Triggers are used to generate an action whenever criteria match in the records. In the criteria section of the trigger page, you can choose either old or new attributes.
Old - Old is chosen for an attribute that already has a value in it. On selecting old, a trigger will be generated if the record has the value mentioned in the criteria. Old attributes are when a record is updated or deleted.
When you make any other changes (other than in the mentioned attribute) or delete a record that has the value mentioned in the criteria, then trigger will be generated.
New - New is selected when a value is added to the attribute. This added value is checked to see if the criteria match to generate a trigger. New attributes are used when a record is created or updated.
When you create or update a record, the value mentioned in the criteria must be added to the attribute, only then a trigger will be generated.
Instance 1: Generating trigger for an Old Attribute
- Consider configuring a trigger where an attribute is to be updated if the criteria match. The event chosen is to update the contacts in the Contacts App.
- When the Contact Type is Billing, then the action is to update the Assigned To to Nadia James.
- Consider navigating to a record whose Contact Type is Billing.
- Here, the status is Active and Assigned To is Caroline Forbes. When the status is changed to Inactive, the Assigned To will automatically change to Nadia James.
- This is because the record has the Old - Contact Type as Billing that matches the criteria.
Instance 2: Generating trigger for a New Attribute
- Consider configuring a trigger where an attribute is to be updated if the criteria match. The event chosen is to create a contact in the Contacts App.
- While creating a contract, if the Contact Status is Active, then the action is to update the Assigned To to Peyton Daniel.
- Consider creating a record whose Status value is added Active.
- Here, the Assigned To is Caroline Forbes. As soon as a contact is created, the Assigned To has changed automatically to Peyton Daniel.
- This is because the status criteria match in the record.
