Salesforce Process Builder & Apex FlexQueue

1. Lightning Process Builder
&
Apex FlexQueue
Ahmedabad - June 20th, 2016

2. Agenda
• Process Builder
• Demo of Process Builder
• Invocable Methods Demo & Best Practices
• Apex FlexQueue
• Questions

3. Process Builder
What is it and how does it help

4. What is Process Builder?
• Introduced as part of the Lightning Framework “a point and click tool for
automating business processes” sits under Workflow & Approvals.
– Similar to Workflow…
• Processes driven by users manipulation of Records
• Workflow Actions Email Alerts, Approval, Field Updates
– But much more…
• Actions can be Immediate or Scheduled
• New Actions, Manage Child Records, Post to Chatter,
Call Flow, Call Apex

5. What is Process Builder?
Next Generation Workflow New Actions
Workflow Rules
Multiple “Rules” in 1 process
More Flexibility
Graphical Interface

6. Process without Programming
• Built for all Admins - from
beginners to advanced
• Easy edit lets users respond
quickly to business changes
• Creates a shared canvas for IT
and the Business to collaborate
Add powerful
actions with a
single click

7. Process Builder Demo

8. Process Builder Use Case
• Create related Child Records
– “Create a Contact when an Opportunity is Closed”
• Update records
– “Keep Contacts address in sync from Account”
• Post to Chatter
– “Update Opportunity won on Chatter”

9. Invocable Methods
Introduction & Code Examples

10. What are Invocable Methods?
• When standard Process Builder Actions are just not enough, do I
have to stop using Process Builder?
• A means to extend Process Builder with Apex! *
– Have developers think about exposing ‘actions’
– Consider packaging actions for greater reuse
* It is also possible to extend the Salesforce Visual Flow tool in the same way.
Invocable Methods can also be called Salesforce REST API, e.g. mobile clients

11. Invocable Method Example A
NOTE: None void return types from
Invocable Methods are supported,
but are not of interest to Process
Builder.

12. Invocable Method Example B
NOTE: Note use of label and required variables enhance the
Process Builder UI for the end user

13. Invocable Methods
Demo

14. Invocable Methods
Best Practices

15. Invocable Methods Best Practices *
• Single Invocable method per apex class.
• Not available via Triggers
• Must be static & public/global
• Parameter/ReturnType with data-type :
 Primitive data type or a list of primitive data type
 List of sObject type – generic sObject not supported.
 List of user-defined type
• Once added in package, can’t remove from later versions.
• Make use of label, description and required annotation
attributes to make your methods more accessible to end users of Process
Builder

16. Process Builder Hot Topics
• What are the limitations on deleting a process ?
• How Can I move processes from one org to another ?
• Formula Limitations ?
• How do I know which automation tool to use ?
• Can I create Task with Process Builder ?

17. Resources
• Community Blogs featuring Process Builder and Incovable Methods
– Lightning Process Builder and Invocable Methods
http://bobbuzzard.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/lightning-process-builder-and-invocable.html
– Extending Lightning Process Builder and Visual Workflow with Apex
http://andyinthecloud.com/2015/03/01/extending-lightning-process-builder-and-visual-workflow-with-apex/
– The Revolution !! Invocable Power - Spring 15
http://andyinthecloud.com/category/process-builder/
– Controlling Internet Devices via Lightning Process Builder
http://andyinthecloud.com/2015/01/31/controlling-internet-devices-via-lightning-process-builder/
– Process Builder Workflow Automation Group
https://success.salesforce.com/_ui/core/chatter/groups/GroupProfilePage?g=0F9300000001rzc
• General Gotchas
– Process Builder Bulkification issue with field expressions
http://www.tquila.com/blog/2015/03/09/bulkify-lightning-process-builder
– Salesforce Process Builder Known Issues
https://success.salesforce.com/issues_index?tag=Process%20Builder

18. Recap
• Go Faster with Process Builder!
– Reduce Implementation Time
• Many use cases previously only possible with Apex Triggers now possible
with clicks not code via Process Builder
– Developers and Admins Working Closer Together to automate more!
• Think about ways to extend Process Builder via Invocable Actions
– Opportunities to create Libraries of Invocable Methods to share
• Invocable Methods can be packaged

19. Apex FlexQueue

20. Before :
Which
Options Do
We have ?
@future
@Batch
Jobs
Schedule
Jobs

21. Limitations of Asynchronous Process
Waits for salesforce
resources
No Job Id
Only Return Void
Parameters must be
primitive
@future
Can’t order jobs
Only 5 active jobs
Batch

22. And Now :
Flex Queue

23. Flex Queue Add-On
More than 5 apex jobs in Apex Jobs Table
5 Jobs Processing + 95 Jobs holding
New UI to monitor & manage Jobs
Reorder the holding apex Jobs

24. Apex FlexQueue
Demo

26. Thank you