What sObject properties don't cause triggers to fire?

Question

I recently discovered that updating your Chatter profile image won't cause the User trigger to fire (for fields SmallPhotoUrl or FullPhotoUrl). I was wondering what other fields, when updated, won't cause the sObject to which it is attached to fire any relevant triggers?

EDIT: On closer inspection the URLs themselves don't change at all when the image is changed, so I guess you wouldn't really expect the trigger to fire in that case. I'm going to edit the question to better reflect what is happening.

Answer 1

It's worth taking a look at Triggers and Order of Execution. It lists out step-by-step what happens when a trigger executes. Specifically, the steps on what happens when workflows fire and the steps on rollup summaries and relations to parents/grandparents is interesting.

If the record contains a roll-up summary field or is part of a cross-object workflow, performs calculations and updates the roll-up summary field in the parent record. Parent record goes through save procedure.

So, updating the child inputs to a roll-up summary field can cause a trigger on an object to fire.

Also, checkout Salesforce - Operations that Don't Invoke Triggers.

Update -- Added example with explanation.

Consider the following example with a Master detail between Child and Parent and the following:

• Number field on Child called Num Field
• Roll-up summary on Parent that sums Num Field

Write the following trigger on Parent__c:

trigger ParentTrigger on Parent__c (before update) {
    for (Parent__c p : Trigger.New) {
        p.addError('Not going to save');
    }
}

Now go into the new or edit page for your Child object and fill in a value for Num Field and save the record and see what happens. You get:

Error: Invalid Data.

Review all error messages below to correct your data.

Not going to save

Next, blank out the Num Field and save and see what happens. No error is generated and the Child saves.

So when the child record is saved and the field feeds into the roll-up summary the parent trigger is executed.

Answer 2

A change in the value of a Formula field won't cause the sObjects update triggers to fire.

I did find the idea Fire Trigger on Formula Field value updates.

Answer 3

Any child records that are reparented as a result of the merge operation do not fire triggers. http://www.salesforce.com/us/developer/docs/apexcode/Content/apex_triggers_merge_statements.htm

Answer 4

With Territory Management enabled, changing the all-mighty Opportunity field TerritoryId doesn't fire Opportunity triggers.