To automate business processes, Salesforce offers several out of the box automation tools. One of the major point and click tool is ‘Flows’. Salesforce flows uses several resources of varying data types which will be available throughout the flow. In our previous article Flow Resources in Salesforce Flow Builder Part II – Mortgage Banking Technology | Origination Strategy Consulting (takefiveconsulting.com), we have covered various Flow Resources available in Salesforce Flow builder. This article is the third part of Flow resources.
Global Variable
A system-provided variable holds information that can be referenced throughout the flow. For example, it can contain information about the Salesforce org, flow, running user, or triggering record.
- $Api: The Session ID’s SOAP API endpoints.
- $Client: The form factor of the running user’s device. $Client.FormFactor is automatically set to Large (computer), Medium (tablet), or Small (phone), depending on the device that’s running the flow. Employ a Decision element to establish distinct routes catering to large, medium, and small devices. Within each route, incorporate screens that are specifically designed and optimized for the corresponding device form factor.
- $Flow: Running Flow Interview The flow instance while it’s running.
- $Label: A label in a custom label file in your Salesforce org. This global variable appears only if your org has custom labels.
- $Organization: Salesforce org where the flow is running. Utilizing this variable allows you to retrieve information such as the organization’s name or address.
- $Permission: Running User’s Permission.
- $Profile: Running User Profile. With this variable, you can access information like the license type or name.
- $Record: The record that triggered the flow. This variable contains the triggering record’s values. Available only in autolaunched flows with triggers.
- $Record__Prior: Prior Values of Triggering Object, for example, Prior Values of Triggering Account. The $Record__Prior global variable contains the values that the triggering record had immediately before the flow started. You can’t change these values in the flow.
- $Setup: This global variable appears only if your org has custom hierarchy settings. Hierarchical custom settings allow values at these levels. Salesforce determines the correct value for this custom setting field based on the running user’s current context.
- $System: System’s Origin DateTime
- $User: The user who’s running the flow interview.
- $UserRole: The role of the user running the flow.
Global Variable Considerations for Flows
- The $Flow variable stands as the exclusive global variable applicable in screen component visibility conditions.
- In record-triggered flows, the $Record global variable does not encompass the triggering record’s values for fields derived from other records, such as Contact.Name and User.MediumPhotoUrl.
- Global variables for multi-select picklists, time, and location are solely available within formulas.
- When a database field lacks a value, the corresponding merge field yields a blank result. For instance, if the org’s Country field is unset, {!$Organization.Country} returns an empty value.
- The loading time for $Label global variables in the flow resource selection list may be extended. If the $Label option is not initially visible, close the window and attempt the selection again after a few minutes.
Flow Elements: Wait
Resume a flow interview based on distinct criteria, either met conditions, a predetermined time lapse, or upon reaching a specific date
- Flow Element: Wait for Conditions
- Utilize the “Wait for Conditions” flow element to halt the flow interview until specific conditions are satisfied.
- Flow Element: Wait for Amount of Time
- Employ the “Wait for Amount of Time” flow element to temporarily suspend the flow interview for a specified duration
- Flow Element: Wait Until Date
- Leverage the “Wait Until Date” flow element to halt the flow interview until a predefined date is reached.
To learn more, click Flow Resources (salesforce.com).
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Take Five Consulting is a technology company, based in Virginia U.S., that specializes in the Mortgage Banking vertical especially LOS implementation and application development. Take Five Consulting creates and implement mortgage technology and software specifically for Mortgage Industry.
