---
schema_version: "1"
id: b5eb1dfeba0ebf248e1308d69b68b9f82a1e6da11e717b3312d6906dd0cb922b
title: External Object Considerations for Flows
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/flow_considerations_salesforce_features_external_object.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_considerations_salesforce_features_external_object.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: eafe39be8291ee36af346722d9912053b26f1f711b329cef9744174d991cc6ba
description: Keep these considerations in mind when building flows that include external objects.
products:
  - Flow Builder
  - Salesforce Platform
release: "264"
---
# External Object Considerations for Flows

Keep these considerations in mind when building flows that include external objects.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_supported_editions.htm&amp;release=264.0.0&amp;type=5" title="Learn about the editions and user interfaces that support Flow Builder. Some Flow Builder features integrate with other Salesforce products that require additional licenses.">View supported editions.</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

- When you create or update external object records, don’t set values for indirect lookup relationships that map to a different data type on the external system. For example, don’t set a value for a Text indirect lookup relationship that maps to a Date value on the external system.
- To find the Salesforce record linked to from an external object by an indirect lookup relationship, match the parent object’s Id field to the ID in the indirect lookup relationship field. Select the indirect lookup relationship, and add .Id before the closing curly bracket. For example, an indirect lookup relationship connects Contact (parent standard object) to Social Media post (child external object). In a flow, the record variable {!socialMediaPost} contains field values for a social media post. To find the parent contact record, in a Get Records element, filter by:
    
    ```
    Id Equals {!socialMediaPost.indirectLookupRelationship_c__c.Id}
    ```
- To find the parent external object record linked to by an external lookup relationship, match the parent record’s external ID to the external lookup relationship on the child record. For example, an external lookup relationship connects Product Catalog Item (parent external object) to Case (child standard object). In a flow, the record variable {!case} contains field values for a support case. To find the parent product catalog item record, in a Get Records element, filter by:
    
    ```
    ExternalId Equals {!case.externalLookupRelationship_c__c}
    ```
- If Salesforce creates, updates, or deletes data in your org and then accesses external data in the same transaction, an error occurs. In your flow, we recommend using a separate transaction to access data in an external system. To do so, end the prior transaction by adding a screen or local action to a screen flow or a Wait element to an autolaunched flow. If you use a Wait element, don't use a record-based resume time.
    
    For example, a screen flow creates a contact and then displays a confirmation screen. Next, the flow updates the contact in the external system. The flow doesn’t fail because it uses a separate transaction to access the external data.

- Don’t update the External ID and Display URL fields in a process or flow.
- Record-change processes aren’t supported.
- A process or flow is required to save or commit changes to a standard or a custom object before changing an external object within the same transaction. To commit changes to a standard or custom object, you have different options depending on the tool. After an action that changes a standard or custom object record:
    - In Flow Builder, add a screen, local action, or Wait element that pauses until a flow-based time occurs.
    - In Process Builder, add a scheduled action.