Updating a Field in a Related Record during a Data Policy "Update Record" Action

From ISV Support Wiki

When performing an Update Record in a Data Policy, it is possible to update a field in a related record (one that is the target of a Lookup), as well as a field in the original record.

To do that, you use the cascading "dot" notation. For example, the Order object has a Lookup to Customer. If the Customer object has a field called phone then, when updating an order, it is possible to update the customer's phone number at the same time:

order.customer.phone = 8005551111

To update a field in a related record:

1. Go to Data Policy > Add Action
2. Chose Update Record
3. The "Choose field" drop down gives a list of current object fields.

   Lookup fields are marked with a ">" after the name

4. Select a lookup field.

   A new list box opens, displaying fields from the target object

5. You can continue selecting lookup fields in that manner, until you get to the maximum possible depth (5 or 6 references).

   At that point, Lookup fields are no longer displayed.

Considerations

• It is not possible to select a Lookup field itself, to update it. For that, use Java code.
• Updating a referenced object in a Data Policy does not trigger any Data Policies that may exist on that object.
• If the Lookup field is empty (it does not point to a target record), then nothing happens when the Update Record action fires.
• These fields in a related record cannot be updated:

• File Field
• Image Field

• If a user changes the Lookup target at a later date, previous updates are not affected.

For example:

1. Record A1 looks up to B1.
2. A1 is updated, which causes B1 to be updated, so now it's value is B1' (prime)
3. The lookup in A1 is changed, so it now points to B2.
4. Record B1 is not changed. Its set of values remains as B1' (prime).

• To maintain referential integrity in the platform, it is not possible to delete a field that is used in a Data Policy or a Formula reference.