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ElenaCaptaElenaCapta 

External ID

Anybody can tell me which is the usefulness of the external Id option? this option it's when you create a new field for an object. What possibilities it offers?
 
Thanks, and best regards!!!
 
 
SuperfellSuperfell
Once you've setup an externalId field, you can use it with the upsert call. This makes it easier to update data in saleforce that is mastered in another system.
Ian_HIan_H

There's another much better reason for using external ID...
- You can search for them!

Fields marked as having an external ID are indexed, which means you can then find them when using the search function.
N.B. It may take a minute or two for the index to be created after you mark the field as having an external ID.

Try it.

Regards,

Ian.
SuperfellSuperfell
Almost all the field types are indexed for search, there's no special about externalIds there. The index created for externalIds is a SQL DB index, so that they're quick to query (or upsert)
Ian_HIan_H
Selecting the external ID option makes them searchable from standard search rather than advanced.

Message Edited by Ian_H on 07-30-2006 08:10 PM

Message Edited by Ian_H on 07-30-2006 08:12 PM
SuperfellSuperfell
I believe custom fields get search indexed too.
SuperfellSuperfell
Regular custom fields get indexed too, but it appears they only get searched on an advanced search, not on the regular sidebar search.