App Framework Preview
Contents |
Custom report types
Developers or administrators can define custom report objects (CRTs). CRTs can include up to 20 related objects, with multiple levels of master-detail relationships and multiple lookups per level. CRTs can also be used to limit fields available for a report, and what fields are included in the report by default.
Use case: A developer or administrator could design a custom report type to include accounts, the products they were interested in, and the product line within the product category. The custom report type could also specify only those fields which were relevant for this report, and the custom report type will appear within the report tool just like a standard report type.
Availability: GA for all editions. Different editions will allow different amounts of custom report types.
For more information: Replay of Webinar broadcast from 6/21/07. The Webinar covers a few topics, but CRTs come early on. Also see the Admin preview.
Workflow and Approvals
There are four main enhancements in the Summer '07 release for workflows and enhancements. For more information on all of these enhancements, please see the Admin preview.
Formulas for workflows and approvals
Developers will be able to use the full power of Salesforce formulas to test for the execution of a workflow or approval step. This increased functionality includes the use of merge fields to determine other data values for appropriate actions.
Use case: The formula can include a comparison with other values in the record, so the Vice President of Sales is notified when an opportunity goes directly from Proposal/Quote to lost. Since a formula can access some other objects, such as User, you could include information in custom fields on a User record to implement threshold approvals.
Availability: General release for Developer, Enterprise, and Unlimited Editions.
For more information: Breeze presentation on flexible approvals.
Time-based workflow
This enhancement allows workflow actions to be triggered a specific number of hours after triggering action.
Use Case: You can use workflows to enforce service level agreements (SLAs). If a high-priority support case is still open after 12 hours, notify management and escalate the case to priority status with a workflow action.
Availability: General release for Developer, Enterprise, and Unlimited Editions.
For more Information: Breeze presentation on time-based workflows.
Ability to skip steps in approval process
This feature provides much more flexibility in creating approvals. Prior to this feature, admins had to create multiple approval routines to handle slightly different logic flows, leading to creation, and maintenance, of more routines.
Use Case: Some of our larger users should see the number of separate approval routines decrease from 195 routines to less around 35.
Availability: General release for Developer, Enterprise, and Unlimited Editions.
For more information: Breeze presentation on flexible approvals.
Emails can go to user, contact or value specified in email custom field
A workflow can direct an email to the user or contact associated with an object, or to any email in a custom field on the object. This features expands your universe for workflow actions.
Use Case: Trigger an email to the contact on a support case a week after the case is closed for a customer satisfaction check.
Availability: General release for Developer, Enterprise, and Unlimited Editions.
User Interface Enhancements
Several Summer '07 enhancements make the user interface more flexible for you and your users.
Hovering mini-detail on lookup fields
When a user holds a mouse over a lookup field or related list entry, additional data from lookup record shown in min-page layout. The user doesn't have to click through to get basic information from a related record.
Use Case: Previously, users had to click through to detail pages to see extended information on detail record. With this UI enhancement, users can pick up additional information without the need to navigate to and from a detail page.
Availability: GA all editions.
For more information: See the Admin preview.
Help for custom objects and fields
A developer can create help text for custom fields that appears just like help for standard fields. Developer can create S-Control to display help for custom object. Your custom objects and fields have the same look-and-feel help as for standard objects.
Use Case: A developer may want to add a custom field to an object. Adding the field is easy, but training the user community on the use of the field could make it difficult to roll out. Custom help allows the developer to add instructions on the use of the field without having to deliver specific training.
Availability: General release for Developer, Enterprise, and Unlimited Editions.
For more information: See the Admin preview.
Override object home page
A developer has the ability to override standard object home page.
Use Case: Developer can present most relevant information on the most prominent place for an object. For instance, an object could use an S-Control with new leads to show as the default page for the object tab.
Availability: General release for Developer, Enterprise, and Unlimited Editions.
For more information: See the Admin preview.