Errors are an inevitable part of any application, including Salesforce Flows. However, with proper error-handling techniques, you can ensure smooth execution and provide a seamless user experience. Error handling is an essential aspect of building robust and reliable Salesforce Flows. In this blog, we will explore some valuable tips and tricks for handling errors in Salesforce Flows, along with practical examples.
Use Fault Connectors:
Fault connectors allow you to handle specific errors or exceptions that occur during flow execution. By connecting fault connectors to specific elements, you can define alternative paths or actions to take when an error occurs.
When working with record operations like create, update, or delete, enable the "Record Faults" option. This ensures that if any errors occur during the recording operation, the flow continues to execute instead of halting completely. You can access the error information in the "Record Fault" collection variable and take appropriate actions.
Connect fault connectors to specific flow elements that may generate errors. This allows you to define alternative paths or actions to handle errors gracefully. Consider adding fault connectors to elements such as record updates, invocable actions, or decision elements.
This helps capture and handle exceptions or errors that occur during execution. It allows you to define specific error-handling logic and actions for different types of exceptions.
In the flow image given below, I am displaying the error to the user when the case record is not created successfully using the fault path and screen element. This has to be used as flow errors are not descriptive
Email Notifications:
Send email notifications to administrators or stakeholders when certain errors occur in the flow. This helps in promptly addressing and resolving the issues. For this, you can create a text template inflow to send emails to required professionals using Email action and the template. The template can contain a body such as :
“Sorry, but you can’t read or update records at this time. Please open a case with IT and include this error message:
Error message: {!$Flow.FaultMessage}
Error Date and Time: {!$Flow.CurrentDateTime}
The record flow was working on: {!$Flow.CurrentRecord}”
Error Logging and Monitoring:
Implement error logging mechanisms to capture and store error information for troubleshooting purposes. You can leverage custom objects, platform events, or external logging systems to record and monitor flow errors.
Implement error logging mechanisms to capture and store error information for troubleshooting and analysis. You can use custom objects, platform events, or external logging systems to record and monitor flow errors. This helps in identifying patterns and resolving recurring issues.
This can be done in the error text template itself by enabling “Log Email on Send”.
User-Friendly Error Messages:
Provide meaningful and user-friendly error messages to guide users or administrators when an error occurs. Provide clear and informative error messages to users when an error occurs. Explain the nature of the error and suggest possible solutions or next steps. Clear error messages help users understand the issue and take appropriate actions. Consider using screen elements to display error messages and suggest measures to resolve the issue.
For example:
“Sorry, but you can’t read or update records at this time. We filed case {!caseNumber} for you.”
Test Error Scenarios:
Thoroughly test your flow by simulating various error scenarios to ensure the error-handling logic functions as intended. Test cases should include scenarios like record validation failures, data integration errors, or external service timeouts.
Thoroughly test your flow by simulating various error scenarios. Include test cases that cover different error conditions, such as validation failures, integration errors, or external service timeouts. Validate that the flow handles errors appropriately and continues execution gracefully.
Use debug functionality of flow
Error Documentation:
Document the error handling logic and any known issues or limitations associated with your flow. This documentation will serve as a reference for other administrators or developers working on the flow and aid in troubleshooting efforts.
Graceful Degradation:
Plan for scenarios where external services or resources might be unavailable or encounter errors. Implement graceful degradation strategies to handle such situations and provide appropriate feedback to users. This can include fallback options, alternative actions, or displaying informative messages.
Consider Rollback Logic:
If your flow involves multiple dependent operations, consider implementing rollback logic to revert changes in case of an error. This ensures data consistency and prevents partial or inconsistent updates in your system.
Retry Logic:
Implement retry logic for transient errors or temporary network issues. For example, if a record update fails due to a connection timeout, you can include a loop element to retry the operation after a short delay. However, be cautious with this approach to avoid entering an infinite loop in the case of persistent errors.
Document Error Handling Procedures:
Document the error-handling procedures and guidelines for your flows. This documentation is a reference for other team members and helps maintain consistency in error-handling practices across your organization.
Continuous Improvement:
Regularly review and analyze flow errors to identify patterns and areas for improvement. Use insights gained from error analysis to refine your error-handling strategies and optimize your flows.
By applying these tips and tricks, you can build Salesforce Flows that handle errors gracefully, improve the user experience, and ensure the smooth execution of your business processes. You can enhance the error handling capabilities of your Salesforce Flows, improving the user experience and ensuring smooth flow execution even in the presence of errors.
If you'd like to see the code and resources used in this project, you can access the repository on GitHub.To access the AVENOIRBLOGS repository, click here. Feel free to explore the code and use it as a reference for your own projects.
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References
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_build_logic_fault_examples.htm&type=5
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_build_logic_fault_default.htm&type=5
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_build_logic_fault_email.htm&type=5
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_build_logic_fault_usermsg.htm&type=5
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_ref_elements_actions_sendemail.htm&type=5
Blog Credit:
D. Khare
Salesforce Developer
Avenoir Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Reach us: team@avenoir.ai
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