Rollup Summary Fields
Rollup Summary Fields provide quick access to complex metrics in large databases.
About Rollup Summary Fields
Rollup Summary Fields summarize information contained in related records (records that have a Lookup to the current object). A Rollup Summary Field can be used to get a record Count, Sum, Average, Max, or Min value from those records. Template:TenantFeatures
This screen capture shows the kind of data that can be produced. Here, sales are totaled for each movie title:
Using Rollup Summary Fields
Rollup Summary Fields can be used with the following platform elements:
- Master Objects (created via Master-Detail relationship)
- Elements that use Filter Expressions:
In these one-to-many relationships, a Master-Detail relationship is created, where data from the detail object can be summarized and rolled up to the master-level object.
- Considerations
-
- Rollup calculations are done in the background, on a schedule specified when the field is created.
- By default, the calculations are Asynchronous, which means that values are recalculated on a regular schedule, defined at the server level.
- Synchronous Rollup Summary Fields are recalculated whenever data changes.
Synchronous Rollup Summary Fields
Rollup Summary Fields are calculated asynchronously by default, which is adequate for most applications.
A Synchronous calculation whenever a value the Rollup Summary Field depends on is updated. This arrangement is tantamount to a live data feed, with up-to-the-minute metrics.
Note: The Synchronous option is available only for self-hosted installations of the platform, as the load placed on the system can impact all tenants.
- Considerations
-
- To use Synchronous calculations for Rollup Summary Fields, the Synchronous Rollup Summary Fields option in Manage Tenant Capabilities must be enabled.
- The Synchronous option can cause a delay in displaying the Rollup Summary Field values, especially if a large number of records must be accessed for calculations.
- By default, a maximum of five (5) Rollup Summary Fields are permitted per Tenant
- The number of Rollup Summary Fields allowed is defined by the Service Provider, in Manage Tenant Capabilities.
Working with Rollup Summary Fields
Adding a Rollup Summary Field
To add a Rollup Summary Field:
- Using objects in a Master-Detail relationship (or alternate objects, listed above), follow the instructions at Create a Lookup Field
- Optionally, define Record Selection Criteria to determine the records to display in a Lookup Window; learn more: Customize Lookup Field Options
Example: Rollup Summary for Orders
As example, consider an Order Management system. The Orders object contains the master records, and Order Items contains the detail records. A Rollup Summary Field summarizes the total amount for each order.
- The Master object Orders contains these fields:
- customer_name
- order
- order_amount - the Rollup Summary Field, with these parameters:
- Label - Order Amount
- Display Type - Rollup Summary
- Summary Object - Order Items
- Rollup Type - SUM
- Summary Field - amount
- Summary Calculation Mode - Asynchronous
- The Detail object Order Items contains these fields:
- order_record - the Lookup to Orders
- item_number
- item_description
- order_number
- quantity
- each
- unit_price
- amount
- Order records
order customer_name 1001 Bob's Bakery 1015 Sally's Sweets
- Order Item records
order item_number item_description quantity each unit_price amount 1001 B102 sticky buns 2 doz $3.95 $7.90 1001 C220 chocolate chip cookies 1 doz $2.95 $2.95 1015 W32 whole wheat bread 1 loaf $4.50 $4.50 1015 B43 butter cookies 3 doz $1.55 $4.65 1015 C56 carrot cake 1 large $9.95 $9.95
- Rollup Summary Action
Open the Orders object, and see the Rollup Summary calculations in the default View:
order customer_name order_amount 1001 Bob's Bakery $10.85 1015 Sally's Sweets $19.10
Eligible Field Types based on Calculation Type
Calculation Type Eligible Field Types Return Types Count All All Sum Number (integer), number with decimals, currency, percent (%), formula fields Number (integer), number with decimals, currency or percent (%) Average Number (integer), number with decimals, currency, percent (%), formula fields Number (integer), number with decimals, currency or percent (%) Min Number (integer), number with decimals, currency, percent (%), formula fields Number (integer), number with decimals, currency, percent (%), date or date/time Max Number (integer), number with decimals, currency, percent (%), formula fields Number (integer), number with decimals, currency, percent (%), date or date/time
Technical Considerations
- A Rollup Summary Field can be deleted, which deletes all associated parameters, including: Name, Title, Summary Object, Rollup Type, Summary Field and Summary Calculation Mode
- When updating a Rollup Summary Field, these fields can be modified: Title, Lookup Filters and Summary Calculation Mode
- However, these fields cannot be changed: Display Type, Summary Object, Rollup type or Summary Field
- A Summary Field that is used in a Rollup Summary cannot be deleted (because the Summary Field links to a field in the Detail Object)
- If a Detail object is deleted and a Rollup Summary Field exists in the Master object, then the field display type reverts from Rollup Summary to match the field display type originally specified by the field in the Detail object
- If the Synchronized Rollup Fields option is enabled in Manage Tenant Capabilities, then the [Asynchronus] and [Synchronous] calculation options become available when creating a Lookup field in a Master-Detail relationship
- When a record in a Detail object is deleted, the Rollup Summary Field is recalculated according to the defined Asynchronus/Synchronous option
- If a record in a Master object is accessed from a View while the Rollup Summary Field is being calculated, an icon will be displayed in place of the value, indicating that a calculation is in progress
- Implementation
- Rollup Summary Fields:
- are universal, read-only fields
- should not be used to build filter criteria for Formulas, Data Policies, Validations, Indexes or Searches
- cannot be created based on a Rollup Summary Field
- can be created only in Master-record objects
- The ISCHANGED() function cannot be used on Rollup summary fields.
- Packaging
- If the object is a master object with rollup summary field, the detailed object needs to be added as a dependent item
- Mass Update cannot be performed on Rollup Summary Fields
- Use ISNULL in Formula Functions with Rollup Summary Fields