Creating a Custom Field

This demonstration shows how to add a field to an existing application object. In this example, we are creating a text field salespersons can use to suggest the next action to take on an opportunity.

This is the first in a series of demonstrations that show how to create a custom field for importing customer information.

These demonstrations cover:

- Creating a custom field

- Exposing the custom field in application pages

- Testing the custom field

- Publishing the custom field from the sandbox

- Making the custom field available for import

- Viewing the custom field in the import activity mapping

Steps:

1. Let's navigate to the Application Composer to create the field.

   Step 1

2. Click the Navigator link.

   Step 2

3. Click the Application Composer link.

   Step 3

4. Before we get started, we need to create a sandbox or activate an existing one.

    

   You should always extend your application in a sandbox so you can test your changes before you roll them out.

   Step 4

5. Click the Administration link.

   Step 5

6. Click the Manage Sandboxes... list item.

   Step 6

7. We can use an existing sandbox, so let's activate it.

   Step 7

8. Click the cell.

   Step 8

9. Click in the Set as Active field.

   Step 9

10. There's a sandbox name at the top of the page indicating it's active, so let's get started.

    Step 10

11. Opportunities are part of the sales application, so select Sales.

    Step 11

12. Click the Application list.

    Step 12

13. Click the Sales list item.

    Step 13

14. All the standard sales application objects are listed for us.

    Step 14

15. To add the field, expand the Opportunity object node.

    Step 15

16. Click the Expand link.

    Step 16

17. Click the Fields link.

    Step 17

18. Now that we are on the Fields page, let's create the field.

    Step 18

19. Click the Create a custom field graphic.

    Step 19

20. We'll add a long text field.

    Step 20

21. Click the Long Text option.

    Step 21

22. Click in the OK field.

    Step 22

23. Enter the field label that will be visible on the opportunity create and edit pages. In our example, that's Next Step.

    Step 23

24. In the Display Label Field, enter "Next Step".

    Step 24

25. Let's add some help text.

    Step 25

26. Enter the desired information into the Help Text field. Enter

     a valid value
     e.g.
     "Suggest step for opportunity development"
    .
    Step 26

27. Notice that the application suggested a field name for us. This is the name we'll see when we map our import file.

    Step 27

28. We don't want to make entry in this field required and we don't need a default value, so let's save and we're done.

    Step 28

29. Click the Save and Close button.

    Step 29

30. Here is the field we created. 

     

    In the next demonstration, you'll learn how to expose this field in the Opportunity user interface.

    Step 30

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