platform-custom-field-generate
GitHub用于生成和验证Salesforce自定义字段元数据XML,特别处理Roll-up Summary和Master-Detail等高频失败类型。涵盖字段创建、约束校验及部署错误排查,但不包含Value Set定义。
Trigger Scenarios
Install
npx skills add forcedotcom/sf-skills --skill platform-custom-field-generate -g -y
SKILL.md
Frontmatter
{
"name": "platform-custom-field-generate",
"metadata": {
"version": "1.0",
"minApiVersion": "51.0"
},
"description": "Use this skill when users need to create, generate, or validate Salesforce Custom Field metadata. Trigger when users mention custom fields, field types, Roll-up Summary fields, Master-Detail relationships, Lookup relationships, formula fields, picklists, dependent (controlling) picklists, referencing a value set from a field, or scoping\/limiting picklist values for a specific record type. Also use when users encounter field deployment errors, especially around Roll-up Summary format, Master-Detail constraints, formula issues, or a record type that won't deploy without a business process. Use this skill for custom field metadata work, field generation, and field troubleshooting. DO NOT TRIGGER for creating or customizing the value set itself — defining a new GlobalValueSet, or modifying a StandardValueSet catalog like Industry or Lead Source — use platform-value-set-generate instead; this skill covers the field that references a value set, not the value set definition."
}
Salesforce Custom Field Generator and Validator
Overview
Generates and validates Salesforce CustomField metadata XML, with special handling for the highest-failure-rate types — Roll-Up Summary and Master-Detail. The agent must verify the constraints below before outputting XML to prevent Metadata API deployment errors.
1. Universal Mandatory Attributes
Every generated field must include these tags:
| Attribute | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
<fullName> |
Required | Field name only: derive from <label> — capitalize each word, replace spaces with _, append __c. Must start with a letter. E.g., label Total Contract Value → Total_Contract_Value__c. ⚠️ This rule is for the FIELD name. Picklist VALUE <fullName> is different — keep it exactly as the user spelled it, spaces and all, no __c (e.g. Closed Won, NOT Closed_Won). See references/advanced-picklists.md (ref §3). |
<label> |
Required | The UI name (Title Case) |
<description> |
Always include | Explain the business reason why this field exists. |
<inlineHelpText> |
Always include | Actionable end-user guidance that adds value beyond the label (e.g., "Enter the value in USD including tax", not "The amount"). |
<description> and <inlineHelpText> are mandatory outputs even though the Metadata API does not enforce them — omitting them produces low-quality metadata.
File path (SFDX source format): save each field as force-app/main/default/objects/<Object>/fields/<FieldName>__c.field-meta.xml, where <Object> is the object's API name (Account, Opportunity, or a custom Inventory_Item__c). A correct XML at the wrong path is never seen by the Metadata API.
External ID Configuration
Trigger: If the user mentions "integration," "importing data," "external system ID," or "unique key from [System Name]," set <externalId>true</externalId>.
Applicable Types: Text, Number, Email
2. Precision, Scale, and Length Rules
To ensure deployment success, follow these mathematical constraints:
Precision vs. Scale Rules
precisionis the total digits;scaleis the decimal digits- Rule:
precision ≤ 18ANDscale ≤ precision - Calculation: Digits to the left of decimal =
precision - scale
The "Fixed 255" Rule
TextArea: always include <length>255</length> exactly — this literal value is required by the Metadata API and omitting it fails deployment, even though the UI exposes no length control. Unlike every other type where length is a value you calculate, TextArea's is a fixed constant.
Visible Lines
Mandatory for Long/Rich text and Multi-select picklists to control UI height.
3. Field Data Types
3.1 Simple Attribute Types
| Type | <type> Value |
Required Attributes |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Number | AutoNumber |
displayFormat (must include {0}), startingNumber |
| Checkbox | Checkbox |
Default defaultValue to false |
| Date | Date |
No precision/length required |
| Date/Time | DateTime |
No precision/length required |
Email |
Built-in format validation | |
| Lookup Relationship | Lookup |
referenceTo, relationshipName, deleteConstraint |
| Master-Detail Relationship | MasterDetail |
referenceTo, relationshipName, relationshipOrder |
| Number | Number |
precision, scale |
| Currency | Currency |
Default precision: 18, scale: 2 |
| Percent | Percent |
Default precision: 5, scale: 2 |
| Phone | Phone |
Standardizes phone number formatting |
| Picklist | Picklist |
valueSet containing EITHER valueSetDefinition (inline) OR valueSetName (reference); restricted (see "Picklist restricted default" below; advanced cases in §3.4) |
| Text | Text |
length (Max 255) |
| Text Area | TextArea |
<length>255</length> |
| Text (Long) | LongTextArea |
length, visibleLines (default 3) |
| Text (Rich) | Html |
length, visibleLines (default 25) |
| Time | Time |
Stores time only (no date) |
| URL | Url |
Validates for protocol and format |
3.2 Computed & Multi-Value Types
| Type | <type> Value |
Required Attributes |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | Result type (e.g., Number) |
formula, formulaTreatBlanksAs |
| Roll-Up Summary | Summary |
See Section 5 for complete requirements |
| Multi-Select Picklist | MultiselectPicklist |
valueSet, visibleLines (default 4) |
3.3 Specialized Types
| Type | <type> Value |
Required Attributes |
|---|---|---|
| Geolocation | Location |
scale, displayLocationInDecimal |
Picklist restricted default
Always set <restricted>true</restricted> inside <valueSet> unless the user explicitly says the picklist should accept custom values not in the admin-defined list (e.g. "unrestricted"/"open"). Restricted sets are capped at 1,000 total values (active + inactive). Minimal inline shape:
<valueSet>
<restricted>true</restricted>
<valueSetDefinition>
<sorted>false</sorted>
<value><fullName>Option_A</fullName><default>false</default><label>Option A</label></value>
</valueSetDefinition>
</valueSet>
3.4 Advanced Picklists
The inline <valueSetDefinition> above is the simple case. Full rules and worked ✅/❌
examples for everything below are in
references/advanced-picklists.md — load it for any
non-trivial picklist. Section numbers in parentheses below (e.g. "ref §1") point to that
reference file, not to this skill. The hard rules:
- Value-set reference (ref §1). A
<valueSet>holds EITHER<valueSetName>(reference) OR<valueSetDefinition>(inline) — never both. Reference by the bare developer name — Standard setIndustry, GlobalValueSetPriority_Levelswith NO__gvsand no__c(the__gvssuffix is org-storage display only; the Metadata API uses the bare name). A value-set-backed field is<restricted>true</restricted>. Creating the value set is theplatform-value-set-generateskill's job; this one only references it. - Value-name fidelity (ref §3). A picklist value's
<fullName>/<label>keep the user's exact text including spaces (Closed Won, neverClosed_Won). The space→_+__crule is for the FIELD name only. - Dependent picklists (ref §2). Use the modern API 38.0+ form:
<controllingField>+ one<valueSettings>(<controllingFieldValue>+<valueName>) per pair; never the legacy<picklist>/<picklistValues>/<controllingFieldValues>tags. Both controlling and dependent fields MUST be<restricted>true</restricted>, even if the request doesn't say so. - Enhanced value attributes (ref §3).
<value>entries also accept<color>(hex, leading#),<isActive>(falseretires a value), and a value-level<description>. - Scoping a picklist to a record type (ref §5). Per-record-type value visibility lives on the
RecordType (
<picklistValues>), not the field. The RecordType file carries its own<fullName>(bare developer name). First decide if the object needs a BusinessProcess: only Opportunity / Lead / Case / Solution require one — they won't deploy without a<businessProcess>(Required field is missing: businessProcess), even when only a custom picklist is filtered. There you emit two coupled files: thebusinessProcesses/<Name>.businessProcess-meta.xmlfile AND a matching<businessProcess><Name></businessProcess>inside the<RecordType>(after<active>, before<picklistValues>; the<fullName>in the BP file is bare, never object-qualified). Custom objects (*__c) and all other standard objects (Account, Contact, …) need NO BusinessProcess — emit the RecordType alone; do not invent one. Scope limit: picklist-value visibility per record type only — NOT general record-type authoring (compact layouts, page layouts, branding).
4. Master-Detail Relationship Rules CRITICAL
Master-Detail fields have strict attribute restrictions that differ from Lookup fields. Violating these rules causes deployment failures.
Forbidden Attributes on Master-Detail Fields
NEVER include these attributes on Master-Detail fields:
| Forbidden Attribute | Why | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
<required> |
Master-Detail is ALWAYS required by design | Deployment error |
<deleteConstraint> |
Master-Detail ALWAYS cascades deletes | Deployment error |
<lookupFilter> |
Only supported on Lookup fields | Deployment error |
Master-Detail vs Lookup Comparison
| Attribute | Master-Detail | Lookup |
|---|---|---|
<required> |
❌ FORBIDDEN | ✅ Optional |
<deleteConstraint> |
❌ FORBIDDEN (always CASCADE) | ✅ Required (SetNull, Restrict, Cascade) |
<lookupFilter> |
❌ FORBIDDEN | ✅ Optional |
<relationshipOrder> |
✅ Required (0 or 1) | ❌ Not applicable |
<reparentableMasterDetail> |
✅ Optional | ❌ Not applicable |
<writeRequiresMasterRead> |
✅ Optional | ❌ Not applicable |
INCORRECT — Master-Detail with forbidden attributes:
<CustomField xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
<fullName>Account__c</fullName>
<type>MasterDetail</type>
<referenceTo>Account</referenceTo>
<relationshipName>Contacts</relationshipName>
<relationshipOrder>0</relationshipOrder>
<required>true</required> <!-- WRONG: remove -->
<deleteConstraint>Cascade</deleteConstraint> <!-- WRONG: remove -->
<lookupFilter>...</lookupFilter> <!-- WRONG: remove entire block -->
</CustomField>
Errors: Master-Detail Relationship Fields Cannot be Optional or Required · Can not specify 'deleteConstraint' for a CustomField of type MasterDetail · Lookup filters are only supported on Lookup Relationship Fields
CORRECT — Master-Detail field:
<CustomField xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
<fullName>Account__c</fullName>
<label>Account</label>
<description>Links this record to its parent Account</description>
<type>MasterDetail</type>
<referenceTo>Account</referenceTo>
<relationshipLabel>Child Records</relationshipLabel>
<relationshipName>ChildRecords</relationshipName>
<relationshipOrder>0</relationshipOrder>
<reparentableMasterDetail>false</reparentableMasterDetail>
<writeRequiresMasterRead>false</writeRequiresMasterRead>
<!-- NO required, deleteConstraint, or lookupFilter -->
</CustomField>
CORRECT — Lookup field (with optional attributes):
<CustomField xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
<fullName>Related_Account__c</fullName>
<label>Related Account</label>
<description>Optional link to a related Account</description>
<type>Lookup</type>
<referenceTo>Account</referenceTo>
<relationshipLabel>Related Records</relationshipLabel>
<relationshipName>RelatedRecords</relationshipName>
<required>false</required>
<deleteConstraint>SetNull</deleteConstraint>
<lookupFilter>
<active>true</active>
<filterItems>
<field>Account.Type</field>
<operation>equals</operation>
<value>Customer</value>
</filterItems>
<isOptional>false</isOptional>
</lookupFilter>
</CustomField>
Additional Master-Detail Rules
- Relationship Order: First Master-Detail on object =
0, second =1 - Relationship Name: Must be a plural PascalCase string (e.g.,
Travel_Bookings) - Junction Objects: Use two Master-Detail fields for standard many-to-many (enables Roll-ups)
- Limit: Maximum 2 Master-Detail relationships per object. Use Lookup for additional relationships.
5. Roll-Up Summary Field Rules CRITICAL
Roll-up Summary fields have the highest deployment failure rate. Follow these rules exactly.
Required Elements for Roll-Up Summary
| Element | Requirement | Format |
|---|---|---|
<type> |
Required | Always Summary |
<summaryOperation> |
Required | count, sum, min, or max |
<summaryForeignKey> |
Required | ChildObject__c.MasterDetailField__c |
<summarizedField> |
Conditional | Required for sum, min, max. NOT for count |
Forbidden Elements on Roll-Up Summary
NEVER include these attributes on Roll-Up Summary fields:
| Forbidden Attribute | Why |
|---|---|
<precision> |
Summary inherits from summarized field |
<scale> |
Summary inherits from summarized field |
<required> |
Not applicable to Summary fields |
<length> |
Not applicable to Summary fields |
Format Rules for summaryForeignKey and summarizedField
CRITICAL: Both summaryForeignKey and summarizedField MUST use the fully qualified format:
ChildObjectAPIName__c.FieldAPIName__c
Decision Logic:
summaryForeignKey=ChildObject__c.MasterDetailFieldOnChild__csummarizedField=ChildObject__c.FieldToSummarize__c
INCORRECT — Roll-Up Summary with common errors:
<CustomField xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
<fullName>Total_Amount__c</fullName>
<label>Total Amount</label>
<type>Summary</type>
<precision>18</precision> <!-- WRONG: Remove - inherited from source -->
<scale>2</scale> <!-- WRONG: Remove - inherited from source -->
<summaryOperation>sum</summaryOperation>
<summaryForeignKey>Order__c</summaryForeignKey> <!-- WRONG: Missing field name -->
<summarizedField>Amount__c</summarizedField> <!-- WRONG: Missing object name -->
</CustomField>
Errors:
Can not specify 'precision' for a CustomField of type SummaryMust specify the name in the CustomObject.CustomField format (e.g. Account.MyNewCustomField)
CORRECT — Roll-Up Summary (SUM operation):
<CustomField xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
<fullName>Total_Amount__c</fullName>
<label>Total Amount</label>
<description>Sum of all line item amounts</description>
<inlineHelpText>Automatically calculated from child line items</inlineHelpText>
<type>Summary</type>
<summaryOperation>sum</summaryOperation>
<summarizedField>Order_Line_Item__c.Amount__c</summarizedField>
<summaryForeignKey>Order_Line_Item__c.Order__c</summaryForeignKey>
<!-- NO precision, scale, required, or length -->
</CustomField>
COUNT: identical structure to SUM but omit <summarizedField> entirely (and keep <summaryForeignKey>). MIN / MAX: identical to SUM — just <summaryOperation>min</summaryOperation> or max, with <summarizedField> pointing at the field to find the minimum/maximum of. The Quick Reference table below covers all four.
Roll-Up Summary Quick Reference
| Operation | summarizedField Required? | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
count |
NO | Count number of child records |
sum |
YES | Add up numeric values |
min |
YES | Find smallest value |
max |
YES | Find largest value |
Roll-Up Summary Prerequisites
- Roll-Up Summary fields can ONLY be created on the parent object in a Master-Detail relationship
- The child object MUST have a Master-Detail field pointing to this parent
- The summarized field must exist on the child object
6. Formula Field Rules
Formula Result Types
A Formula is not a type itself. The <formula> tag is added to a field whose <type> is set to the result data type:
Checkbox,Currency,Date,DateTime,Number,Percent,Text
Formula XML Generation Rules
- The contents of the
<formula>tag MUST be wrapped in a<![CDATA[ ... ]]>section. This prevents the XML parser from interpreting formula operators (like&,<,>) as XML markup. - If the formula text itself contains the literal sequence
]]>, escape it by breaking the CDATA block: e.g.,<![CDATA[Text_Field__c & "]]]]><![CDATA[>"]]> - NEVER use an attribute or tag named
returnType. This does not exist in the Metadata API. The<type>tag defines the return data type of the formula result.
formulaTreatBlanksAs Rule
Decision Logic:
- IF formula result type =
Number,Currency, orPercent→ set<formulaTreatBlanksAs>BlankAsZero</formulaTreatBlanksAs> - IF formula result type =
Text,Date, orDateTime→ set<formulaTreatBlanksAs>BlankAsBlank</formulaTreatBlanksAs>
INCORRECT — Using Formula as type:
<CustomField xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
<fullName>Calculated_Value__c</fullName>
<type>Formula</type> <!-- WRONG: Formula is not a valid type -->
<returnType>Number</returnType> <!-- WRONG: returnType does not exist in Metadata API -->
<formula>Field1__c + Field2__c</formula> <!-- WRONG: Missing CDATA wrapper -->
</CustomField>
CORRECT — Formula field:
<CustomField xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
<fullName>Calculated_Value__c</fullName>
<label>Calculated Value</label>
<description>Sum of Field1 and Field2</description>
<type>Number</type> <!-- Result type, not "Formula" -->
<precision>18</precision>
<scale>2</scale>
<formula><![CDATA[Field1__c + Field2__c]]></formula>
<formulaTreatBlanksAs>BlankAsZero</formulaTreatBlanksAs>
</CustomField>
Formula Field Dependencies & Functions
- Formula fields that reference other fields fail deployment if the referenced field doesn't exist or hasn't deployed yet — deploy referenced fields first.
- Use
ISPICKVAL()(not==) for picklist comparisons. - For the full formula-function reference (TEXT/VALUE/CASE/DAY/MONTH/DATEVALUE/ISCHANGED type rules), defer to the
platform-validation-rule-generateskill, which owns formula-function correctness.
7. Common Deployment Errors
| Error Message | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
ConversionError: Invalid XML tags or unable to find matching parent xml file for CustomField |
XML comments placed before the root <CustomField> element |
Remove XML comments (<!-- ... -->) that appear before <CustomField> in the .field-meta.xml file |
Field [FieldName] does not exist. Check spelling. |
Referenced field does not exist or has not been deployed yet | Verify the referenced field exists and is deployed before this field |
DUPLICATE_DEVELOPER_NAME |
Field fullName already exists on the object | Use a unique business-driven name |
MAX_RELATIONSHIPS_EXCEEDED |
More than 2 Master-Detail or 15 Lookup fields on the object | Use Lookup for 3rd+ Master-Detail; review Lookup count |
| Reserved keyword error | Using Order__c, Group__c, etc. |
Rename to Status_Order__c, etc. |
Value set must reference a value set name or define a value set, but not both |
<valueSet> has both <valueSetName> and <valueSetDefinition> |
Keep exactly one (see Section 3.4) |
duplicate value found: [X] is defined multiple times |
Two <value> entries share a <fullName> |
Make every picklist value <fullName> unique |
Invalid fullName on a picklist value |
Value <fullName> starts with a digit or contains hyphens |
Start with a letter; no hyphens, no leading digit. Spaces ARE allowed — do NOT underscore them (see §3.4 value-name fidelity) |
Element ...picklist is not allowed |
Deprecated ≤37.0 dependent-picklist syntax (<picklist>/<picklistValues>/<controllingFieldValues>) |
Use the modern valueSettings/controllingFieldValue/valueName form (Section 3.4) |
8. Verification Checklist
Before generating CustomField XML, verify:
Universal Checks
- Does
<fullName>use valid format and end in__c? - Are
<description>and<inlineHelpText>both populated and meaningful? - Is
<label>in Title Case? - Are there no XML comments (
<!-- ... -->) before the root<CustomField>element? (Comments before the root element break SDR's parser)
Master-Detail Field Checks CRITICAL
- Is
<required>attribute ABSENT? (Master-Detail is always required) - Is
<deleteConstraint>attribute ABSENT? (Master-Detail always cascades) - Is
<lookupFilter>block ABSENT? (Only for Lookup fields) - Is
<relationshipOrder>set to0or1? - Is parent object's
<sharingModel>set toControlledByParent?
Lookup Field Checks
- Is
<deleteConstraint>set toSetNull,Restrict, orCascade? - Is
<relationshipName>in plural PascalCase?
Picklist Field Checks
- Does each
<valueSet>contain EITHER<valueSetName>OR<valueSetDefinition>— never both? - For a value-set reference: is
<restricted>true</restricted>set? - For a StandardValueSet reference: is the name the bare enum with NO
__c(e.g.Industry)? - For a GlobalValueSet reference: is the name the bare developer name with NO
__gvssuffix? - For dependent picklists: is
<controllingField>set, with one<valueSettings>(<controllingFieldValue>+<valueName>) per pair? - For dependent picklists: is the deprecated
<picklist>/<picklistValues>/<controllingFieldValues>form ABSENT? - Are all picklist value
<fullName>values unique, start with a letter, and free of hyphens? (spaces are allowed — do NOT replace them with underscores, per the §3.4 value-name fidelity rule)
Roll-Up Summary Field Checks CRITICAL
- Is
<precision>attribute ABSENT? - Is
<scale>attribute ABSENT? - Is
<summaryForeignKey>in formatChildObject__c.MasterDetailField__c? - For SUM/MIN/MAX: Is
<summarizedField>in formatChildObject__c.FieldName__c? - For COUNT: Is
<summarizedField>ABSENT? - Does the child object have a Master-Detail field to this parent?
Formula Field Checks
- Is
<type>set to result type (NOT "Formula")? - Is
<formula>content wrapped in<![CDATA[ ... ]]>? - Is
<returnType>attribute ABSENT? (does not exist in Metadata API) - Is
<formulaTreatBlanksAs>set toBlankAsZerofor numeric results orBlankAsBlankfor text/date results? - Do all referenced fields exist and deploy before this field?
Numeric Field Checks
- Is
scale ≤ precision? - Is
precision ≤ 18?
Text Area Checks
- For TextArea: Is
<length>255</length>explicitly included? - For LongTextArea/Html: Is
<visibleLines>set?
Relationship Limit Checks
- Are there 2 or fewer Master-Detail relationships on the object?
- Are there 15 or fewer Lookup relationships on the object?
Naming Checks
- Is the API name free of reserved words (
Order,Group,Select, etc.)? - Is the API name unique on this object?
Version History
- 1.29.0 Current 2026-07-05 18:51


