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Checkbox Formula Field in Visualforce
In keeping with the theme of checkboxes and formulas, we provide an easy way to create a checkbox formula field using Visualforce: the checkbox tag with the disabled attribute:
First, the Apex controller method:
public boolean checkformula(){
boolean b = [insert formula here];
return b;
}
And the visualforce code:
<apex:inputCheckbox disabled="true" value="{!checkformula}"/>
That's it! Of course, there are many ways to set up the Apex method, but the important piece is the Visualforce markup. By using a tag usually associated with an edit page but making it disabled, the checkbox becomes an output field.
Pulling Code Out of Triggers
To date, triggers have only been accessible on each object's setup page, leading to a lot of hunting for code within the Salesforce CRM application. Even in Eclipse, switching between the Class and Trigger folders for a given project can be a pain.
These pains can partially be alleviated by keeping all Apex code in one place--as Apex Classes. With the addition of a consolidated trigger list in Summer09, some may feel that this post is superfluous, but consolidating code in one place, combined with the trigger list, will lead to a better development, debugging, and org administration experience.
First, here's a sample trigger (written by Jeff Douglas):
trigger AddOwnerColor on Account (before insert, before update) {
// create a set of all the unique ownerIds
Set<Id> ownerIds = new Set<Id>();
for (Account a : Trigger.new)
ownerIds.add(a.OwnerId);
// query for all the User records for the unique userIds in the records
// create a map for a lookup / hash table for the user info
Map<Id, User> owners = new Map<Id, User>([Select Favorite_Color__c from User Where Id in: ownerIds]);
// iterate over the list of records being processed in the trigger and
// set the color before being inserted or updated
for (Account a : Trigger.new)
a.Owner_Favorite_Color__c = owners.get(a.OwnerId).Favorite_Color__c;
}
Let's pull the code from the trigger into an Apex Class and leave a reference to that class & method in the trigger. We need to pass the list Trigger.new as a parameter to the new class's method:
The trigger:
trigger AddOwnerColor on Account (before insert, before update) {
AccountTriggers.AddOwnerColor(Trigger.new);
}
And the class:
public class AccountTriggers {
public static void AddOwnerColor(Account[] accts) {
// create a set of all the unique ownerIds
Set<Id> ownerIds = new Set<Id>();
for (Account a : accts)
ownerIds.add(a.OwnerId);
// query for all the User records for the unique userIds in the records
// create a map for a lookup / hash table for the user info
Map<Id, User> owners = new Map<Id, User>([Select Favorite_Color__c from User Where Id in: ownerIds]);
// iterate over the list of records being processed in the trigger and
// set the color before being inserted or updated
for (Account a : accts)
a.Owner_Favorite_Color__c = owners.get(a.OwnerId).Favorite_Color__c;
} // close AddOwnerColor
}
While this may seem trivial, it has a few advantages:
- Easier to work in Eclipse (all code in the Classes section)
- Easier to write test code (can see tests and their associated methods in one place)
- Can promote code reuse by allowing other classes and triggers to call the same method.
- For those who like to include test code in the same class as the regular Class, this allows them to do so.
There's a catch (there always is):
You should comment into your Class which trigger is calling the class because otherwise, it is almost impossible to see at a glance where the code flows. This will especially help when writing and debugging tests.
Just a matter of personal style: It may be a good idea to write an Apex Class for each object's triggers (such as class AccountTriggers above). Code reuse is still possible, but it can track where triggers were originally used.
Happy coding!
Standard Checkbox Images
One of Salesforce CRM's coolest features from a "bright shiny object" standpoint (i.e. something that aids productivity but also looks flashy) is the image formula field. Jamie Grenney first wrote about this a while ago, and his pdf and sample images from the Salesforce built-in library are available on the community site.Sometimes, however, we want something simple. Sometimes we want to create a formula field that displays a simple checkbox (or an empty box). This is currently not possible, but has been suggested as a Salesforce Idea.
Until that is built into the platform, feel free to use these two images in an image formula field (storing them in the documents folder):
Or download this zip file and put it into a static resource for use in a Visualforce page.
Dashboards are Improved AND New in Summer 09
The Summer09 prerelease orgs are here, so get yours now! Upon first look, something cool stood out and merits immediate posting:
Dashboards are improved. The colors are more vivid, there’s detail in the bars and pie chart wedges, and… pie charts can now display the actual and percentage values!
Dashboards are also new. Visualforce pages can now be included as dashboard components, and there’s a new “Color-Blind Palette on Charts” setting for each user. Here are before and after shots.
Salesforce dashboard with regular color scheme
Dashboard with color-blind/alternate color scheme
