Salesforce Sales Cloud Consultant Test

Which field type changes can result in data loss?

1. Multi-select picklist to any other type

2. Number field to Text field

3. Checkbox to any other type

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

In Salesforce, certain field type changes can lead to data loss, and this is particularly true when transitioning from more complex or restrictive field types to simpler types. Changing a multi-select picklist to a field type that does not accommodate multiple selections results in the inability to retain all the selected values, leading to data loss. Transitioning a number field to a text field can also lead to complications. If the number field contains specific formatting or validation rules that do not apply to text fields, there could be scenarios where numeric representations are not maintained correctly. This could particularly be an issue for calculations or reports that depend on numeric data. Changing a checkbox to a field type that is not a binary true/false option inherently results in data loss as well, since checkboxes only have two states, and converting them to a different type may not express that binary nature effectively. Thus, any of the mentioned transitions can introduce data loss, and it is critical to understand these limitations when planning field type changes within the Salesforce platform.