Workflow is the most favorite tool available for Salesforce admin for automation (before Process Builder born), even after Process Builder available, workflow still favorite by Salesforce admin because of the simplicity. However, when you have a lot of workflows in the same object, sometimes it become too complex to troubleshoot when workflow do not action as it suppose to.
One of the easiest option to troubleshoot workflow is using
Debug Log, navigate to
Setup |
Logs |
Debug Logs. You need to define Traced Entity (in this case, select User), Start Date Time, Expiration Date Time, and Debug Level (choose finest).
Once a record is create or update, refresh the debug log and notice new log is added. Here are few samples with debug log detail:
1. One workflow and criteria no match
36.0 APEX_CODE,NONE;APEX_PROFILING,NONE;CALLOUT,NONE;DB,NONE;SYSTEM,NONE;VALIDATION,NONE;VISUALFORCE,NONE;WORKFLOW,FINEST
06:54:11.0 (490818)|EXECUTION_STARTED
06:54:11.0 (532130)|CODE_UNIT_STARTED|[EXTERNAL]|Workflow:Account
06:54:11.0 (10666652)|WF_RULE_EVAL_BEGIN|Workflow
06:54:11.0 (10710163)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Type = Prospect|01Q28000000DuoK|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
06:54:11.0 (14983111)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Type equals Prospect]
06:54:11.0 (15020276)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|
06:54:11.0 (15044369)|WF_CRITERIA_END|false
06:54:11.0 (15062046)|WF_SPOOL_ACTION_BEGIN|Workflow
06:54:11.0 (15074132)|WF_ACTION| None
06:54:11.0 (15079771)|WF_RULE_EVAL_END
06:54:11.0 (15121739)|WF_ACTIONS_END| None
06:54:11.0 (15134839)|CODE_UNIT_FINISHED|Workflow:Account
06:54:11.0 (15144558)|EXECUTION_FINISHED
Color coded:
YELLOW background: start and end of workflow
GREEN background: start and end of workflow action
LIGHT YELLOW background: range of one workflow
DARK GREEN background: list of actions
PURPLE text: record Id
BLUE text: workflow Id
RED text: workflow rule criteria match
2. One workflow and criteria match
36.0 APEX_CODE,NONE;APEX_PROFILING,NONE;CALLOUT,NONE;DB,NONE;SYSTEM,NONE;VALIDATION,NONE;VISUALFORCE,NONE;WORKFLOW,FINEST
07:00:42.0 (494258)|EXECUTION_STARTED
07:00:42.0 (530411)|CODE_UNIT_STARTED|[EXTERNAL]|Workflow:Account
07:00:42.0 (17812902)|WF_RULE_EVAL_BEGIN|Workflow
07:00:42.0 (17921019)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|website blank|01Q28000000DuoP|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:00:42.0 (22442943)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Website equals ]
07:00:42.0 (22533614)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|
07:00:42.0 (22559049)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
07:00:42.0 (36720479)|WF_SPOOL_ACTION_BEGIN|Workflow
07:00:42.0 (47993268)|WF_RULE_INVOCATION|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]
07:00:42.0 (48084821)|WF_ACTION_TASK|Task:Remember|Id=01V280000000CKK|CurrentRule:website blank (Id=01Q28000000DuoP)|AssignedTo:Admin Playground|DueDate:Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 GMT 2016
07:00:42.0 (48374884)|WF_ACTION| Task: 1;
07:00:42.0 (48380808)|WF_RULE_EVAL_END
07:00:42.0 (263328067)|WF_ACTIONS_END| Task: 1;
07:00:42.0 (263343578)|CODE_UNIT_FINISHED|Workflow:Account
07:00:42.0 (263350475)|EXECUTION_FINISHED
Additional color coded:
FUCHSIA text: Task action Id
ORANGE text: all actions
3. Two active workflows; only one criteria match: create task
36.0 APEX_CODE,NONE;APEX_PROFILING,NONE;CALLOUT,NONE;DB,NONE;SYSTEM,NONE;VALIDATION,NONE;VISUALFORCE,NONE;WORKFLOW,FINEST
07:02:14.0 (78956)|EXECUTION_STARTED
07:02:14.0 (125619)|CODE_UNIT_STARTED|[EXTERNAL]|Workflow:Account
07:02:14.0 (24545463)|WF_RULE_EVAL_BEGIN|Workflow
07:02:14.0 (24621836)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Type = Prospect|01Q28000000DuoK|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:02:14.0 (30423437)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Type equals Prospect]
07:02:14.0 (30448452)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|
07:02:14.0 (30456367)|WF_CRITERIA_END|false
07:02:14.0 (30476927)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|website blank|01Q28000000DuoP|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:02:14.0 (30511143)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Website equals ]
07:02:14.0 (30524283)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|
07:02:14.0 (30529957)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
07:02:14.0 (47469103)|WF_SPOOL_ACTION_BEGIN|Workflow
07:02:14.0 (50377861)|WF_RULE_INVOCATION|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]
07:02:14.0 (50473276)|WF_ACTION_TASK|Task:Remember|Id=01V280000000CKK|CurrentRule:website blank (Id=01Q28000000DuoP)|AssignedTo:Admin Playground|DueDate:Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 GMT 2016
07:02:14.0 (50502200)|WF_ACTION| Task: 1;
07:02:14.0 (50508567)|WF_RULE_EVAL_END
07:02:14.0 (102090292)|WF_ACTIONS_END| Task: 1;
07:02:14.0 (102112660)|CODE_UNIT_FINISHED|Workflow:Account
07:02:14.0 (102122130)|EXECUTION_FINISHED
Additional color coded:
GREEN text: second workflow
LIGHT BLUE background: second range workflow
DARK GREEN background: Create Task action
4. Two active workflows; both criteria match: create task & field update
36.0 APEX_CODE,NONE;APEX_PROFILING,NONE;CALLOUT,NONE;DB,NONE;SYSTEM,NONE;VALIDATION,NONE;VISUALFORCE,NONE;WORKFLOW,FINEST
07:06:23.0 (571061)|EXECUTION_STARTED
07:06:23.0 (614080)|CODE_UNIT_STARTED|[EXTERNAL]|Workflow:Account
07:06:23.0 (13270473)|WF_RULE_EVAL_BEGIN|Workflow
07:06:23.0 (13555244)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Type = Prospect|01Q28000000DuoK|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:06:23.0 (17599518)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Type equals Prospect]
07:06:23.0 (17747778)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|Prospect
07:06:23.0 (17833551)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
07:06:23.0 (18589437)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|website blank|01Q28000000DuoP|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:06:23.0 (18681542)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Website equals ]
07:06:23.0 (18760950)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|
07:06:23.0 (18767696)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
07:06:23.0 (18860608)|WF_SPOOL_ACTION_BEGIN|Workflow
07:06:23.0 (19151790)|WF_FIELD_UPDATE|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Field:Account: Description|Value:2016-03-26 23:06:23Z|Id=04Y280000009Poy|CurrentRule:Type = Prospect (Id=01Q28000000DuoK)
07:06:23.0 (21694421)|WF_RULE_INVOCATION|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]
07:06:23.0 (21797283)|WF_ACTION_TASK|Task:Remember|Id=01V280000000CKK|CurrentRule:website blank (Id=01Q28000000DuoP)|AssignedTo:Admin Playground|DueDate:Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 GMT 2016
07:06:23.0 (21879044)|WF_ACTION| Field Update: 1; Task: 1;
07:06:23.0 (21929815)|WF_RULE_EVAL_END
07:06:23.0 (75368022)|WF_ACTIONS_END| Field Update: 1; Task: 1;
07:06:23.0 (75384504)|CODE_UNIT_FINISHED|Workflow:Account
07:06:23.0 (75390586)|EXECUTION_FINISHED
Additional color coded:
LIGHT PINK background: Field Update action
Lesson learn from this scenario:
5. One active workflows - no criteria match; one inactive workflow
36.0 APEX_CODE,NONE;APEX_PROFILING,NONE;CALLOUT,NONE;DB,NONE;SYSTEM,NONE;VALIDATION,NONE;VISUALFORCE,NONE;WORKFLOW,FINEST
07:12:20.0 (607207)|EXECUTION_STARTED
07:12:20.0 (677793)|CODE_UNIT_STARTED|[EXTERNAL]|Workflow:Account
07:12:20.0 (21667072)|WF_RULE_EVAL_BEGIN|Workflow
07:12:20.0 (22135772)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|website blank|01Q28000000DuoP|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:12:20.0 (29783091)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Website equals ]
07:12:20.0 (29880114)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|www.aa.com
07:12:20.0 (29973169)|WF_CRITERIA_END|false
07:12:20.0 (30005156)|WF_SPOOL_ACTION_BEGIN|Workflow
07:12:20.0 (30068782)|WF_ACTION| None
07:12:20.0 (30120461)|WF_RULE_EVAL_END
07:12:20.0 (30246879)|WF_ACTIONS_END| None
07:12:20.0 (30260963)|CODE_UNIT_FINISHED|Workflow:Account
07:12:20.0 (30268055)|EXECUTION_FINISHED
Lesson learn from this scenario: inactive workflow will not be evaluated at all.
6. Three active workflows; all criteria match: create task & field update & send email
36.0 APEX_CODE,NONE;APEX_PROFILING,NONE;CALLOUT,NONE;DB,NONE;SYSTEM,NONE;VALIDATION,NONE;VISUALFORCE,NONE;WORKFLOW,FINEST
07:14:30.0 (98803)|EXECUTION_STARTED
07:14:30.0 (154441)|CODE_UNIT_STARTED|[EXTERNAL]|Workflow:Account
07:14:30.0 (16424626)|WF_RULE_EVAL_BEGIN|Workflow
07:14:30.0 (16495118)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Type = Prospect|
01Q28000000DuoK
|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:14:30.0 (20462863)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Type equals Prospect]
07:14:30.0 (20571360)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|Prospect
07:14:30.0 (20597483)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
07:14:30.0 (36578619)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|website blank|
01Q28000000DuoP
|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:14:30.0 (36681809)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Website equals ]
07:14:30.0 (36795290)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|
07:14:30.0 (36803418)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
07:14:30.0 (36830368)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Billing Country is Singapore|
01Q28000000DuoU
|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
07:14:30.0 (36928167)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Billing Country equals Singapore]
07:14:30.0 (36951420)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|Singapore
07:14:30.0 (36955780)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
07:14:30.0 (37008104)|WF_SPOOL_ACTION_BEGIN|Workflow
07:14:30.0 (37341627)|WF_FIELD_UPDATE|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Field:Account: Description|Value:2016-03-26 23:14:30Z|Id=04Y280000009Poy|CurrentRule:Type = Prospect (Id=01Q28000000DuoK)
07:14:30.0 (50320374)|WF_RULE_INVOCATION|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]
07:14:30.0 (50413236)|WF_ACTION_TASK|Task:Remember|Id=01V280000000CKK|CurrentRule:website blank (Id=01Q28000000DuoP)|AssignedTo:Admin Playground|DueDate:Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 GMT 2016
07:14:30.0 (50441107)|WF_RULE_INVOCATION|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]
07:14:30.0 (50459270)|WF_EMAIL_ALERT|Id=01W28000000CylZ|CurrentRule:Billing Country is Singapore (Id=01Q28000000DuoU)
07:14:30.0 (136184167)|WF_EMAIL_SENT|Template:00X28000001CeTV|Recipients:yujohan@gmail.com |CcEmails:
07:14:30.0 (136249507)|WF_ACTION| Field Update: 1; Task: 1; Email Alert: 1;
07:14:30.0 (136265700)|WF_RULE_EVAL_END
07:14:30.0 (195583761)|WF_ACTIONS_END| Field Update: 1; Task: 1; Email Alert: 1;
07:14:30.0 (195602601)|CODE_UNIT_FINISHED|Workflow:Account
07:14:30.0 (195609979)|EXECUTION_FINISHED
Color coded:
BLACK bold text: Record Id
RED text: 1st workflow Id
BLUE text: 2nd workflow Id
FUCHSIA textL 3rd workflow Id
YELLOW background: 1st workflow action
GREEN background: 2nd workflow action
BLUE background: 3rd workflow action
GREEN background text: Field Update Id
CYAN background text: Email Alert Id
YELLOW background text: Email Alert Id
7. Workflow with formula evaluates to true
36.0 APEX_CODE,NONE;APEX_PROFILING,NONE;CALLOUT,NONE;DB,NONE;SYSTEM,NONE;VALIDATION,NONE;VISUALFORCE,NONE;WORKFLOW,FINEST
09:57:09.0 (539007)|EXECUTION_STARTED
09:57:09.0 (578864)|CODE_UNIT_STARTED|[EXTERNAL]|Workflow:Account
09:57:09.0 (23452602)|WF_RULE_EVAL_BEGIN|Workflow
09:57:09.0 (23564561)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Type = Prospect|01Q28000000DuoK|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
09:57:09.0 (39215585)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Type equals Prospect]
09:57:09.0 (39316655)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|Prospect
09:57:09.0 (39344976)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
09:57:09.0 (58619174)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|website blank formula|01Q28000000Duoj|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
09:57:09.0 (59063797)|WF_FORMULA|Formula:ENCODED:[treatNullAsNull]ISBLANK({!ID:Website})|Values:Website=null
09:57:09.0 (59074730)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
09:57:09.0 (59108389)|WF_CRITERIA_BEGIN|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Billing Country is Singapore|01Q28000000DuoU|ON_ALL_CHANGES|0
09:57:09.0 (59218244)|WF_RULE_FILTER|[Account : Billing Country equals Singapore]
09:57:09.0 (59255080)|WF_RULE_EVAL_VALUE|Singapore
09:57:09.0 (59260781)|WF_CRITERIA_END|true
09:57:09.0 (59301987)|WF_SPOOL_ACTION_BEGIN|Workflow
09:57:09.0 (59648416)|WF_FIELD_UPDATE|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]|Field:Account: Description|Value:2016-03-27 01:57:09Z|Id=04Y280000009Poy|CurrentRule:Type = Prospect (Id=01Q28000000DuoK)
09:57:09.0 (77261802)|WF_RULE_INVOCATION|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]
09:57:09.0 (77377441)|WF_ACTION_TASK|Task:Remember|Id=01V280000000CKK|CurrentRule:website blank formula (Id=01Q28000000Duoj)|AssignedTo:Admin Playground|DueDate:Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 GMT 2016
09:57:09.0 (77440859)|WF_RULE_INVOCATION|[Account: Ke 1 0012800000UXMjh]
09:57:09.0 (77461684)|WF_EMAIL_ALERT|Id=01W28000000CylZ|CurrentRule:Billing Country is Singapore (Id=01Q28000000DuoU)
09:57:09.0 (146795599)|WF_EMAIL_SENT|Template:00X28000001CeTV|Recipients:yujohan@gmail.com |CcEmails:
09:57:09.0 (146993665)|WF_ACTION| Field Update: 1; Task: 1; Email Alert: 1;
09:57:09.0 (147007835)|WF_RULE_EVAL_END
09:57:09.0 (212561460)|WF_ACTIONS_END| Field Update: 1; Task: 1; Email Alert: 1;
09:57:09.0 (212578852)|CODE_UNIT_FINISHED|Workflow:Account
09:57:09.0 (212586074)|EXECUTION_FINISHED
All above samples before (7), we use
criteria are met in the workflow rule criteria, but in (7), we use
formula evaluates to true - note the difference in highlighted debug log above.
Reference: