UNIT – 4

DATA MODELING

Data Modeling is a process that involves the structuring of the data in the database by creating
tables(objects), and columns(fields). So, to learn Data Modeling in Salesforce, the first thing
one should learn is Database.

About Database
It is simply a base of data, and can also be defined as an organized collection of structured
information, or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system. A database is usually
controlled by a database management system (DBMS).

Databases are widely divided into two major types or categories namely, Relational or
Sequence Databases and Non-relational or Non-sequence databases or No SQL databases. An
organization may use them individually or combined, depending on the nature of the data and
its required functionality.

Databases often store information about people, such as customers or users. For example, social
media platforms use databases to store user information, such as names, email addresses, and
user behavior. Such data can be used to recommend content to users and improve the user
experience.

In Salesforce
• Databases use objects to store data.
• Each object comprises several fields that correspond to columns in a database.
• Data is stored in records of objects which correspond to the rows in a database.
• Objects can be related to other objects using relationship fields.

What Are Objects In Salesforce?

Objects in the Salesforce platform are represented in the form of a table which is used to
categorize the data and is similar to an entity in a database.

Types Of Objects In Salesforce

There are 2 different types of objects in Salesforce:
1. Salesforce Standard Objects
Standard Objects are the objects which are already present in Salesforce by default. Common
business objects like Account, Contact, Lead, and Opportunity are all standard objects.
Although we can customize these standard objects but we cannot delete them.

2. Salesforce Custom Objects

Custom Objects are new objects created to store information unique to an organization. Custom
objects extend the functionality that standard objects provide. We can both customize and
delete custom objects.

What are Apps in Salesforce?

Apps in Salesforce are a window on which we can access a set of tabs each consisting of
different types of information and functionalities. It simply consists of a name, a logo, and an
ordered set of tabs. The simplest app contains only one tab i.e the home tab and a default logo.

Types Of Salesforce Apps

There are 2 types of Apps in Salesforce:

1. Salesforce Standard Apps

Apps are already present in every new instance of Salesforce by default. It includes App
Launcher, Call Center, Community, Content, Marketing, Sales, Salesforce Chatter, and
Site.com.

These apps are a collection of items that include everything from the Classic apps list, plus
Lightning page tabs, and utilities like Sales Dialer. In Lightning apps, you can customize the
app’s logo and enhance its branding by customizing the color of the navigation bar.

2. Salesforce Custom Apps

These apps are built to meet the specific business needs & requirements of an organization.
Custom apps can be made by grouping standard as well as custom tabs. Logos in custom apps
can be added and they can be changed after that as well. Various applications can be created
depending on the businesses, like the Institute app, Hotel management app, project
management app, etc in Salesforce.

What Are Tabs In Salesforce?

Tabs in Salesforce help users view the information at a glance. It displays the data of objects
and other web content in the application. It is used to build records for objects and to view the
records in the objects.

Types Of Tabs In Salesforce

There are mainly 6 types of tabs:

1. Standard Object Tabs

Standard object tabs display data related to standard objects. like Accounts, Contacts, and
Cases are some standard tabs.

2. Custom Object Tabs

Custom object tabs display data related to custom objects. These tabs look and function just
like standard tabs. For example, we can create a Students tab for the Student object and a Rating
tab for the rating object.

3. Web Tabs
Web Tabs display any external Web-based application or Web page in a Salesforce tab.

4. Lightning Component Tabs

Lightning component tabs make Lightning components available in the Salesforce mobile apps
and in Lightning Experience.

5. Lightning Page Tabs

Lightning page tabs let you add Lightning app pages to the Salesforce mobile app and
Lightning Experience navigation bars.

6. Visualforce Tabs
Visualforce Tabs display data from a Visualforce page.

Tab Visibility
1. Default On
Show the tab by default for users with this profile. Individual users can override this setting for
their login.
2. Default Off
Hide the tab by default for users with this profile. Individual users can override this setting.

If the tab visibility is default off then the user will still be able to access the tab by clicking on
the “+” symbol at the end of all visible tabs on the top bar or in the App Launcher.

3. Tab Hidden
Hide the tab and do not allow individual users to override this setting in their customization.

If the tab is hidden then it will neither be visible on the top bar nor by clicking on the “+”
symbol or by going into the App Launcher.

Note:
1. However, users can edit this according to their preferences.
2. Whenever we delete any custom tab then the object associated with that is not deleted.
3. When we delete a custom object then the tab associated with that object is deleted.

What Are Fields In Salesforce?

Fields in Salesforce represent what the columns represent in relational databases. Fields store
data values that are required for a particular object in a record.

Types Of Fields In Salesforce

There are 2 types of fields in Salesforce:

1. Salesforce Standard Fields

Fields that are already present in standard objects(mostly) or whenever a new object is created.
There are four Salesforce standard fields in every custom object that are Created By, Last
Modified By, Owner, and the Name field created at the time of the creation of the object. These
fields cannot be deleted or edited. And they are always required. For Example, the Number of
Employees, and Account Number are some standard fields on the Account object.

For standard objects, the fields which are present by default in them cannot be deleted.

2. Salesforce Custom Fields

The fields which are created on a particular object by the administrator/developer to meet the
business requirements of any organization are Salesforce Custom Fields. They may or may not
be required. These fields can be deleted from the object.
Fields Data Types In Salesforce
Field Data Description
Type
Auto Automatically assigns a unique number to each
Number record.
Checkbox Allows users to check a box, indicating a true or false
attribute of a record.
Currency Allows users to enter a currency amount.
Date Allows users to enter a date or pick a date from a
popup calendar.
Date/Time Allows users to enter a date or pick a date from a
popup calendar and enter a time of day. They can also
add the current date and time by clicking the date and
time link next to the field.
Email Allows users to enter an email address of up to 80
characters, which is validated to ensure proper format.
Geolocation Allows users to specify a location by its latitude and
longitude.
Number Allows users to enter any number. This is treated as a
real number and any leading zeros are removed.
Percent Allows users to enter a percentage number as a
decimal. For example, 0.10. The system automatically
converts the decimal to a percentage—for example,
10%.
Phone Allows users to enter any phone number. The
character limit is 40.
Picklist Allows users to select a single value from a list that
you define.
Picklist Allows users to select more than one picklist value
(multi-select) from a list that you define.
Text Allows users to enter any combination of letters,
numbers, or symbols. You can set a maximum length
of up to 255 characters.
Text Allows users to enter any combination of letters,
(Encrypted) numbers, or symbols that are stored in encrypted
form. You can set a maximum length of up to 175
characters.
Text Area Allows users to enter 255 characters that display on
separate lines similar to a Description field.
Text Area Allows users to enter up to 131,072 characters that
(Long) display on separate lines similar to a Description
field. You can set the length of this field type to a
lower limit if desired. Any length from 256 to
131,072 characters is allowed. The default is 32,768
characters.
Text Area With the use of a toolbar, users can format the field
(Rich) content and add images and hyperlinks. The toolbar
allows the user to undo, redo, bold, italicize,
underline, strikeout, add a hyperlink, upload or link to
an image, modify alignment, add a numbered or non-
numbered list, indent, and outdent.
URL Allows users to enter up to 255 characters of any
valid website address.

What Is Global Picklists In Salesforce?

Global Picklists are used for sharing a single list of values across many custom picklists or
multi-select picklist fields across different objects. And Whenever any change is needed in the
list, that change is required to be made in that picklist value set(global picklist) only, and
automatically everywhere it will be reflected.
It is a restricted picklist. The list of values in the global picklist gets locked and cannot be edited
on custom picklist fields.

About Salesforce Field Dependency

Field Dependency in Salesforce are filters that allow us to change the content of a picklist based
on the value of another field (Checkbox/picklist/Multi-select picklist).

There are two terminologies used in field dependency:

1. Controlling Field In Salesforce

The value of this field controls the value of the dependent field.

2. Dependent Field In Salesforce

The value of this field depends on the value of the controlling field.

Imagine there are three picklist fields f1, f2, and f3. Below are the scenarios mentioned to
explain the possibilities.

a) f1 can be dependent on f2, and f2 cannot be dependent on f1.

b) f1 can be dependent on f2. f2 can be dependent on f3. then now, f3 cannot be directly
dependent on f1 or f2.

c) f1 and f2 can be dependent on f3.

d) f1 cannot be dependent on both f2 and f3.