Workflow Field Update
A specific type of workflow action in Salesforce that automatically changes a field value on the record (or a related record's field) when the parent workflow rule fires, commonly used for setting statuses or dates.
Definition
A specific type of workflow action in Salesforce that automatically changes a field value on the record (or a related record's field) when the parent workflow rule fires, commonly used for setting statuses or dates.
In plain English
“A Workflow Field Update automatically changes a field value on a record (or a related record) when a workflow rule fires. It's one of the most commonly used workflow actions. This is legacy; Flow record updates serve the same purpose now.”
Worked example
A legacy Workflow Rule at Brackenmoor Capital fires when an Opportunity reaches Closed Won. A Workflow Field Update - one of the rule's actions - automatically sets a custom Win_Date__c field to today's date. Another Field Update on the same rule sets Account.Customer_Status__c on the related Account. Multiple Field Updates can fire from one rule. With Workflow Rules being phased out, the team is migrating Workflow Field Updates to Flow's Update Records elements - same outcome, modern execution engine. Workflow Field Update was one of the most-used legacy automation actions.
Why Workflow Field Update matters
A Workflow Field Update is a specific type of workflow action in Salesforce that automatically changes a field value on the record (or a related record's field) when the parent workflow rule triggers. Field updates are the most commonly used workflow action because automatically setting field values is a fundamental automation pattern.
Field updates are legacy but the pattern they represent (automatically changing field values based on criteria) is one of the most important automation patterns in Salesforce. Flow record updates provide the same capability with much more flexibility. Migrate legacy field updates to Flow.
How organizations use Workflow Field Update
Migrates legacy workflow field updates to Flow record update elements.
Uses Flow for all new automated field value changes.
Treats field update references as workflow migration candidates.
Trust & references
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Workflow Field Update.
- Workflow Field UpdatesSalesforce Help
Test your knowledge
Q1. What is a Workflow Field Update?
Q2. What replaces them?
Q3. Can they update related records?
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