lookup
dialogs
Custom Object Tab Add/remove custom fields to display on the
custom object tab
Custom Object List View Add/remove custom fields to display on
the custom list view
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5. Configure Search Layouts
To modify search layouts for a custom object:
Setup Create Objects [Object] Search Layouts section
and click the Edit button next to one of the search layouts
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5. Configure Search Layouts
For each search layout configure the fields you need to
display
Move desired fields to the
Selected Fields list and use
the arrows to arrange the
display order
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6. Configure Record Types
Each object can have multiple record types
For example, Account record types include Hospitals, Hospital
Departments, Group Practice, MCO, Professional, Staff
Record types allow you to offer:
Picklist values
Page layouts to different users based on their profiles
Recommend creating no more than 200 record types
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7. Assign Page Layouts
To assign a page layout:
Setup Create Objects [Object] Page Layout section and
click the Page Layout Assignment button
Setup Manage Users Profiles [Profile] Standard or
Custom Object Layout section and click the View Assignment link
next to the desired object
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7. Assign Page Layouts
Click the Edit Assignment button to
assign different page layout per
profile for each record type
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7. Assign Page Layouts
1. Click to select the cell(s)
for the record type/profile 2. Assign the desired
you want to modify. page layout
Control+click to select
multiple cells.
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Custom
Applications
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Applications
Application is a collection of tabs used for specific tasks
To enhance usability so that only necessary tabs are
presented to a set of users based on their profiles
For example, Sampling Admin app for samples administrator
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Creating Custom Applications
To define a custom application:
Setup Create Apps and click the New button
Define the tabs you want to display
Define which profile should have access to the custom app
Move the desired
tabs to the Select
Tabs section
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SFDC / Veeva
Platform Limits
Copyright 2012, Veeva Systems. All rights reserved.
SFDC / Veeva Platform Limits
Key System Limits
Full Sandboxes 1 per org
Custom Objects 2,000 per org
Custom Fields 800 per object
Custom Picklist 15,000 total char limit
Up to 1,000 entries
Up to 255 characters per entry
Field History Tracking (audit trail) 20 per object
Long Text Area Fields 25 per object
Rich Text Area Fields 25 per object
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SFDC / Veeva Platform Limits Continued
Key System Limits Continued
Roll-up Summary Fields 10 per object
Master-Detail Relationship 2 per object
Active Lookup Filters 5 per object
External IDs 3 per object
Validation Rules 500 per object
Active Rules 50 per object (workflow, assignment, auto-
response, and escalation rules)
Sharing Rules 100 per object, including up to 50 criteria-
based rules
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SFDC / Veeva Platform Limits Continued
Requests can be made to SFDC to increase limits
SFDC considers business case, performance implications, and other
factors when deciding whether to increase a limit
Limits are subject to change in future SFDC releases
Refer to Salesforce website for the full list for the Unlimited
Edition:
https://help.salesforce.com/apex/HTViewHelpDoc?id=limits.htm&langu
age=en
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Module Summary
Defined custom objects
Created a custom object
Added custom fields to a custom object:
Lookup
Master-Detail
Picklist
Configured field level dependency
Modified columns displayed in tabs, related lists, and search
layouts
Created a custom application
Reviewed Salesforce.com Platform Limits
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Labs
Create a custom object
For more information, see Appendix at
the end of this module
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Appendix:
Field Types
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Formula Field
Allows users to automatically calculate values based on
other values or fields such as merge fields
Read-only by default
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Formula Field Continued
Formula Wizard makes it easier to build and check the
syntax of formulas
Refer to the SFDC Building Formulas help page
Insert fields, operators,
functions, and check syntax
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Roll-up Summary
Automatically displays the record count of related records or
calculates the sum, minimum, or maximum value of related
records
For example, a custom Account roll-up summary field called Total
Number of Trainings displays the number of Training custom
object records in the Training related list for Accounts
Roll-Up Summary fields are read-only by default
SFDC Limit: 10 Roll-up Summary Fields per object
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Roll-up Summary Continued
Account 1. Go to the master object
Master
and create a Roll-Up
Summary field
Training
Detail
2. Specify the
Summarized Object
3. Select the Roll-Up
Type
4. Specify the Filter
Criteria
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Appendix:
Object Validation
Rules
Copyright 2012, Veeva Systems. All rights reserved.
Object Validation Rules
Validation rules verify that the data a user enters in a record
meets the standards you specify before the user can save the
record
Can contain a formula or expression that evaluates the data in one
or more fields and returns a value of True or False
Display an error message to the user when the rule returns a value
of True due to an invalid value
For example, you may require users to enter a Start Date for a
training course when the Course Status value is Confirmed
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Create Object Validation Rules
To create a validation rule for a custom object:
Setup Create Objects [Object] Validation Rules section
and click the New button
To create a validation rule for the Accounts object:
Setup Customize Accounts Validation Rules and click the
New button
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Create Object Validation Rules Continued
Enter the error condition formula using the wizard
1. Build the error
condition formula
2. Check Syntax to
detect errors in the
formula
3. Specify the error
message users will
see
4. Indicate where the
error message should
be displayed
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Appendix:
Record Types
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Configure Record Types
Hospital Page Layout Professional Page Layout
Hospital Record Type Professional Record Type
Picklists Segmented for Hospitals Picklists Segmented for Professionals
Accounts Object
# of Beds # of Depts Account Name Credentials Specialty Gender
Accounts
ID
WEBSITE
# BEDS
# DEPARTMENT
ACCT NAME
SUFFIX
CREDENTIALS
DO NOT CALL?
SPECIALTY
GENDER
SFDC Data Storage
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Configure Record Types
Can have one or more record types for the same object
Each record type can also have one or more page layout(s)
associated with it
Address Object Call Object
Page Layout Page Layout Page Layout
1 1 2
Record Type Record Type Record Type Record Type
1 2 1 2
Object Object
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Configure Record Types
To create record types for a custom object:
Setup Create Objects [Object] Record Types section and
click the New button
To create or modify record types for the Accounts object:
For business accounts: Setup Customize Accounts Record
Types and click the New button or the Edit link of an exiting
business account
For person accounts: Setup Customize Accounts Person
Accounts Record Types and click the New button or the Edit link
of an exiting person account
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Appendix:
Workflow
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Workflow Rules
Workflow Rules execute tasks when designated conditions
are met
Available Actions:
Email alerts 1. Create 3. Add Time
2. Add
Assigning a task Evaluation Trigger
Actions
Field updates Criteria (Optional)
Outbound Messages
Actions can be immediate or time-dependent
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Approval Processes
Automated process to approve records
Can initiate workflow actions
Specifies:
Steps necessary for record approval
Who must approve at each step
Criteria necessary for records to be approved, rejected,
recalled or first submitted for approval
Plan and map approval process prior to creation
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Configuration of Workflow Rules and Approvals
To create workflow rules and approval process:
Setup Create Workflow and Approvals
Workflow rules apply to a single object
Cannot delete a workflow with pending actions, can only deactivate
Approval Processes
Complex business processes that require planning
Follow Approval process instructions
Queue
Monitor and cancel time dependent actions
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