Related Lists are a fundamental component in Salesforce that display records associated with a parent record through lookup or master-detail relationships. They appear at the bottom of record detail pages and provide users with quick access to connected data.
In Object Manager, administrators can …Related Lists are a fundamental component in Salesforce that display records associated with a parent record through lookup or master-detail relationships. They appear at the bottom of record detail pages and provide users with quick access to connected data.
In Object Manager, administrators can configure related lists by navigating to the object's page layouts. Here, you can add, remove, or reorder related lists to customize what information users see when viewing a record. For example, on an Account page, you might display related Contacts, Opportunities, Cases, and Activities.
Key configuration options for related lists include:
1. Field Selection: Choose which columns appear in the related list, allowing users to see relevant information at a glance.
2. Sort Order: Define how records are sorted within the list, such as by date created or alphabetically.
3. Button Visibility: Control which buttons (New, Change Owner, etc.) appear on the related list.
4. Number of Records: Set how many records display before users need to click 'View All.'
In Lightning App Builder, related lists can be added to Lightning record pages using the Related List component or the Related Lists - Single component. The standard Related List component shows all related lists configured in the page layout, while the Related Lists - Single component allows you to place individual related lists anywhere on the page for a more customized layout.
Lightning Experience also offers Enhanced Related Lists, which provide inline editing, mass actions, and improved sorting capabilities. Administrators can enable these features in Setup under User Interface settings.
Understanding related lists is essential for the Platform Administrator exam, as they represent a core way users navigate between related records and maintain data relationships in Salesforce. Proper configuration ensures users have efficient access to the information they need to perform their jobs effectively.
Related Lists in Salesforce: Complete Guide for Administrators
What Are Related Lists?
Related Lists are components displayed at the bottom of record detail pages that show records from other objects that have a relationship to the current record. They provide a quick view of associated data, such as viewing all Contacts associated with an Account or all Opportunities linked to a specific Account.
Why Are Related Lists Important?
Related Lists are essential because they: • Provide contextual information about related records in one view • Improve user productivity by reducing navigation between objects • Help users understand relationships between data • Enable quick actions on related records from a single page • Support business processes by showing relevant associated data
How Related Lists Work
Related Lists function based on the relationships defined between objects in Salesforce:
Lookup Relationships: When Object A has a lookup field to Object B, records of Object A can appear as a related list on Object B's page layout.
Master-Detail Relationships: The detail object records automatically appear as a related list on the master object's record page.
Configuring Related Lists
Administrators can configure related lists through:
1. Page Layouts: In the Page Layout editor, scroll to the Related Lists section and drag desired related lists onto the layout. You can also customize which columns display and the sort order.
2. Lightning App Builder: Use the Related List - Single component to add individual related lists, or the Related Lists component to add multiple lists to a Lightning record page.
3. Related List Quick Links: A component that shows clickable links to related lists for faster navigation.
Key Configuration Options
• Columns: Select which fields display in the related list (up to 10 fields) • Sort Order: Define default sorting for records • Buttons: Add or remove standard and custom buttons • Number of Records: Set how many records display initially
Related List Types in Lightning Experience
• Related Lists: Shows all related lists configured on the page layout • Related List - Single: Displays one specific related list with enhanced functionality • Related List Quick Links: Provides navigation links to each related list
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Related Lists
1. Understand the Source: Remember that related lists are controlled by BOTH page layouts AND Lightning record pages. Page layouts define available related lists and their properties; Lightning pages control placement and visibility.
2. Know the Relationship Direction: Related lists appear on the parent side of a relationship. If Contacts have a lookup to Account, the Contact related list appears on Account records, not the reverse.
3. Master-Detail vs Lookup: Master-detail relationships always create a related list on the master object. Lookup relationships require manual addition to page layouts.
4. Column Limitations: Remember the maximum of 10 columns per related list when questions ask about display options.
5. Lightning Components: Know the difference between Related Lists, Related List - Single, and Related List Quick Links components for scenario-based questions.
6. Profile Considerations: Different profiles can see different related lists based on their assigned page layouts and object permissions.
7. Custom Objects: When a custom object has a relationship, Salesforce automatically makes a related list available, but administrators must add it to page layouts for users to see it.
8. Enhanced Related Lists: In Lightning Experience, enhanced related lists allow inline editing, mass actions, and improved sorting capabilities.
Common Exam Scenarios
• Users cannot see a related list: Check page layout assignment, object permissions, and field-level security • Adding a new related list: Requires editing the page layout or Lightning record page • Changing related list columns: Done through page layout editor, not Lightning App Builder