Auto Populate New Text Field With Same Objects Picklist Field Value

Question

I am creating a new text field for my contact object.

Once I create this new field, I'd like it's value to be pre populated with the value from another contact field, but only when I initially create the new field.

With any new contacts added, this field should not be populated.

Clearer Explanation:

Creating a new field under Contact called Organizationof type Text

When I create this field I want it to get it's default value from Account which is of data type Lookup(Account). So that for all existing entries, the Organization fields value will be the account name as text.

Is it possible to do this?

Answer 1

If you want this new field populated on existing records, you are going to have to dataload the value. Run a report for all of your existing contacts with the fields ContactID and Account Name. Export the report, change the column name from Account Name to Organization and save as a CSV. Go to Setup > Data Management > Data Import Wizard. Launch Wizard, choose Accounts and Contacts, Update existing records, upload your CSV, hit next, match your column (should automatically find the contact ID and new field label) and start the data load. All of your existing contact records should be updated within minutes.

Answer 2

Field update with workflow rules. It something like this.