Last week, Cloudy demonstrated how to set up a simple Roll-up Summary field in your Salesforce.com org. If you are already using Roll-up Summary fields, you know how useful they are for understanding your data and creating meaningful reports.
But if you are a fan of Roll-ups, then you are probably frustrated by their limitations as well!
Roll-up Summary fields can only be created on Master objects in Master-Detail relationships, and there are tight limits on the numbers and configurations of Master-Detail relationships in an org. If you have run into these limits, you have probably wished that Roll-Up Summary fields could be set up on simple Look-up relationships.
Well now they can! Rollup Helper, from Passage Technology has created an App that allows you to create Roll-up Summaries almost anywhere. Not only that, it also expands the concept of Roll-ups beyond counts, sums, and min/max to include concatenated text and formulas. Consider these cases:
-Display an aggregated count and description of all products purchased on an account record.
-Count the Events or Tasks of a certain type on account or contact records.
-Display the number of campaigns that a contact has participated in.
-Count the numbers of contacts of certain types on accounts.
-Calculate membership renewal dates and amounts, based on information in related records.
The list could go on and on, but perhaps these ideas have sparked your imagination!
Rollup Helper is available in a FREE Community Edition, or as a paid, supported app. The version that is right for you will depend on your organization's needs. The free version is not supported beyond helping you set up your first roll-up, and there is some lag-time on the roll-ups, especially for very large amounts of data. The paid version includes unlimited tech support to set up your roll-ups and answer questions, as well as fast-paced, real-time calculations on large quantities of data.
Cloudy recommends that anyone who is interested in more roll-ups with more flexibility start with the free version of Rollup Helper. As your organization gains value from the tool, you will be able to gauge whether you require the additional support and processing power of the paid app.
Cloudy always recommends trying an app for the first time in your Sandbox!
Read Cloudy's reviews of other popular apps:
Conga Composer
FlipTop Social Profiles
FormAssembly
If you have been using Salesforce.com for a while, you have probably heard about some of the great Salesforce.com AppExchange Apps that can add even more value and functionality to your Org. If you are interested in trying an App, it is always advisable to take it for a test drive in your Salesforce.com Sandbox first! If you are happy with the App after testing in your Sandbox, it only takes a few minuted to add it to your main Salesforce.com Org.
If you are an Admin in your org but have not installed an App in your Sandbox before, here are the steps to follow:
1- log in to your Org (not your sandbox!).
2- Click the Apps tab in the far upper right corner of the screen and select “Add Appexchange Apps”.
3- Browse/search to find the app, and click it to open its detail pages. It’s a good idea to read all the information on these pages. Make sure the App is compatible with your edition of Salesforce.com, check the pricing and trial period details, and read a few customer reviews!
4-Click “Get it Now” on the App’s detail page.
5- If prompted, click “Log in to the AppExchange.” On the login page, enter your login and password for your regular production org (not your sandbox!).
7- You will be given 2 choices: Install in production/ Install in Sandbox. If you are Test Driving the App, Choose the Sandbox option.
8- Check the box next to “Terms and Conditions” and click “Confirm and Install”.
9- On the next login page that appears, use the login and password for your sandbox (If you are installing in the sandbox).
10- click the orange Install button. Review the security details that appear on the next pages and click “Next” on each page until the “Install” button appears. Click “Install.”
Once the app is installed, you can click your app tab in the upper right corner, and the new app will appear in that list. By clicking on the app in this menu, you can easily view and explore the new objects (tabs) that are part of your new app.
Read more about the AppExchange or check out Cloudy's reviews of his favorite Apps:
Conga Composer
FormAssembly
FlipTop Social Profiles
Contact Us if you would like help evaluating which AppExchange apps will help you achieve your business objectives.
Cloudy Cumulus is part of Redpath Consulting Group, based in Minneapolis, MN (c) 2012
