Implementing workflow field formulas

Abstract

The efficiency and versatility for the implementation of formulas in an on-demand database is improved. Formulas are categorized. Based at least partly on the categorization, formulas are evaluated synchronously or asynchronously. An asynchronous evaluation may be performed if a certain set of criteria is not satisfied. Asynchronous evaluations may be performed using a queue. During an asynchronous update of an object, a counter field and/or an estimate field may be used respectively for indicating the consistency of values of the object and a time when the values were consistent. The versatility of formulas is enhanced by using a formula to create a default value for a custom field when it is created and to determine whether an action is to be performed, and is enhanced by having an action define when a formula is to be updated.

1 . A method of processing a request for a field of one of the tables of a database of a database system, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for an action associated with the field, the action triggered as part of a workflow;   based on the workflow-triggered action, evaluating a workflow field formula associated with the field, the formula being specific to the field, and updating the field to a current value; and   preventing a subsequent reevaluation of the workflow field formula from updating the field when values of input fields used in the workflow field formula change.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workflow-triggered action corresponds to an approval. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workflow-triggered action corresponds to placing an order, and wherein the field is a price of the order. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workflow-triggered action corresponds to a result of a certain value being entered into the database. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on the workflow-triggered action, evaluating one or more additional formulas to obtain one or more additional custom field values; and   preventing a subsequent evaluation of the one or more additional formulas from obtaining new custom field values when input values for the one or more additional formulas change.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the number of additional custom field values to be obtained based on the workflow-triggered action is capped at a maximum amount. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code for controlling a processor to perform an operation for processing a request for a field of one of the tables of a database of a database system, the program code comprising code for:
 receiving a request for an action associated with the field, the action triggered as part of a workflow;   based on the workflow-triggered action, evaluating a workflow field formula associated with the field, the formula being specific to the field, and updating the field to a current value; and   preventing a subsequent reevaluation of the workflow field formula from updating the field when values of input fields used in the workflow field formula change.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a database system that includes a database and at least one database table, wherein the database table includes a field;   at least one computer processor coupled with the database, the computer processor configured to:
 receive a request for an action associated with the field, the action triggered as part of a workflow; 
 based on the workflow-triggered action, evaluate a workflow field formula associated with the field, the formula being specific to the field, and updating the field to a current value; and 
 prevent a subsequent reevaluation of the workflow field formula from updating the field when values of input fields used in the workflow field formula change.