Creating Formula Fields | Online Help - Zoho CRM

Creating Formula Fields

Formula fields are used to calculate different types of values, including numeric values, text values, date values, etc. Formula fields and their resulting return value have certain data types associated with them and there are specific operators that can be used for each data type. It is necessary to understand the type of fields required for creating formula fields and the compatibility between the data types and the operators. For instance, the operator " * " (for multiplication) is used on numeric values and not on text values.

  • You cannot modify the Return type for the formula fields.
  • Maximum 5000 characters can be used in the formula expression.
Availability
Permission Required
Users with the Field-level Access permission in profile can access this feature.

Create Numeric Formula Field

The following table helps you to understand the type of arguments required for numeric functions along with the type of syntax that needs to be formed.

Function

Description

Usage

Examples

Abs

Returns the absolute value of the Number.

Abs(number)

Abs(-42) returns 42; Abs(+33) returns 33

Ceil

Returns the smallest digit greater than or equal to the input number.

Ceil(number)

Ceil(3.4) returns 4; Ceil(-3.4) returns -3

Floor

Returns the largest digit less than or equal to the input number.

Floor(number)

Floor(3.8) returns 3; Floor(-3.4) returns -4

Naturallog

Returns the natural logarithm of a number

Naturallog(number)

Naturallog(1) returns 0.69

Base10log

Returns the base 10 logarithm of the input number

Base10log(number)

Base10log(10) returns 1.0

Max

Returns the maximum value from the specified list of compatible data types.

Max(value1, value2,...)

Max(3,1,5,2) returns 5; Max(0,-4,-3,2) returns 2

Min

Returns the minimum value from the specified list of compatible data types.

Min(value1, value2,...)

Min(5,-3,0,1) returns -3; Min(5,0,.01,0.5) returns 0.0

Sqrt

Returns the square root of the input number.

Sqrt(number)

Sqrt(4) returns 2; Sqrt(9) returns 3

To create numeric type formula fields

  1. Log in to Zoho CRM with Administrator privileges.
  2. Go to Setup > Customization > Modules and Fields.
    Module refers to the Leads, Accounts, Contacts, etc. tabs.
  3. Click the required module.
    The Layout Editor opens.
  4. Drag and drop the Formula field from the New Fields tray to the required module section on the right.
  5. In the  Formula Properties window, do the following:
    • Enter id in the Field Label field..
    • Select Number/Currency as the Formula Return Type from the drop-down list.
      In the case of Number and Currency Return Type fields, enter a value for Decimal places.
    Constructing Formulas
  6. Under Select Functions, select Numeric Functions from the drop-down list.
  7. From the list of Numeric Functions, choose a function and click Insert.
    (Alternatively, you can double-click on a function to insert)
  8. In the Formula expression, click between the parenthesis to insert an argument.
  9. Under Select Field column, choose a field and click Insert.
    (Alternatively, you can double-click on a field to insert)
  10. Under Select Operator column, choose an operator and click Insert.
  11. Click Check Syntax to check the construction of the formula.
  12. Click Save.

Create String Formula Field

The following table helps you to understand the type of arguments required for formula functions along with the type of syntax that needs to be formed.

FunctionDescriptionUsageExamples
LenReturns the number of characters in a specified text string.Len(string)Len('abc') returns 3; Len(' abc ') returns 5
FindReturns the nth occurrence of the text string.Find('string','search string',number)Find('greenery','n',1) returns 5
ConcatReturns the concatenation of all the strings.Concat('string','string',...)Concat('FirstName',' ','LastName') returns FirstName LastName
ContainsReturns true if search string is found in the other string, otherwise returns false.Contains('string','search string')Contains('abcdef','cd') returns true
StartswithReturns true if the string begins with the search string, otherwise returns false.Startswith('string','search string')Startswith('abcdef','cd') returns false
Startswith('abcdef','abc') returns true
EndswithReturns true if the string ends with the search string, otherwise returns false.Endswith('string','search string')Endswith('abcdef','ab') returns false
Endswith('abcdef','ef') returns true
LowerConverts all characters in a string to lower case.Lower('string')Lower('APPLES') returns "apples"
Lower('Apples') returns "apples"
UpperConverts all characters in a string to upper case.Upper('string')Upper('apples') returns "APPLES"
Upper('APPles') returns "APPLES"
TrimReturns string with the leading and trailing white space characters removed.Trim('string')Trim(' abcd ') returns "abcd"
SubstringReturns a portion of an input string, from a start position in the string to the specified length.Substring('string',n1,n2)Substring('abcdefg',4,7) returns "defg"
ReplaceReplaces each occurrence of the search string in the input string with the corresponding replace string.Replace('string','search string','replace string')Replace('abcdefg','abc','xyz') returns "xyzdefg"
TostringConverts any argument to a string data type.Tostring(generic argument)Tostring(3.4) returns "3.4"
Tostring('') returns < empty >
Note
  1. The string constants should always be enclosed in single quotes(')
  2. Field labels do not need to be enclosed in single quotes (').
  3. Values of the String data type can be used with == and != operations inside If(), Or(), And(), and Not() library functions.
    For example, If ('abc' == 'abc', ${returnValue1}, ${returnvalue2})

To create String type formula fields

  1. Log in to Zoho CRM with Administrator privileges.
  2. Go to Setup > Customization > Modules and Fields.
    Module refers to the Leads, Accounts, Contacts, etc. tabs.
  3. Click the required module.
    The Layout Editor opens.
  4. Drag and drop the Formula field from the New Fields tray to the required module section on the right.
  5. In the  Formula Properties window, do the following:
    • Enter id in the Label field.
    • Select String as theFormula Return Type from the drop-down list.
    Constructing Formulas
  6. Under Select Functions, select String Functions from the drop-down list.
  7. From the list of String Functions, choose a function and click Insert.
    (Alternatively, you can double-click on a function to insert)
  8. In the Formula expression, click between the parenthesis to insert an argument.
  9. Under Select Field column, choose a field and click Insert.
    (Alternatively, you can double-click on a field to insert)
  10. Under Select Operator column, choose an operator and click Insert.
  11. Click Check Syntax to check the construction of the formula.
  12. Click Save.

Create DateTime Formula Field

The following table helps you to understand the type of arguments required for DateTime functions along with the type of syntax that needs to be formed.

FunctionDescriptionUsageExamples
NewdateCreates a date from the year, month, day and time.Newdate(year,month,day, hour,minute,'string')Newdate(2007,12,21,06,30,'AM') returns quot;21/12/2007 06:30 AM"1
DatepartReturns the date value for the date time expression.Datepart(datetime argument)Datepart(Newdate(2007,12,21,06,30,'AM')) returns "21/12/2007"1
TimepartReturns the time value for the date time expression.Timepart(datetime argument)Timepart(Newdate(2007,12,21,06,30,'AM')) returns "06.30 AM"
AdddateReturns the date obtained by adding n (year/day/month/hour/min) to the given date.Adddate(datetime,number, 'string')Adddate(Newdate(2007,12,21,06,30,'AM'),2,'YEAR' returns "21/12/2009 06:30 AM"2
SubdateReturns the date obtained by subtracting n (year/day/month/hour/min) to the given date.Subdate(datetime,number, 'string')Subdate (Newdate(2007,12,21,06,30,'AM'),2,'YEAR' returns "21/12/2005 06:30 AM"2
NowReturns a date/time representing the current moment.Now()Now() returns "19/05/2009 10:52 AM"
DatecompCompares two dates and returns the difference of days in minutes.Datecomp(Datetime, Datetime)Datecomp(Newdate(2009,05,19,11,30,'AM'), Newdate(2009,05,19,12,30,'AM')) returns 660.0 3
DayofmonthReturns the day of the month for the given date.Dayofmonth(Datetime)Dayofmonth(Newdate(2009,05,19,11,30,'AM')) returns "19.0"
HourReturns the hour corresponding to the given date.Hour(Datetime)Hour(Newdate(2009,05,19,11,30,'AM')) returns "11.0"
MinuteReturns the minute corresponding to the given date.Minute(Datetime)Minute(Newdate(2009,05,19,11,30,'AM')) returns "30.0"
MonthReturns the month corresponding to the given date.Month(Datetime)Month(Newdate(2009,05,19,11,30,'AM')) returns "5.0"
YearReturns the year corresponding to the given dateYear(Datetime)Year(Newdate(2009,05,19,11,30,'AM')) returns "2009.0"
WeekdayReturns the day of the week (1-7) corresponding to the input date, where 1 is Sunday, 2 is Monday and so on.Weekday(Datetime)Weekday(Newdate(2009,05,19,11,30,'AM')) returns "3.0". (This is because 19th May is Tuesday)4
  1. The input DateTime argument format should always be YYYY,MM,DD,HH,MM,AM/PM but the output will be displayed as per the selected Country Locale.
  2. The string data type (YEAR/DAY/MONTH/HOUR/MINUTE) should be in UPPERCASE.
  3. The resulting return value for the Datecomp function is always displayed in minutes.
  4. If the date value is "0" the function returns null.

To create date time type formula fields

  1. Log in to Zoho CRM with Administrator privileges.
  2. Go to Setup > Customization > Modules and Fields.
    Module refers to the Leads, Accounts, Contacts, etc. tabs.
  3. Click the required module.
    The Layout Editor opens.
  4. Drag and drop the Formula field from the New Fields tray to the required module section on the right.
  5. In the  Formula Properties window, do the following:
    • Enter id in the Label field.
    • Select DateTime as the Formula Return Type from the drop-down list.
    Constructing Formulas
  6. Under Select Functions, select DateTime Functions from the drop-down list.
  7. From the list of DateTime Functions, choose a function and click Insert.
    (Alternatively, you can double-click on a function to insert)
  8. In the Formula expression, click between the parenthesis to insert an argument.
  9. Under Select Field column, choose a field and click Insert.
    (Alternatively, you can double-click on a field to insert)
  10. Under Select Operator column, choose an operator and click Insert.
  11. Click Check Syntax to check the construction of the formula.
  12. Click Save.

Create Boolean Formula Field

The following table helps you to understand the type of arguments required for boolean functions along with the type of syntax that needs to be formed.

FunctionDescriptionUsageExamples
IfReturns one of two values, depending on the value of a given logical condition. If the boolean test is true, If() returns the true value, otherwise returns the false value.If(Boolean,Generic, Generic)*If(8>7,1,0) returns "1.0"
If(8>7,'True','False') returns "True"
AndReturns a true response if all expressions are true; returns a false value even if one of the expressions is false.And(boolean,boolean ...)And(2>1,5>3,7<8) returns "true"
And(2>1,5>3,7>8) returns "false"
OrReturns true if any one expression is true. Returns false if all expressions are false.Or(boolean,...)Or(2>1,3>5,7>8) returns "true"
Or(1>2,3>5,7>8) returns "false"
NotReturns the logical negation of the given expression(If the expression is true, returns false).Not(boolean)Not(false) returns "true"
Not(true) returns "false"

* Generic implies any data type - Number, String, Datetime (including normal date) or Boolean. The return type depends on the selected data type. For instance, if the generic data type is a number, the return type should be Numeric and not string or boolean.

*Values of the String data type can be used with == and != operations inside If(), Or(), And(), and Not() library functions. For example, If ('abc' == 'abc', ${returnValue1}, ${returnvalue2})*

To create boolean type formula fields

  1. Log in to Zoho CRM with Administrator privileges.
  2. Go to Setup > Customization > Modules and Fields.
    Module refers to the Leads, Accounts, Contacts, etc. tabs.
  3. Click the required module.
    The Layout Editor opens.
  4. Drag and drop the Formula field from the New Fields tray to the required module section on the right.
  5. In the  Formula Propertieswindow, do the following:
    • Enter id in the Label field.
    • Select Boolean Functions as the Formula Return Type from the drop-down list.
    Constructing Formula
  6. Under Select Functions, select Boolean Functions from the drop-down list.
  7. From the list of Boolean Functions, choose a function and click Insert.
    (Alternatively, you can double-click on a function to insert)
  8. In the Formula expression, click between the parenthesis to insert an argument.
  9. Under Select Field column, choose a field and click Insert.
    (Alternatively, you can double-click on a field to insert)
  10. Under Select Operator column, choose an operator and click Insert.
  11. Click Check Syntax to check the construction of the formula.
  12. Click Save.

Formula Syntax Reference

The following table displays the functional reference for creating formulae along with their available arguments.

Numeric Functions

Function NameNo. of Required ArgumentsArgument Data TypeReturn Type
Abs1NumberNumber
Ceil1Numbernumber
Floor1NumberNumber
Naturallog1NumberNumber
Base10log1NumberNumber
MaxMultipleAll NumberNumber
MinMultipleAll NumberNumber
Sqrt1NumberNumber

String Functions

Function NameNo. of Required ArgumentsArgument Data Type>Return Type
Len1StringNumber
Find3String: String: NumberNumber
ConcatMultipleAll StringString
Contains2String: StringBoolean
Startswith2String: StringBoolean
Endswith2String: StringBoolean
Lower1StringString
Upper1StringString
Trim1StringString
Substring3String: Number: NumberString
Replace3String: String: StringString
Tostring1Any data typeString

DateTime Functions

Function NameNo. of Required ArgumentsArgument Data TypeReturn Type
Newdate6Number:Number:Number:Number:Number:StringDatetime
Datepart1DatetimeString
Timepart1DatetimeString
Adddate3Datetime: Number: StringDatetime
Subdate3Datetime: Number: StringDatetime
Now0-Datetime
Datecomp2Datetime: DatetimeNumber
Dayofmonth1DatetimeNumber
Hour1DatetimeNumber
Minute1DatetimeNumber
Month1DatetimeNumber
Year1DatetimeNumber
Weekday1DatetimeNumber

Boolean Functions

Function NameNo. of Required ArgumentsArgument Data TypeReturn Type
If3Boolean: Generic: GenericGeneric
AndMultipleAll BooleanBoolean
OrMultipleAll BooleanBoolean
Not1BooleanBoolean


Note
  1. String constants should be enclosed within single quotes.
  2. Generic implies any data type - Number, String, Datetime (including normal date) or Boolean.

Blank value computation

Note: This option is being released in a phased manner. It will soon be released to all users.

When you create a formula field, you can decide how blank values in participating fields are to be interpreted.
This is available under Blank value preference and you can pick one of the following options:
  1. Consider blank values as empty.
  2. Consider blank values as 0 for integers and decimals, "(empty)  for strings.
The first option 'Consider blank values as empty' will be selected by default when you create a new formula field.

Consider the following example:
  1. Rent is the formula field.
  2. The formula used is: Number of units * Price of a unit * Period of storage required.
  3. Number of units, Price of a unit, and Period of storage are all participating fields.
  4. Period of storage is blank.
a) If Consider blank values as empty is chosen for the Rent field:
Period of storage is interpreted as empty, and the formula will not compute the result. So, Rent will remain blank or empty.

b) If Consider blank value as 0 for integers and decimals, '' for strings is chosen for the Rent field:
Period of storage is interpreted as 0, and the formula will compute the result based on this value.




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