How to get Today Date in Salesforce Formula

In our previous blog post we had discussed about Data Masking in Salesforce. In these blog post we discuss about How to get Today Date in Salesforce Formula

How to get Today Date in Salesforce Formula

Why Use Today’s Date in Salesforce Formula

Using today’s date in a Salesforce formula opens the door to numerous possibilities, such as:

• Tracking deadlines for opportunities or tasks.
• Calculating time durations, like the number of days until a task is due.
• Age calculations, such as how long a lead has been in the pipeline.
• Time-based workflows that trigger actions based on current dates.

Understanding how to leverage today’s date is essential for anyone who wants to streamline processes in Salesforce.

The Basics of Salesforce Formula Fields

Before diving into how to get today’s date in a formula, let’s briefly touch on formula fields. A Salesforce formula field is a read-only field that automatically calculates values based on other fields or data within the system. These formula fields use functions to operate, and understanding how to incorporate today’s date into these functions can make your formulas highly dynamic and useful.

How to Get Today’s Date in Salesforce Formula

Using the TODAY() Function

The easiest and most straightforward way to get today’s date in Salesforce is by using the TODAY() function. This function returns the current date based on the system’s timezone.

This will return the date in the format: YYYY-MM-DD.

Using TODAY() in Date Calculations

Once you have today’s date, you can start using it in formulas. Let’s say you want to calculate the number of days between the current date and a future due date. You can subtract the two dates as follows:

Combining TODAY() with Other Functions

You can combine TODAY() with other functions like IF(), BLANKVALUE(), or TEXT() for more complex calculations.

Example 1: Calculating Overdue Tasks

Let’s say you want to check if a task is overdue. You could create a formula field that shows “Overdue” if today’s date is past the due date:

This will return either “Overdue” or “On Track” based on the comparison of the current date and the due date.

Example 2: Counting Days Left Until a Deadline

Another common use is to display the number of days left until a deadline:

This formula ensures that if the due date is in the past, it will show 0 rather than a negative number of days.

Using TODAY() for Age Calculation

If you need to calculate the age of a record, such as how long an account has been active, you can use the TODAY() function combined with the account’s creation date.

This will return the number of days since the account was created.

Using DATEVALUE() for More Flexibility

Sometimes, you’ll need to work with dates stored as text or another data type. The DATEVALUE() function converts text or other formats into an actual date that you can use in your formulas.

By converting the CreatedDate field into a date, you can easily use it in your calculations with TODAY().

Creation process of today date field:

To create a formula field on the Account object that displays the current date, follow these steps:

Navigate to the Account Object:

Go to the Account object in Salesforce.

Click on the “New” button to create a new field.

• Choose the Field Type:

Select “Formula” as the field type.

Enter the Formula:

In the formula editor, enter the following syntax: TODAY()

This will display the current date without any time component.

Handling Time Zones in Salesforce Date Formulas

Time Zone Adjustments

One thing to keep in mind when using TODAY() in your formulas is that it works based on the Salesforce instance’s time zone, not the user’s time zone. If you’re working in a global organization, this can cause discrepancies. Unfortunately, there’s no direct way to get the current date based on a user’s time zone in a formula, but you can adjust it by storing the user’s time zone in a custom field.

Using NOW() for Date and Time

If you also need to include the current time along with the date, use the NOW() function. This function returns the current date and time, which is useful for more precise calculations, such as tracking when specific actions were taken.

This will return both the date and time in the format: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM

Limitations of Using TODAY() in Salesforce Formulas

While TODAY() is incredibly useful, there are a few limitations:

• Read-Only Fields: Formula fields are read-only, so they can’t trigger updates or changes to other fields.
• No Time Component: TODAY() only returns the date, not the time. If you need the time, you must use NOW().
• No User-Specific Time Zones: As mentioned, TODAY() doesn’t account for time zones based on individual users.

When to Use Custom Code Instead of Formulas

If your date logic is too complex for formulas, consider using Apex triggers or custom code. These tools allow for more advanced functionality, such as updating records based on the user’s local time or performing actions when a date reaches a certain threshold.

Best Practices for Using Date Formulas

• Always Test Your Formulas: Use the formula editor in Salesforce to test and ensure your date formulas behave as expected.
• Use Clear Field Labels: Make sure the names of your fields and formulas clearly indicate their purpose, especially when working with dates.
• Document Your Formulas: Leave comments within your formulas (where supported) to document what each part does.

Conclusion

Mastering date formulas in Salesforce can significantly enhance your workflow automation and data tracking capabilities. Whether you’re calculating due dates, age of records, or overdue tasks, using the TODAY() function offers flexibility and efficiency in managing your data. By understanding its limitations and combining it with other Salesforce functions, you can build powerful and accurate date-based formulas.

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FAQs

Can I use TODAY() to update other fields automatically?

No, formula fields are read-only. You’ll need to use workflows, process builder, or Apex triggers to update other fields based on TODAY().

How does TODAY() handle time zones in Salesforce?

TODAY() works based on the Salesforce instance’s time zone. It does not adjust for user-specific time zones.

What’s the difference between TODAY() and NOW()?

TODAY() returns only the date, while NOW() includes both the current date and time.

Can I subtract dates in a formula field?

Yes, you can subtract dates to get the difference in days. For example, Due_Date__c - TODAY() will give the number of days between the due date and today.

Can I use the TODAY() function in validation rules?

Yes, you can use TODAY() in validation rules to enforce date-based logic, such as ensuring a date field isn’t set in the past.

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