Create a custom action to generate an object from a record

Generate an object from a User record. Learn how to use an Action output to create an object from record values.

Before you begin

Role required: admin

About this task

Use this example to see demonstrations of these operations and steps.

• Create action inputs for the User record fields First name, Last name, and Email.
• Lookup a User record matching the action input values.
• Create an action output for a contact object.
• Save the contact object as a template.
• Map contact object values to User record field values.
• Test the action with a sample user.

Procedure

1. Create an application to store your work.

   Use the Guided Application Creator.

   For example, create My Application.

2. Navigate to Process Automation > Flow Designer.

   The system displays the Workflow Studio landing page.

3. Select New > Action

   The system displays the Action Properties dialog.

4. Enter these sample values.

   Field	Value
   Name	Create Contact Object From User
   Application	My Application
   Accessible From	All application scopes

5. Select Submit.

   The system displays the Workflow Studio interface.

6. From the Action Outline, select Inputs > Create Input

   The system displays a new action input.

7. Configure the action input with these values.

   Field	Value
   Label	First name
   Type	String
   Mandatory	True

8. From the Action Outline, select Inputs > Create Input

   The system displays a new action input.

9. Configure the action input with these values.

   Field	Value
   Label	Last name
   Type	String
   Mandatory	True

10. From the Action Outline, select Inputs > Create Input

    The system displays a new action input.

11. Configure the action input with these values.

    Field	Value
    Label	Email address
    Type	String
    Mandatory	False

12. From Action Outline, select Outputs > Create Output.

    The system displays a new action ouput.

13. Configure the output variable with these values.

    Label	Name	Type	Mandatory
    contact	contact	Object	False

14. From the row for the contact Object, select Add Child Item.

15. Configure the child item with these values.

    Label	Name	Type	Mandatory
    First name	first_name	String	True

16. From the row for the contact Object, select Add Child Item.

17. Configure the child item with these values.

    Label	Name	Type	Mandatory
    Last name	last_name	String	True

18. From the row for the contact Object, select Add Child Item.

19. Configure the child item with these values.

    Label	Name	Type	Mandatory
    Email address	email_address	String	False

20. From the row for the contact Object, select Toggle Advanced Inputs.

21. From the Advanced Options, select Save As Template.

    The system displays the Save As Template dialog.

22. For Enter a Name, enter contact.

23. Click Save.

24. Select Exit Edit Mode.

    The System displays the output fields you created.

25. Configure the outputs with these values.

    Label	Value
    First name	[step->Look Up Record step->Record->First name]
    Last name	[step->Look Up Record step->Record->Last name]
    Email Address	[step->Look Up Record step->Record->Email]

    Note: You can select data pills from the data panel or from the Data Pill Picker button.

26. Select Save.

27. Select Test.

    The system displays the Test Action dialog.

28. Enter these test values.

    Input	Value
    First name	Abel
    Last name	Tuter

29. Select Run Test.

    The system runs the action with the test values provided.

30. Select Action has executed. To view the action, click here.

    The system displays the action execution details.

31. Review the runtime value for the action Output data.

    The system displays output data in JSON format.

    For example, sample contact object JSON for the user Abel Tuter.

    {
        "contact": {
            "email_address": "abel.tuter@example.com",
            "last_name": "Tuter",
            "first_name": "Abel"
        }
    }
    

Result

You have a custom action that looks up a User record and converts it into a contact object.

What to do next

Customize the action to use your own logic.

Parent Topic:Complex data