Adding an Attribute on the Account Object in Salesforce

A step-by-step guide to creating a custom field in Salesforce

Highlights

Custom Field Creation: Use Setup and Object Manager to create a new field on the Account object.
Field Configuration: Specify field type, label, API name, security, and layout options.
Practical Considerations: Ensure proper permissions, alignment with data strategy, and tailored visibility.

Step-by-Step Process for Adding an Attribute

1. Access Salesforce Setup

To begin, log in to your Salesforce account and click on the Setup icon (typically found in the upper right-hand corner). Once in Setup, you will have access to all the administrative tools necessary for customizing your Salesforce instance.

Navigating to the Setup Interface

After clicking on the Setup gear icon, either use the Quick Find Box to search for specific options or browse through the menus. The Quick Find Box is especially useful if you are familiar with the term "Object Manager".

2. Open Object Manager

From the Setup page, locate and click on the Object Manager tab. The Object Manager lists all the objects available in your Salesforce environment.

Once inside the Object Manager, scroll through the list or use the search functionality to locate the Account object. Click on the Account object to display its details, including all the fields and relationships.

3. Navigate to Fields & Relationships

In the Account object's detail page, click on the Fields & Relationships tab. This area shows both standard and custom fields that already exist on the Account object.

From this page, you can view existing attribute configurations and identify any naming conventions or data types used within your organization.

4. Create a New Custom Field

To add a new attribute, click the New or + Add Custom Field button. This action initiates the creation process for a new custom field that will serve as your attribute on the Account object.

Field Type Selection

Choose an appropriate field type based on the information you plan to store. Common field types include:

Text: For short strings.
Number: For numeric values.
Date: For date-specific data.
Picklist: For predefined selections.

Defining Field Details

You will be prompted to provide key details such as:

Field Label and API Name: The display name and internal identifier for the field.
Description: A brief description that helps other users understand the purpose of the field.
Help Text: User guidance that appears on the form when editing or viewing the field.
Field Properties: Options for specifying whether the field is required, unique, or used in search and reporting.

5. Configuring Field-Level Security and Layout

After defining the basic attributes of the new field, you will need to set the field-level security. This determines which user profiles or roles can see and edit the field. Select the profiles that should have access and adjust visibility settings as necessary.

Next, choose the page layouts where you want this new field to appear. Adding the field to the appropriate layouts ensures that it is easily accessible to users who interact with Account records.

6. Save and Verify the Field Creation

Once all details and settings are configured, click Save to finalize the creation process. It is important to verify that the field appears in the Account object’s attribute list and on the designated page layouts.

If necessary, return to the field list to review or adjust the value configurations, especially for validation rules or formatting options that align with your organizational data practices.

Additional Considerations for Attribute Configuration

Data Management and Reporting

Custom attributes on the Account object can provide enhanced flexibility in data segmentation and targeted reporting. When designing these fields, consider:

The role of the attribute in analytics and segmentation strategies.
Its importance in integration processes with third-party applications.
How the attribute might assist in workflow automation or validation rules to ensure data consistency.

Integration with Other Systems

If you plan to integrate Salesforce with other systems (such as marketing automation, financial applications, or external identity management solutions), it’s important to have a clearly defined naming convention and data type for custom attributes. This standardization facilitates smoother data exchange between systems.

Handling Person Accounts

Special consideration should be given to Person Accounts. Depending on your instance configuration, Person Accounts may use both the Account and the Contact objects to store detailed information. In such cases, decide whether a custom field should reside on the Account or be part of the Contact object.

Updating Attributes

After creating a custom field, you can always update its settings by navigating back to Fields & Relationships and selecting the field. Options include modifying the field’s label, help text, or validation rules—ensuring your custom attribute stays aligned with evolving business needs.

Visual Summary: Custom Field Creation Process

Step	Action	Key Settings
1	Access Salesforce Setup	Login and click on Setup
2	Open Object Manager	Select Account object
3	Fields & Relationships	Review existing fields
4	Create New Field	Select field type, enter label/API name, description
5	Configure Security & Layout	Set field-level security and add to page layouts
6	Save and Verify	Ensure the field appears in the attribute list