Field Dependencies filter a dependent picklist's values based on a controlling field — "if Country = USA, show only US states; if Country = Canada, show only Canadian provinces." Configured per-object, no code required. Enforces data consistency in the UI.
- Open Setup → Object Manager → [object] → Fields & Relationships
Both fields must already exist — the controlling field and the dependent picklist.
- Click into the dependent Picklist field
The field whose values you want to filter.
- Click Field Dependencies → New
Field Dependencies section on the field detail page.
- Pick the Controlling Field
Standard or Custom Picklist, or a Checkbox. Drives which controlling values gate the dependent values.
- Click Continue
Opens the matrix editor — controlling values across the top, dependent values down the side.
- For each controlling value: tick which dependent values are included
Click cells to include / exclude. Default: all dependent values are included for all controlling values.
- Click Preview to test
Opens a preview UI showing how the picklist behaves. Verify the filter matches your spec.
- Save
Dependency is committed. Records save going forward enforce the filter; existing records with invalid combinations stay until edited.
Picklist or Checkbox. Multi-select picklists are supported but with limits.
Custom Picklist whose values get filtered.
Per-controlling-value-per-dependent-value inclusion grid.
- Field Dependencies enforce only in the UI. API submissions can bypass — Apex code or integrations can write any controlling/dependent combination unless validation rules also enforce.
- Existing records with invalid combinations don't auto-fix. Adding a dependency that excludes a previously-valid combo leaves old records in their original state until edited.
- The matrix editor caps at 300 dependent values per controlling value. Larger picklists need to be restructured (split into two picklists, use Record Types instead).