How to set default value in Salesforce global picklist

In this Salesforce Tutorial, we will learn how to set default value in Salesforce Global Picklist Field. In addition, we will also explore the steps to set up default global picklist values in Salesforce Lightning and Salesforce Classic.

Moreover, we will learn to set the default global picklist value in Salesforce for both newly created and pre-existing fields.

Salesforce global picklist default value

Salesforce picklist default values are pre-selected options that are automatically filled when a user creates a new record or when the field is not expressly set by the user.

In addition, if no option is selected, the default value is used as the picklist field’s initial value. And the default value can be any valid picklist value from the “Global Value Set”.

Moreover, it helps to ensure data consistency and guarantee data integrity. Even we can speedily enter the data values in the fields.

With this, we have learned about default global picklist values in the Salesforce Picklist field. Now, we will proceed and learn the steps to set the default value in Salesforce Lightning global picklist.

How to set default value in Salesforce Lightning global picklist

In salesforce lightning, we can set the default value in Salesforce Lightning global picklist in two cases. Let’s discuss each case in detail as below:

1. Creating New Global Picklist Value: While creating a new global picklist value, we have the option to define the default picklist value. This way helps in defining the default value from the start time and also ensures that the most used value shows at the beginning.
2. Editing Existing Global Picklist Value: We also have the functionality to define the default picklist value after creating the global picklist value. To do this, we click on the “Make this value the default for the master picklist” with respect to a specific picklist global default value.

With this, we had a general understanding of Salesforce Lightning’s default global picklist value. Now, we will proceed and learn each scenario in detail using an example.

Creating New Global Picklist Value

Here, are the steps to define a default global picklist value while creating a new global picklist value:

Step 1: First, log in to Salesforce Lightning mode, for this navigate to the right corner of the page, click on the “Gear” icon, and from the dropdown menu select “Setup”.

Step 2: Search for “Picklist Value Sets”, in the “Quick Find” box.

Step 3: Click on the “Picklist Value Sets”.

Step 4: You will be sent to the “Picklist Value Sets” page; click the “New” button on this page.

Step 5: Enter a “Label” name for your global picklist value set and the “Name” will be automatically populated. In this case, I enter the label name “Product Status”.

Step 6: You can choose to define a “Description” that helps users in comprehending the function and application of the data.

Step 7: Enter values, with each value separated by a new line in the box. In this case, I enter the value name “Active”, “Discontinued”, “Out of Stock”, “Backordered”, and “In Development”.

Step 8: Now, click on the checkbox “Use first value as default value” as we want to set the default value for the picklist field. This option allows us to set the first entered picklist value as the default one.

Step 9: Click on the “Save” button to create and set up the default global picklist value set.

Step 10: To check whether the default global picklist values have been set up correctly, navigate to the item where you use the picklist values that have been modified.

With this, we have successfully learned the steps to define a default global picklist value while creating a new global picklist value. Now move ahead and learn the steps to define a default global picklist for existing global picklist value.

Read How to reorder the global picklist value set in Salesforce

Editing Existing Global Picklist Value:

Here, are the steps to set a global default picklist value in the existing picklist value in the classic edition of Salesforce.

Step 1: Log in to Salesforce Lightning mode, by moving to the page’s upper right corner. Click the “Gear Icon”, and then click “Setup” from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Search for “Picklist Value Sets”, in the “Quick Find” box.

Step 3: Click on the “Picklist Value Sets”.

Step 4: It will redirect you to the “Picklist Value Sets” page. Now, click on the existing global picklist value set whose picklist value you want to set as the default value. Here, I select the “Continent” global picklist value set.

Step 5: It will redirect to “Global Value Set”, now scroll down to “Values” and click on the “Edit” option of the global picklist value to whom you want to set as the default global picklist value. Here, I want to set the “North America” value as the default one.

Step 6: After clicking on the edit option, we will prompt to the “Continent Picklist Edit”.

Step 7: To set “North America” as the default value, check the “Make this value the default for the master picklist” checkbox.

Step 8: To finally save this global picklist value as default, click on the “Save” button.

Step 9: To check whether the default global picklist values have been set up correctly, navigate to the item where you use the picklist values that have been modified.

With this, we have learned the process to set up the default value for the existing global picklist value. Now, we will proceed and learn to set the default value in Salesforce Classic global picklist.

How to set default value in Salesforce Classic global picklist

There are two situations in which we can set the default value in Salesforce Classic’s global picklist. Let’s talk about each situation in depth as follows:

Creating a New Global Picklist Value: We have the choice to choose the default picklist value when creating a new global picklist value. This way helps in ensuring that the most often used value appears first, and the most used value shows at the beginning.

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Editing an Existing Global Picklist Value: After generating a global picklist value, we also have the ability to set up a default picklist value. In order to accomplish this, we click on the “Make this value the default for the master picklist” button in relation to a particular picklist’s global default value.

With this, we had a general understanding of Salesforce Classic’s default global picklist value. Now, we will proceed and learn each scenario in detail using an example.

Creating New Global Picklist Value

Here, are the steps to define a default global picklist value while creating a new global picklist value:

Step 1: First, we need to log in to Salesforce Classic. For this, click on “Avatar” and select “Switch to Salesforce Classic”.

Step 2: After that, click on the “Setup” option.

Step 3: Scroll down to the “Build” section. Select the “Picklist Value Sets” option under “Create”.

Step 4: It will redirect you to the “Picklist Value Sets” page, and here click on the “New” button.

Step 5: Enter a “Label” name for your global value set and the “Name” will be automatically populated. In this case, I enter the label name “Payment Method”.

Step 6: Fill in the values in the box, separating each value with a new line. In this instance, I type the value “Credit Card”, “PayPal”, “Bank Transfer”, “Check”, and “Cash on Delivery”.

Step 7: Tick the checkbox “Use first value as default value”, as we want to set the first value list as the default value of the picklist field.

Step 8: Click on the “Save” button to create and set up the default global picklist value set.

Step 9: To check whether the default global picklist values have been set up correctly, navigate to the item where you use the picklist values that have been modified.

With this, we have successfully learned the steps to define a default global picklist value while creating a new global picklist value. Now move ahead and learn the steps to define a default global picklist for existing global picklist value.

Editing Existing Global Picklist Value:

Here, are the steps to set a global default picklist value in the existing picklist value in the classic edition of Salesforce.

Step 1: We must first log into Salesforce Classic. To do this, select “Switch to Salesforce Classic” from the “Avatar” menu.

Step 2: Next, select “Setup” from the menu.

Step 3: Scroll down to the “Build” section. Select the “Picklist Value Sets” option under “Create”.

Step 4: It will redirect you to the “Picklist Value Sets” page. Now, click on the existing global picklist value set whose picklist value you want to set as the default value. Here, I select the “Priority” global picklist value set.

Step 5: After clicking on the edit option, we will prompt to the “Priority Picklist Edit”.

Step 6: To set the “Medium” as the default value, check the “Make this value the default for the master picklist” checkbox.

Step 7: To finally save this global picklist value as default, click on the “Save” button.

Step 8: To check whether the default global picklist values have been set up correctly, navigate to the item where you use the picklist values that have been modified.

With this, we have learned the process to set up the default global picklist value for the existing picklist field in Salesforce Classic.

Conclusion

With this, we have learned that setting up a default global picklist value in Salesforce, automatically predefined value while creating new records. In addition, it also ensures data integrity and reduces human efforts.

Moreover, we have also learned the steps to set default value in Salesforce global picklist in two different scenarios i.e. while creating a new global picklist value and while editing the existing global picklist value.

You may also like to read the following articles:

• How to create Global Picklist Value set in Salesforce
• Setting Default Values in Salesforce Picklist Field