Multi Object Lookup
Designer > Data & Presentation > Objects > {object} > Fields > [New] / [Edit] > Display Type > Multi Object Lookup
A Multi Object Lookup lets you reference records in multiple objects. Instead of having a fixed target object, as for a normal Lookup, the target object can be specified before a target record is selected.
In use, a Multi-Object Lookup is a two-stage lookup. First you select the object to use for the Lookup, and then you select a record from that object.
For example, a distributor might take orders for products that come from different catalogs, where each catalog is provided by a different supplier. The Multi-object Lookup field type makes it possible for the order taker to first choose the catalog the product is in, and then choose the product from that catalog.
Considerations
- Multi Object Lookup fields can be created only in Custom Objects
- A Multi Object Lookup field can reference other Custom Objects, or one of these System Objects:
Account
Contract
Product
UserCase
Opportunity
Project
Contact
Price Book
Prospect
- In the GUI, the value shown in the Lookup field is the Record Locator value for the selected record--the identifying information displayed for the record. But the value actually stored in the record consists of the object ID and the record ID.
- Therefore, to specify a value for a Multi Value Lookup field when doing a Search, you do not specify the value displayed in the GUI. Rather specify the target record using this format:
- {object_id}:{record_id}
- where:
- The syntax requires an object ID, followed by a colon (:), and the record id.
- The object's ID must be specified. An object name will not work.
- The record's ID must be specified, not the record locator value displayed in the GUI.
- Note: For the moment, it is not possible for most users to search on a mult-object lookup field, since only admins and programmers will have access to the information needed to formulate the query.
- For Data Import:
- The value for a multi-object lookup field must similarly be specified as
- {object_id}:{record_id}
- The object designated in the imported record must match one of the objects designated as a possible target for the multi-object lookup. Otherwise, the field is left empty in the imported record.
- That format generated by a Data Export is the same as that required for import:
- {object_id}:{record_id}
- In a Form Layout, it is not possible to include a Multi Object Lookup field in the criteria for a Layout Rule. (Only the Record ID is stored in the current record, so there is no value for the Layout Rule to compare to.)
- For the same reason, Multi Object Lookup fields cannot be used for:
- Template Variables in, for example, print templates and email templates
- Object Data Models
- Like other Lookup fields, Multi Object Lookup fields are not available for use in
- Field Scripts (onChange and onFocus scripts in forms)
- Record Locators
- Web Forms
- In Views and Reports, a Multi Object Lookup field cannot be used:
- in a computed field
- for sorting
- for color coding
- to make a thumbnail
- When doing a Mass Update of Data from the GUI, or when Updating a group of records in a list view, it is not possible to specify a value for a Multi Object Lookup field.
Creating a Multi Object Lookup Field
This section describes the properties you can set for a Multi Object Lookup Field, when you are creating a field of that type in the GUI.
Basic Information
- Label - The field label the user will see in the GUI.
- Display Type: Multi Object Lookup
- Always Required - If checked, a value must be specified when adding or updating a record.
- Field name - The field name that will be used in the internal code.
- Objects
- Use the arrow buttons to move entries between the two lists:
- Available Objects - The objects defined in the platform.
- Selected Objects - The objects the user can choose.
Display Attributes
- Section - The section the field will appear in, in the default layout.
- Required - If checked, the field is required in that layout.
Record Selection Information
- Standard Lookup - The choice is made directly from the target object.
- Custom Page - The choice is made by way of custom JSP page.
Learn more: Using a Custom Page for a Lookup
REST APIs
Multi Object Lookups can be manipulated using these REST APIs: