Salesforce Flows with Example

We will be able to :

1. Create Flows by Yourself
2. Understand why the flow was introduced in the world when we already got Workflows, Process Builder, Triggers.

What is a Flow?

A Flow is a tool to automate the business process.

Why are Flows introduced?

We got Apex, Triggers, Lightning Components , Lightning Web Components with these things we can perform any implementation. There is a topic which is we need to know how to code.

Let's say I don't know how to do code but still want to do some implementation. Here Salesforce comes up with some features, out of which the first is the Workflow. We don't know the code, but we can perform actions. However, there is a limitation of four actions, but we can do more if we add Process builder to the Salesforce. That's where we can perform 11 actions more than workflows do. But process builder is also limited. For example, we can not delete a set of records; we can not do a custom roll-up summary action, not clone a record. So these things the process builder can not handle, so to do that we can do with the help of Apex trigger, Lightning and Lightning Web Components until we got a new one which is “Flow”.

Flows is a powerful tool because flows can build UI Screens; no other standard tools can do it. This makes it easy to add registration forms. We can make approval rules. It can also perform complex actions like deleting records, cloning records, and performing custom roll-up summary actions.

There are two types of flow:

1. Screen Flow

2. Auto Launched Flow

How do we need to select flow type?

Whenever a customer screen has to be implemented, we will first go for Screen Flow.

E.g. Create registration form, Create a Feedback form, Approval Steps

Scenario 1: Display “Hello World” Text on home page using screen flow.

We will print the message on the screen at the Assistance Box

In the New Hello World Flow flow, open the screen.

1. From Setup, enter Flows in the Quick Find box, and select Flows.
2. Click on New flow.
3. From the Flow type select Screen Flow
4. Click on Create
5. We need to drag and drop screen option

6. Uncheck Header and Footer from Configure Header Footer
7. Set Label Name : Message Screen
8. Set API Name: Message_Screen(Default)
9. From the Display select “Display Text” drag and drop on the box

10. In the message box Type “Hello World”
11. Font size : 20
12. Font type: Bold
13. API Name: displayText
14. Click on Done
15. Connect the Message Screen with Start
16. Click on Done
17. Connect the Message Screen with Start

18. Click on Save
19. Flow Label: Hello World Flow
20. Flow API Name: Hello_World_Flow
21. Click on Save
22. Review and Issues : Close
23. Click on Activate
24. Click on Back
25. Display the message Click on Home page
26. Click on Setup and select Edit Page
27. Drag and Drop a Flow at Assistant Box
28. Select Hello World Flow at Flow
29. Click on Save
30. Click on Activate
31. Select Assign as Org Default
32. Click on Save
33. Click on Home Page
34. Click on Save
35. Go back and click on Home

2. Auto Launched Flow: Auto Launched Flow launches when invoked by Apex, Process Builder or even REST API.

1. Schedule Trigger Flow: This flow launches when record is created , deleted or updated
2. Record Trigger Flow:This flow launches when record is created , deleted or updated
3. Platform Event Flow:This flow launches when record is created , deleted or updated
4. Auto launched Flow: Launches when invoked by Apex, Process Builder or even REST API

Scenario 2 :Create a Contact associated with an Account using the Autolaunch flow.

In the New Contact Account Autolaunch flow, open the screen.

1. From Setup, enter Flows in the Quick Find box, and select Flows.
2. Click on New flow.
3. From the Flow type select AutoLaunch Flow and Click Next
4. Click Manager-> New Resource
5. Resource Type: Variable
6. DataType: Text
7. Available for Input: Checked
8. Click Done

Creating a Contact that is associated with Account record.

1. Click on Create Records
2. Set Label: “Create Contact” API Name: “Create_Contact”
3. How to set Record Fields: Select - Use Separate resource, and literal Values
4. Object: Contact
5. Set Fields for the Contact
6. Field : Last Name Value: Test Last Name
7. Field : First Name Value: Test First Name
8. Field : AccountId Value: {!accountId}
9. Done
10. Link with Start

11. Save
12. Flow Label : Create Contact With Process Builder
13. Flow API Name: Create_Contact_With_Process_Builder
14. Done
15. Click on Activate
16. Quick Find Process Builder
17. Click on New
18. ProcessName : Account Processing for Flow
19. API Name: Account_Processing_for_Flow
20. The Process Starts When : A record changes
21. Click on Save
22. Add Object: Object -> Account
23. Start the Process: Select “Only when a record is created”
24. Click on Save
25. Click on Add Criteria
26. Criteria Name: Always Run Account
27. Select : No criteria—just execute the actions!
28. Click on Save
29. Immediate Action Click on Add Action
30. Select Action Type : Flows
31. Action Name : “Calling Flow”
32. Flow : “Create Contact With Process Builder”
33. Click Add Row
34. Flow Variable : accountId Type: Field Reference Value: [Account].Id
35. Click on Save
36. Click on Activate
37. Click Confirm

Now here we can create a new Account automatically associated with contact.

Create an Account:

1. Click on Account
2. Click New
3. Account Name: “Test Account for Flow”
4. Click on Save

Now we will see that contact is automatically created with the FirstName and LastName

Sushma Morey

My name is Sushma Morey. I am a Quality Application Engineer at mindZcloud Technologies. I love to learn new things and would like to share the knowledge.