Creating custom fields and validation rules in Salesforce allows organizations to tailor their CRM to specific business needs while maintaining data integrity. Custom fields capture unique information not covered by standard fields, while validation rules enforce data quality by requiring specific conditions before records save. The process involves selecting appropriate field types, configuring security settings, and defining logical conditions that trigger error messages when violated.

Key findings from the sources include:

• Custom fields require selecting from 25+ data types (text, number, date, etc.) and configuring attributes like length, precision, and default values ^[1]
• Validation rules consist of five core components: rule name, active status, description, error condition formula, and error message ^[2]
• Task objects access activity custom fields for validation rules, resolving common confusion between Activity and Task objects ^[3]
• Three methods exist to make fields required: field-level requirements, page layout requirements, and validation rules ^[8]

Customizing Salesforce Data Structure

Creating Custom Fields in Salesforce

Custom fields extend Salesforce's standard functionality by capturing business-specific data. The creation process begins in Setup by navigating to the Object Manager, selecting the target object, and accessing the Fields & Relationships section. Administrators must choose from over 25 field types including text, number, date, checkbox, and relationship fields, each serving different data capture needs ^[1]. For example, a text field might store product descriptions while a date field could track warranty expiration.

The configuration process requires several critical decisions:

• Field Type Selection: Text fields support up to 255 characters (or 32,000 for long text areas), while number fields allow defining decimal places (0-18) ^[1]
• Security Settings: Field-level security determines which profiles can view or edit the field, with options to restrict access during creation ^[1]
• Page Layout Placement: Fields must be added to page layouts to become visible to users, with drag-and-drop positioning available ^[1]
• Default Values: Administrators can set static defaults or formula-based defaults that populate when creating new records ^[7]

The YouTube tutorial emphasizes that custom fields appear differently in Lightning versus Classic interfaces, though the creation process remains similar across both platforms ^[7]. For complex implementations, the Salesforce Help documentation recommends testing fields in a sandbox environment before production deployment to avoid data migration issues ^[1].

Implementing Validation Rules

Validation rules act as data quality gatekeepers by preventing saves when records don't meet specified criteria. The creation process starts in Object Manager by selecting "Validation Rules" and clicking "New" ^[4]. Each rule requires five essential components that work together to enforce business logic:

• Rule Name: Limited to 40 characters without spaces (e.g., "SupportPlanRequired") ^[2]
• Error Condition Formula: Uses Salesforce formula syntax to define validation logic (e.g., AND(ISBLANK(SupportPlanExpirationDatec), SupportPlan__c = TRUE)) ^[4]
• Error Message: Displays when validation fails (up to 255 characters, supports merge fields) ^[2]
• Error Location: Chooses between field-specific display or top-of-page notification ^[2]

Common validation scenarios include:

• Requiring dependent fields (e.g., "Close Reason" when Opportunity Status = "Closed Lost") ^[5]
• Enforcing data formats (e.g., valid email patterns using REGEX functions) ^[5]
• Preventing duplicate values through VLOOKUP comparisons (for custom objects only) ^[10]

The Trailhead guide provides a practical example requiring a Support Plan Expiration Date when an account has an active support plan, demonstrating how validation rules can enforce business processes ^[4]. For activity-related fields, administrators must create rules on the Task object rather than the Activity object to access custom activity fields ^[3].

Advanced implementations may encounter FIELDCUSTOMVALIDATION_EXCEPTION errors when records fail rule conditions. Resolution strategies include:

• Correcting the invalid data before resubmission
• Temporarily deactivating problematic rules during data loads
• Implementing bypass mechanisms for specific user profiles ^[9]

Validation rules differ from required fields by offering conditional logic rather than absolute requirements. For instance, a field might only become mandatory when another field contains a specific value, providing more flexible data governance than simple required field settings ^[8].