Actions: Select the First Lookup Value

Overview

First Lookup Value is a Value option in an Update Record action. When the action runs, it places the first value returned by the applicable lookup into the selected Target Field.

You can create the Update Record action separately from the application’s Actions section, as demonstrated in the recording, or create a new action while working in the Workflow Builder. The completed action can then be added to a workflow or used as part of a trigger.

Important: The action uses the first value in the lookup result order available when it runs. Confirm the lookup’s filters and ordering with controlled test data before using the result for assignments, routing, or other business-critical updates.

Prerequisites

Before configuring the action, make sure you have:

• App Designer access to the application
• A lookup field that returns the values you want the action to evaluate
• A destination form and Target Field that should receive the first lookup value
• A workflow or trigger that will run the action
• Controlled test records that make the expected first lookup result easy to identify

Creating the Action from the Actions Section

The following steps reflect the demonstrated application-level Actions workflow.

1. Open the application in design mode and select Actions in the left navigation.
2. Select + Create Action or + Create New Action.
3. In Select Action Type, choose Update Record.
4. Enter an Action Name.
5. Optionally, enter a Description that explains when the action should be used.

6. Under Where will the record be updated?, confirm the Application and select the destination Form. 
7. If the record must be updated in a different form, enable Update Record in a different form and complete the additional destination settings that appear.

8. Under What fields do you want to modify?, configure each field map. Only the selected Target Fields will be updated.
9. For the lookup-based mapping, select the destination lookup field under Target Field. The demonstration uses Department.
10. Open the Value menu and select First Lookup Value. The other visible choices are Custom, Clear, and Field.
11. Add any other required mappings with + Add Field Maps.
12. Review the configuration and select Create.

Adding the Action to a Workflow or Trigger

After the Update Record action is created, add it at the point where it should run. It may be added directly to a workflow or configured as part of a trigger.

Add It to a Workflow

1. Open the relevant workflow in Workflow Builder.
2. Add or edit the workflow step that should run an action.
3. Select the completed Update Record action.
4. Save the workflow and test the transition or step that invokes the action.

Add It as Part of a Trigger

1. Open or create the trigger that should apply the lookup value.
2. Configure the trigger event and any conditions that determine when it runs.
3. Add the completed Update Record action to the trigger’s actions.
4. Save the trigger and test both matching and nonmatching conditions.

Configuration Reference

Field	Description
Action Type	Select Update Record.
Action Name *	A clear reusable name for the action, such as Select First Lookup Option.
Description	Optional explanation of what the action updates and when it should run.
Application	The application containing the record that will be updated.
Form	The destination form containing the Target Field.
Update Record in a different form	Enable this when the destination record is in a different form.
Target Field *	The field that the action will update. Select the applicable lookup field for First Lookup Value.
Value *	Select Custom, Clear, Field, or First Lookup Value. Use First Lookup Value for this procedure.
Source Field *	Displayed when Value is Field; identifies the field whose value will be copied.
+ Add Field Maps	Adds another Target Field and Value mapping to the same Update Record action.

What First Lookup Value Does

When the action runs, First Lookup Value uses the first value returned by the lookup for the selected Target Field. It does not require the Source Field selection used by Value = Field.

The recording confirms the configuration option but does not demonstrate the action executing against a record. Verify the result order, behavior when no value is returned, and whether an existing target value is replaced in the workflow and trigger scenarios used by your application.