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Binding an Address Block

Overview

An address block configuration tells AddressTools which fields on a Salesforce object make up a single postal address. Until an address is bound to a block, AddressTools will not recognise it, and no validation, standardisation or verification will run against it.

A block also holds the per-object settings for that address, so most of what you configure later in AddressTools is configured on a block.

This guide covers creating a block, mapping its postal address fields, binding the remaining fields, and where each of the block's settings is configured.

Blocks Supplied Out of the Box

After the first data installation, a set of address blocks is already configured. In most orgs there are seven:

  • Account - Billing Address
  • Account - Shipping Address
  • Contact - Mailing Address
  • Contact - Other Address
  • Contract - Billing Address
  • Contract - Shipping Address
  • Lead - Address

Note: The number of supplied blocks depends on your org. Contract - Shipping Address is only created where the Contract shipping address is available, and orgs with person accounts get two further Account blocks, for the person mailing and person other addresses.

Step 1: Create a New Address Block

Note: If the blocks above cover the addresses you use, you do not need to create a block and can skip this step. Follow it when you have an address on another object, a custom address on one of these objects, or a record type that needs its own configuration.

  1. Click the App Launcher to search for and select AddressTools Administration.
  2. Select Address Blocks from the left menu.
  3. Click Add in the top right.
  4. Use the selector to choose the Object that holds the address fields.
  5. If the configuration should apply to one record type only, choose it under Record Type.
  6. Click Next.

Note: Leaving Record Type empty applies the configuration to every record type on that object, unless a block for a specific record type exists to override it.

Step 2: Map the Postal Address Fields

This step is for new address blocks, and for any time you want to point one of the supplied blocks at custom address fields instead of the standard ones.

In the address block modal, use the Postal Address Fields section to map each part of the address to a field on your object.

  1. Under Country Field, use the picklist to select the country field API name.
  2. Under State Field, select the state or province field API name.
  3. Under City Field, select the city field API name.
  4. Under ZIP/Postal Code Field, select the ZIP or postal code field API name.
  5. Under Street Field, select the street field API name.
  6. If your object has multiple street line fields, click + to provide additional street field selectors.
  7. Click Save.

Note: AddressTools needs the country, state, city, ZIP code and street fields as a minimum. Everything in the steps below is optional and depends on which features you turn on.

Step 3: Bind the Remaining Address Block Fields

Three further sections in the address block map additional fields relating to specific features. Of these fields, only Status Field is compulsory if you use address verification. Every other field in this step is optional depending on your usage of the tool.

This step applies whether you have just created a block or are editing one that came with the package. To edit an existing address block, click the dropdown arrow on the far right of the address block table and select Edit.

Note: A field has to exist on the object before it can be mapped here. Creating Address Fields links to a step-by-step guide for creating each one.

Section What it holds Where to configure this
Additional Address Fields Status Field, County Field, Address Label and Property Use Field Verification
Location Fields Latitude Field, Longitude Field and Geocode Accuracy Field Geocoding
Lookup Fields Country Lookup Field, State Lookup Field and ZIP Code Lookup Field, which link the record to the AddressTools Country, State and ZIP Code records Lookup Fields

Step 4: Configure the Address Block Settings

The last three sections control how AddressTools behaves for this specific address, so you can apply different rules to each address type.

Section What it holds Where to configure this
Global Settings Whether country is mandatory, whether only installed countries are accepted, and the standardisation settings for country and state Validation and Standardisation
Country-Specific Settings Validation rules that apply per country, covering which of street, city, state and ZIP code are mandatory and how each is checked Validation
Address Verification Options Enable Premise-Level Address Verification and the settings controlling what verification returns Verification

If a Field Is Missing From a Picklist

A field will not appear in the picklists if either:

  • it is already bound to another address block for the same object and record type, or
  • your field-level security prevents you from seeing it.

Check the Address Blocks list first to see whether the field is already in use. If it is not, review the field-level security on the field.

What This Does

With the postal address fields mapped, AddressTools recognises the address and the object's trigger can act on it. Nothing changes on your records until you enable a feature against the block, so you can save a new block and come back to configure the rest when you are ready.