Salesforce Searchable Field

As Salesforce admin, sometimes we confuse when user come to us and ask, why a record not return in search result when I search Phone Number or Email or a custom picklist field.

Here is the guide on searchable field types in using Salesforce global search:

• All custom auto-number fields and custom fields that are set as an external ID field (you don't need to enter leading zeros.)
• All custom fields type: email and phone
• All custom fields type: text, text area, long text area, and rich text area

You see that FORMULA field is not searchable, it make sense because formula field is not stored in database.

When user search for a value, for records contained that value, global search result will include those records, even field contained for the search value is exist in a field that are not visible for that user, because of field-level security setting. Ideally, if user cannot see the value on that field, it should be not search-able for that particular user, vote for this Idea, currently it have only 160 point (9/9/15).

However, not all standard field is searchable, example: for Account only following fields are searchable:

• Account Name
• Account Name (Local)
• Account Number
• Account Site
• Billing Address
• Description
• D-U-N-S Number (This field is only available to organizations that use Data.com Prospector)
• Fax
• Phone
• Shipping Address
• Ticker Symbol
• Website
• All custom auto-number fields and custom fields that are set as an external ID (You don't need to enter leading zeros.)
• All custom fields of type text, text area, long text area, rich text area, email, and phone

For complete searchable fields by object, see this reference below.


Reference:

• Which Fields Are Searchable?
• Searchable Fields: Business Account