Defining Record Types

Record types are defined at the object level after an object is created. In the object definition
is a section called Record Types for creating, editing, and deleting record types. Click
the New button there to start.

Every object has a default record type called Master. It contains the master list of values
for all picklist fields in the object. New record types are cloned from the Master
record type if no other record types exist, and given a name, label, and description. Normally
record types are in an active state, which makes them available to users who are creating
and editing records. Deactivating a record type is required before it can be deleted.

The list at the bottom of the page is a shortcut for adding this record type to many
profiles at once.You can skip it. If you do use it, do so with caution. If you add your
record type to many profiles and later decide you want to delete it, you must manually
visit each profile to remove the record type first. Record types cannot be deleted if they
are referenced by profiles.

The next page allows you to associate your new record type with one or more page
layouts.This determines which native user interface is shown when a user creates or edits
a record of this type.The default is to show one page layout to all users, regardless of their
profiles.This page can also be skipped.There is another user interface to do the same
thing, but across multiple record types and profiles simultaneously.

After the record type is saved, it enters an edit mode. Edit mode permits the maintenance
of picklist values for the record type.The list of picklist type fields in the object is
shown, with Edit links beside each.These Edit links take you to , a screen that
allows picklist values to be customized. Here you can select all, or a subset of the picklist
values, and provide a custom default value.


This is just one way to manipulate the picklist values of a record type.When adding new
picklist values in an object with more than one record type defined, you are asked which
record types they apply to. By default, new picklist values
are added only to the Master record type, leaving other record types unchanged.