Understand Flow Builder

1. Why Automate with Flow Builder?

Automation ensures reliability and efficiency in your org.
- Slack Message to HR
- Email the IT Manager
- Update all Records owned by this User
- Communicate with outside IT systems

Automation Developer / No or Low—code

Flow Builder :
1. Most versatile automation tool
2. Automates communication and data updates
3. Declarative tool
4. Keep an eye out for staff watching goal videos
5. Test your automation first in a sandbox org.

2. Flow Builder vs. Process Builder

Process Builder (our previous automation tool) and Flow Builder (our latest and greatest automation tool).

Process Builder :
1. Create and Update records
2. Send Emails
3. Run scheduled actions

Flow Builder :

1. Create and Update Records
2. Send Emails
3. Run Scheduled Actions

Some More Things comes with Flow Builder like

1. Delete Records
2. Use Data from unrelated records
3. Call stack actions
4. Follow Logic Paths
5. Execute multiple flows from a single trigger
6. Debug & test before activating

Flow Builder is 10x Faster rather than Process Builder in the record changes process.

Key Points :

1. Flow Builder and Process builder can perform some of the same tasks
2. Flow Builder has a more advanced feature, such as using data from any salesforce record.
3. Flow Builder can update a record up to 10 times faster then Process builder.
4. Always test your automation in a sandbox.

3. Fast Field Updates vs. Actions and Related Records

Is this flow updating only the record that triggered this automation ?

Fast Field Updates : Used when only updating the record that triggered the flow and also for better performance

Actions & Related Record : Used in all other instances like sending a message or updating other records.

If you want to update any record or insert record with sending a email then used Action & related records ex. New region detected on contact find pner of contact record and send email to the contact record owner

Get Tarun Gupta’s stories in your inbox

Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.

Remember me for faster sign in

Note : Fast Field Updates And Actions & Related Record only in a record-triggered flow.

• Fast Field Updates : Before the record saves
• Actions and Related Record : After the record is saved.

4. Scheduled Paths

The triggering action is you waking up, the specified time duration is 10 minutes, and the resulting action is drinking coffee.

You can set an action to execute at a specific time interval.

Use Scheduled Paths in Record-Triggered Flows to Schedule Flow actions for the future rather then immeduately.

Scheduled Paths in Flow Builder
Time -Triggered in Work Flow Rules
Time Based Actions in Process Builder

1. Scheduled Paths are used in Record-Triggered Flows to automate steps at a designated time
2. A record must be created or updated to set it on s Scheduled Path/
   Schedule paths can be based on any date or date/Time field on the object.
3. Test your flows in a sandbox first.

5. Types of Variables

1. Common Variable Types : Text , Number , Currency , Date , Date/Time , Picklist
2. Boolean = true , false or blank
3. Apex Defined = data returned from Apex code or calls to web services
4. Collection = multiple values / records of the same type

So We can say Varibable types are similar to field types on records and any veribable type can be in a collection of variable of that type. also always test your flow in a sandbox.

6. Debug

Flow Builder debug helps you identify, isolate, and correct issues in your automations.

• Flow Builder Debug Features:
  — Test Before activation
  — Designate input variable to test specific scenarios
  — Test different paths of the automation
  — Trigger a flow as though the record was created, updated or deleted
  — Execute the automation as another user
  — View the details of the debug test
• All New Flow Builder automation should be tested with debug
• Designate input variables : see what happened if the US state is Texas instead of Maine
• Reveal outcomes : see what happens at each step of the flow
• Execute as another user : see what happens when another user runes the flow
• Debug in a sandbox org and use rollback mode to protect data integrity

Resource : 6 New Videos to Help You Understand Flow Builder

6 New Videos to Help You Understand Flow Builder - Salesforce Admins