PDI Salesforce Certified Platform Developer 1 (WI25) Questions and Answers

Since the Case and Defect__c objects have a Private organization-wide default (OWD), their records must be explicitly shared for a user to gain access to the related Case_Defect__c record. Sharing both parent records ensures that the user can access the junction object and the associated parent objects.

When an Account record is created, the following happens:

Before insert trigger increments the count field once.

After insert record-triggered flow executes and increments the count again.

When the record is subsequently updated:

Before update trigger increments the count again.

After update record-triggered flow increments it once more.

Thus, the final value of the count field = 4.

References:

Order of Execution in Salesforce

 Option B: Escapes single quotes using String.escapeSingleQuotes, protecting against SOQL injection.

 Option C: Uses bind variables, which are inherently safe from SOQL injection.

Apex Jobs Page:

Provides a user-friendly interface to view the status and details of enqueued jobs, including those implementing the Queueable interface.

AsyncApexJob Object:

The AsyncApexJob object stores information about queued Apex jobs.

Developers can query this object for job details like Status, JobType, etc.

Example SOQL Query:SELECT Id, Status, JobType, CreatedDate

FROM AsyncApexJob

WHERE JobType = 'Queueable'

Why Not Other Options?

A. Apex Status page: Not a relevant Salesforce feature.

D. Apex Flex Queue: Only applicable to Batch Apex jobs, not Queueable jobs.

AsyncApexJob: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api.meta/api/sforce_api_objects_asyncapexjob.htm

References:

Salesforce requires that every trigger must have at least 1% test coverage to be deployed. Since the trigger in question has 0% test coverage, the deployment will fail even if the helper method and related classes meet the coverage requirement.

@InvocableMethod Requirements:

Must be declared as public static.

Must accept and return a List to support batch operations.

Return type should be compatible with Flow Builder, in this case, a List.

Why Option C?

Fulfills all @InvocableMethod requirements:

@InvocableMethod(label='Additional Info')

public static List getInfo(List contactIds) {

// Implementation

}

Why Not Other Options?

A, B, D: Do not adhere to the public static requirement or fail to use a List as input/output.

InvocableMethod Documentation: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_classes_annotation_InvocableMethod.htm

References:

Option A: The tag ensures that scripts are loaded only once, even if referenced multiple times.

Option D: The tag allows you to specify the order of scripts to ensure dependencies are loaded correctly.

Option E: Externally hosted scripts can be loaded using the scripts attribute.

Not Suitable:

Option B (Loading scripts in parallel): Scripts are loaded sequentially to ensure proper dependency handling.

Option C (Loading Files from Documents): Files must be hosted externally or in static resources, not in Documents.

Why Data Export Scheduled Job?

Salesforce provides an out-of-the-box Data Export feature that allows organizations to back up their data, including attachments.

This feature can be scheduled to run automatically on a monthly basis, fulfilling the requirement.

Why Not Other Options?

A. Schedule a Report: Does not export attachments and is limited to reportable data.

B. Data Loader Command Line: Requires manual setup and scripting, which is unnecessary for this requirement.

D. Create a Schedulable Apex class: Not suitable, as the Data Export tool is more efficient for full data and attachment backup.

Data Export Documentation: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.data_export_overview.htm

References:

The Limits class in Apex provides methods to check the consumption of governor limits, such as the number of SOQL queries, DML statements, and heap size used.

Example:

Integer dmlStatements = Limits.getDMLStatements();

Integer dmlLimit = Limits.getLimitDMLStatements();

Not Suitable:

Option A: OrgLimits is not an Apex class.

Option C: Messaging deals with email and messaging operations.

Option D: Exception is for handling exceptions, not tracking resource usage.

Flow Builder:

Flow Builder can evaluate record criteria using a Decision element and then send an outbound message using the "Action" element.

Allows automation without Apex.

Approval Process:

Approval Processes can evaluate criteria and trigger outbound messages as one of the associated actions.

Why Not Other Options?

C. Entitlement Process: Focuses on managing entitlements, not triggering outbound messages.

D. Next Best Action: Used for recommendations and guided actions, not for triggering outbound messages.

Flow Builder Documentation: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=flow_overview.htm

Approval Process Documentation: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=approval_defining.htm

References:

Validation Rule Violations:

Salesforce automatically throws exceptions for validation rule violations during DML operations.

is used to display these errors to the user.

Why Not Other Options?

A: Controller attributes alone cannot handle validation messages.

B: A try/catch block does not address validation rule violations effectively.

D: Database.upsert() method is not related to validation error handling.

Apex Messages: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.pages.meta/pages/pages_compref_messages.htm

References:

The with sharing keyword ensures that the Apex class respects the sharing rules of the current user, including private sharing models. This means the logged-in user will only see records they own or have been shared with them.

Roll-Up Summary Field:

Since the relationship between Order and Order Line Item is a Master-Detail, a Roll-Up Summary field can be used on the Order object.

The MAX function in a Roll-Up Summary field calculates the latest date (the maximum value) among all the availability dates on the Order Line Items.

Why MAX Roll-Up Summary Field Works:

The latest availability date among the Order Line Items will determine when the entire Order can be shipped.

Why Not Other Options?

A and B: There is no such formula called "LATEST" or "CEILING" applicable to date fields.

C: A COUNT Roll-Up Summary is irrelevant for calculating dates.

Roll-Up Summary Fields: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.object_reference.meta/object_reference/roll_up_summary_fields.htm

References:

Salesforce CLI allows developers to automate deployments and run unit tests as part of a continuous integration (CI) pipeline. It is the most efficient tool for scripting these processes.

 Execution Flow:

Initially, x = 0.

Inside the do block:

x = 1 is set.

x++ increments x to 2.

The condition x < 1 is evaluated. Since x = 2, the condition is false, and the loop exits.

 Value of x in Debug Log:

Final value of x after the loop is 2.

Why Use final?

The final keyword ensures that a variable's value can only be assigned once.

Option B: Assigning the value in the constructor is valid as it allows for flexibility when creating class instances.

Option C: Assigning the value directly when declaring the variable is also valid for constants.

Why Not Other Options?

A: Static variables can have their values reassigned unless marked as final.

D: Static variables cannot be assigned within a class constructor.

Apex Final Keyword: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_classes_final.htm

References:

The Lightning Component Framework simplifies development by providing built-in device awareness, enabling components to adapt automatically for different devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and desktops.

In Option B, the webservice keyword is used to declare the class and the specific method updateRecords. This is correct because:

The helper method helperMethod is private and not exposed to the external application.

The webservice method updateRecords is declared global static, making it accessible externally.

Option A: A screen-based flow is ideal for gathering multiple pieces of information from the user interactively. It provides a declarative way to guide the service agent through the process step-by-step.

Not Suitable:

Option B: An approval process is for routing records for approval, not for gathering user input.

Option C: Apex triggers are for automation, not for interactive user input.

Option D: A Lightning Component could work but requires custom development, which is less efficient than using flows.

Why Create Records Element?

The Create Records element adds the functionality to create a Contact record.

The Contact’s ID can then be stored on the Opportunity using a variable or field update.

Why Not Other Options?

A: Update Records is for updating existing records, not creating new ones.

B: Roll Back Records is used for rolling back transactions, not for creating records.

D: Get Records retrieves records but does not create them.

Flow Builder: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_build.htm

References:

Why Prebuilt Components?

The Lightning Component Framework includes a library of prebuilt components, which developers can use to build applications faster.

Why Not Other Options?

A: The framework is exclusive to Lightning Experience, not Classic UI.

C: The framework does not provide templates but focuses on reusable components.

D: Extended governor limits are not provided by the framework.

Lightning Components Overview: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/component-library/documentation/en/lwc

References:

A: Formula fields are calculated at runtime based on the formula definition and are not stored in the database.

C: Formula fields can reference fields from related objects, allowing cross-object calculations.

Why not other options?

B: Formulas cannot reference themselves; doing so would result in a circular reference error.

D: If a field used in a formula field is deleted, the formula field will break, and Salesforce will prevent deletion until the formula field is updated.

References:

Formula Fields Documentation

Roll-Up Summary Field:

Since the relationship between Order and Order Line Item is a Master-Detail, a Roll-Up Summary field can be used on the Order object.

The MAX function in a Roll-Up Summary field calculates the latest date (the maximum value) among all the availability dates on the Order Line Items.

Why MAX Roll-Up Summary Field Works:

The latest availability date among the Order Line Items will determine when the entire Order can be shipped.

Why Not Other Options?

A and B: There is no such formula called "LATEST" or "CEILING" applicable to date fields.

C: A COUNT Roll-Up Summary is irrelevant for calculating dates.

Roll-Up Summary Fields: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.object_reference.meta/object_reference/roll_up_summary_fields.htm

References:

SFDX CLI (A):Salesforce CLI allows the automation of deployment scripts to sandboxes. Using commands like sfdx force:source:deploy, developers can deploy metadata directly from source control.

A. 75% Test Coverage: Salesforce mandates that 75% of all Apex code must be covered by tests to be deployable to production.

D. Trigger Coverage: Each Apex trigger must have at least one line of test coverage to ensure it is properly tested.

Unit Test Scenarios:

Option B is valid because getContentAsPDF() can generate PDF content for testing purposes.

Why Not Other Options?

A: Unit tests cannot execute anonymous Apex as a different user.

C: Unit tests cannot perform callouts unless mock responses are provided.

D: The System.createdDate field cannot be set manually in unit tests.

Testing Best Practices: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_testing_best_practices.htm

References:

Option A: Governor limits are reset for each execution of the execute() method in a batch job because each batch is treated as a separate transaction.

Option C: Batch jobs use asynchronous governor limits, which are higher than synchronous limits.

 Option B: Custom events in LWC allow data to be passed using the detail property of the CustomEvent object. This is the recommended way to pass data in a custom event.

When troubleshooting batch Apex jobs:

Asynchronous Job Monitoring:

Navigate to Setup > Apex Jobs to view the status of the batch job.

Provides information such as success, errors, and total execution time.

This step is crucial to diagnose whether the issue is with system limits, batch size, or specific records.

Debug Logs:

After identifying the issue in the job monitoring page, use debug logs to pinpoint specific errors or bottlenecks.

B. Check the debug logs for the batch job: Debug logs are a secondary step after checking the job status.

C. Disable and recreate with fewer records: Premature without investigating the root cause.

D. Decrease the batch size: Adjusting batch size is a solution but only after identifying the cause of the timeout.

Asynchronous Job Monitoring: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000331217 &type=1

Debugging Apex: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_debugging.htm

Why Not the Other Options?References:

The quickest way to make Visualforce pages styled like Lightning Experience is by incorporating SLDS. This provides consistent styling without rewriting the applications.

Why not other options?

A: Rewriting all Visualforce pages as Lightning components is time-consuming and not efficient.

B: There is no attribute enableLightning in Visualforce.

C: Enabling Lightning Experience compatibility does not apply styling automatically.

References:

Salesforce Lightning Design System (SLDS)

After running all tests, the Overall Code Coverage panel in the Developer Console shows the code coverage percentage for each class.

This is the most reliable and optimal way to view code coverage.

When working with a Lightning Web Component (LWC), the correct syntax for importing an Apex method is:import methodName from "@salesforce/apex/ControllerName.methodName";.

Why not other options?

A, B, and C: These use incorrect syntax for importing Apex methods in LWCs.

References:

Lightning Web Components Documentation

When writing test classes, accessing the Standard Price Book is essential for creating OpportunityLineItem records.

The method Test.getStandardPricebookId() is specifically designed to retrieve the Standard Price Book ID in a test class context. This ensures you can work with the price book without requiring @isTest(SeeAllData=true).

Why not other options?

B: @isTest(SeeAllData=true) is not recommended because it violates Salesforce best practices by accessing actual org data.

C: @TestVisible is used for visibility between classes but does not relate to retrieving Standard Price Book.

D: Test.loadData() loads test data from static resources but is unnecessary for accessing the Standard Price Book.

References:

Salesforce Testing Framework

Apex Testing Best Practices

Trigger.old in a before insert trigger:

The Trigger.old context variable contains the old version of the records being processed in the trigger.

In a before insert trigger, the records being processed are new and have no prior state in the database, so Trigger.old is null.

This behavior is specific to insert triggers because there is no "old" record to reference before the record is created.

Why is it null?

The Trigger.old variable is only populated for triggers that handle updates or deletions (e.g., before update, after update, before delete, after delete). For insert operations, no previous state of the record exists.

Why not the other options?

A. An empty list of sObjects:

This is incorrect because Trigger.old is not initialized as an empty list for insert triggers—it is simply null.

B. Undefined:

Trigger.old is defined in the trigger context, but it is null for insert operations. Undefined is not a valid Apex state.

D. A list of newly created sObjects without IDs:

This describes Trigger.new in a before insert trigger, not Trigger.old. Trigger.new contains the new records being inserted.

References:

Apex Triggers Documentation

Trigger Context Variables

The Apex Interactive Debugger allows developers to step through code execution in real time, which is the most effective way to identify the root cause of the duplication issue.

To make an LWC available for use on a record page:

Target Configuration:

Add lightning__RecordPage in the component's .js-meta.xml file to specify where the component can be used.

Expose the Component:

Set isExposed to true in the .js-meta.xml file to make the component available for use.

Example .js-meta.xml File:

57.0

true

lightning__RecordPage

A: Incorrect placement. The tag must be in the .js-meta.xml file, not the JavaScript file.

D: The tag is used for metadata labeling, not for exposing or targeting a component.

LWC Metadata Configuration: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/component-library/documentation/en/lwc/lwc.create_metadata_config_file

Why Not the Other Options?References:

Option A contains code that improperly handles user input, which may lead to a security vulnerability such as SOQL injection. To avoid this, always use bind variables when constructing queries.

The Data Import Wizard allows importing data while adhering to Salesforce's sharing and security model. By setting field-level security, sensitive fields can be hidden from unauthorized users.

Other Options:

Option A: Encrypting data externally is unnecessary since Salesforce has built-in security features.

Option B: Using the Data Loader with Apex adds unnecessary complexity.

Option D: The Salesforce CLI does not provide direct data import capabilities with security settings.

Why a Trigger on the Child Object?

Since the relationship is not master-detail, a trigger on the child object can perform aggregate calculations and update the parent Opportunity.

Why Not Other Options?

A: Tree sorting is unnecessary and unrelated to roll-up summaries.

B and D: Neither Streaming API nor Metadata API is suitable for real-time roll-up calculations.

Custom Roll-Up Summaries: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_triggers_best_practices.htm

References:

Why Validation Rule?

Validation rules are efficient for enforcing field-level conditions without requiring Apex or Flow.

A formula can check if the user’s profile is not "Sales Manager" and if the Lost Reason field is blank when Status is set to "Closed Lost".

Why Not Other Options?

A: Triggers are more complex and unnecessary for this simple validation.

C: Record-triggered flows are less efficient for field validations compared to validation rules.

D: Approval processes do not handle this type of field-level restriction.

Validation Rule Documentation: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.fields_about_field_validation.htm

References:

The Test menu in the Developer Console allows the developer to run specific or all test classes, ensuring that the trigger works correctly without affecting production data. Test methods in Salesforce run in an isolated environment and do not modify the actual data.

Why not other options?

A: Deploying code does not confirm that the trigger works correctly.

B: Creating a new Contact directly modifies production data, which is not recommended.

D: Executing a DML statement in Execute Anonymous directly affects production data and is not a safe testing method.

References:

Testing Apex Triggers

Using a for loop allows iterating through the list, and an if or if-else condition inside can evaluate the LastModifiedDate for each account to determine its status.

In the provided code snippet, the class myClass does not specify a sharing declaration (with sharing or without sharing). In Salesforce, when a class does not explicitly declare its sharing context, it defaults to without sharing. This means sharing rules are not enforced.

Tooling API:

The Tooling API provides programmatic access to manage tests and other metadata in the org.

It can execute test classes or methods remotely.

Developer Console:

The Developer Console is a built-in Salesforce tool to execute Apex tests, debug logs, and more.

Allows developers to execute tests interactively.

B. Metadata API: Used for managing metadata, not for running tests.

C. Bulk API: Used for data operations, not related to testing.

Tooling API Overview: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_tooling.meta/api_tooling/

Testing with Developer Console: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.code_dev_console_test.htm

Best practices in Apex development for triggers and service layers include:

Avoiding DML operations and queries in loops.

Handling bulk processing efficiently.

Option A ensures compliance by performing all updates at the end, reducing the risk of hitting governor limits.

A Flow with an Assignment element is the best declarative solution to assign cases based on criteria such as Case Origin. It can automatically evaluate the value of the Case Origin and assign the support representative.

Why not other options?

A: Using a trigger is a programmatic approach and less ideal when declarative tools can solve the problem.

B: A formula field cannot assign values; it only calculates and displays results.

C: Validation rules are used to enforce constraints, not for assigning values.

References:

Salesforce Flows Overview

Throwing Exceptions in Apex:

throw new ExceptionType(); creates a new instance and throws it.

A: No argument constructor.

B: Constructor with a custom error message.

Why Not Other Options?

C and D: These create exception instances but do not throw them, which is not valid syntax for firing an exception.

Apex Exception Handling: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_classes_exception_methods.htm

References:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the best model for the scenario described because it provides on-demand access to compute, storage, and networking resources that are ideal for a scalable server cluster. IaaS allows the engineering team to rent infrastructure resources without having to invest in physical hardware, making it perfect for temporary or fluctuating workloads, such as scalability testing.

Key Characteristics of IaaS:

Full control over the operating systems and applications running on the servers.

Flexible resource allocation to support high scalability.

Ideal for custom software testing where specific server configurations may be needed.

Why not the other options?

PaaS (Platform as a Service):While PaaS is excellent for application development and deployment, it abstracts the infrastructure layer, which would limit the engineering team's control over the cluster's configuration.

SaaS (Software as a Service):SaaS delivers fully managed applications, not infrastructure or testing environments. It’s irrelevant for this use case.

BaaS (Backend as a Service):BaaS is tailored to mobile or web application backend development, providing APIs and pre-built services, not infrastructure for a server cluster.

Platform Developer References:While this question is broader than Salesforce-specific concepts, understanding IaaS vs. PaaS is relevant when working with Salesforce development. For example:

Salesforce operates as a PaaS (e.g., Force.com platform), allowing developers to build and deploy applications without managing underlying servers.

Testing scalability and performance at an infrastructure level (as in the question) would fall under IaaS concepts, which Salesforce developers might encounter when integrating external services or infrastructure like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

This foundational knowledge complements your understanding of cloud services in the Salesforce ecosystem.

Database.insert(records, false):

The Database.insert() method with the allOrNone parameter set to false allows for partial success.

If some records in the list fail due to validation rules, triggers, or other errors, the method will still attempt to insert the remaining valid records.

The false parameter ensures that records that fail will not roll back the transaction for the others.

Why not the other options?

A. Database.insert(records, true):

The true parameter makes the operation transactional (all or none). If any record fails, all records will roll back.

B. insert records:

The insert DML statement behaves like Database.insert(records, true) by default and rolls back all records if any error occurs.

C. insert(records, false):

This syntax is invalid in Apex.

References:

Apex DML Operations Documentation

Database Methods

Scratch orgs are temporary, source-driven Salesforce environments used for development and testing. They allow developers to:

Work on independent features without interfering with each other's configurations.

Utilize a source-driven development model for CI/CD pipelines.

In Visualforce, data-binding requires getter and setter methods to access the attributes of a controller. Adding a getter method for actType ensures that its value is retrieved properly.

Validation Rule (A):A validation rule can restrict the modification of Opportunity records when the stage is set to Closed/Won. This ensures data consistency without requiring code.

Correct Apex Method for Enhance Element:

The method invoked by an Enhance element in a Next Best Action strategy must return a value that can be used in decision-making (e.g., discount level).

The method signature must match the required inputs and outputs for the strategy.

Next Best Action Apex Integration: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.salesforce_nba.meta/salesforce_nba/

References:

A master-detail relationship from Engineering_Support__c to Opportunity allows multiple child Engineering_Support__c records to be associated with a single parent Opportunity. It also enables roll-up summary fields to aggregate data from the child records onto the parent Opportunity.

LimitException cannot be caught in a try-catch block because it is thrown when governor limits are exceeded, and Salesforce does not allow further processing in such cases.

Other exceptions, such as custom exceptions, NoAccessException, or CalloutException, can be caught and handled.

Option A: Using variable binding eliminates the need for concatenating dynamic values in the query, which is the safest approach.

Option B: Using String.escapeSingleQuotes ensures special characters are handled safely, reducing the risk of SOQL injection.

Not Suitable:

Option C: While with sharing ensures sharing rules are applied, it does not prevent SOQL injection.

Option D: Regular expressions are not a reliable method for sanitizing input.