Salesforce – From Process Builder To Lightning Flow – Creating Records
Salesforce – From Process Builder To Lightning Flow – Updating Records
November 25, 2020
Salesforce – From Process Builder To Lightning Flow – Email Alerts
December 9, 2020
Introduction
This is week three of the eight-part series, and we will be looking at Creating Records. So far, we've looked at creating a New Record-Triggered Flow, Making Decisions and, Updating Records. If you're finding this series helpful, please subscribe to this blog site and my YouTube channel, and follow me on my social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook). Okay, let's get to learning.
Creating a Record in Process Builder
For our example, we'll create a Task record from an Account record. In Process Builder, the Action screen would look like the image to the left. You choose the Create a Record Action Type, give it a Name, and identity the Record Type or object you want to create a record for.
Creating a Record in Flow
Flow uses the Create Record element. The Create Record is only available in the After Record Trigger Flow. Remember the before or after rule? If we're working with a record that is not the one the triggered the flow, then we typically use the After Trigger.
Like many things in Flow, we have greater capabilities than we had with Process Builder. Creating records is no exception. Flow allows us to create one or more records if we choose. Let's walk through the options:
- The first decision we need to make is if we need to create one or multiple records. In our example, we're going to replicate Process Builder which can only create a single record. So we'll select One.
- Next, we need to choose How to Set the Record Fields. Use separate resources, and literal values is the same as what we'd do in Proces Builder and is what we'll use. The Use all values from a record is a more advanced concept. You'd use that if you:
- used a Get Record and want to create a new record from it; think cloning.
- created a Record variable, defined its values using an Assignment, and now need to save the record. As I said, it's more advanced.
- In the Object field, we'll choose the object in which we want to create the record. In our use case, that's the Task object. You can search for the object or just start typing the object name and it will filter down the list.
Defining Field Values
In some way, defining the field values is actually easier in Flow. Flow eliminates the Type field we have in Process Builder. This is because all the values in Flow are defined when they are created. For example, if I need to use a formula to set a field value, I will create a Formula variable, store my formula in it, and simply use it whenever I need it. Remember a variable is just a place to store a value. They are nothing to be afraid of. Go back to the Updating Records post for a simple where to think of variables, if you need to.
When you compare the two screens, you can see they are quite similar. In Flow, you select the field on the 
left column and the value you want to set it to in the right column.
Just a couple of notes about the field Values:
- Use your friend $Record when referencing another field value.
- Use another friend, the Global Variable named $Flow. $Flow has some other helpful values like CurrentDate.
- The Values that display for you will only be values compatible with the field type. If your field is a Date field, then only Date variables will be available to select from.
- You can create New Resource (ie: variables) within the Value field. That convenient!
- Picklist values will show up as options for you to select from just the same as in Process Builder.
- You can type in a field's value without creating a variable if you want to. Perhaps, not the best practice but it does work just like it would in Process Builder. A value you type in isn't re-usable whereas a variable is.
Save your Create Records element once you're done.
Conclusion
Remember to Save the Flow and Activate it when you're ready to test it out. It's that simple so give it a try.
Next week, we'll look at how to use Email Alerts. In the meantime, open up a sandbox and begin experimenting with Record-Triggered Flows.
