How to upsert a LookUp field via the REST API?

Question

I have a field that's called AccountName and it's a LookUp field. When i try to update it with plain text, i get an error:

id value of incorrect type, errorCode:MALFORMED_ID

How can i upsert a LookUp field?

EDIT:

I just send a request to the REST API (using patch) with a JSON object with the following field: AccoutName: "someName"

Done. Nothing out of the ordinary - the normal request with a JSON object. — user9064103, Jan 19 '18 at 15:08

Santanu Boral · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-19 15:22:57Z

0

Since it is a lookup field so you need to pass the AccountId instead of name.

AccoutName: "001........."

Update based on comments

Upsert works based on Id value.

If you need to check if Account with name already exists then you have to write a separate logic to find the accounts and then pass those accountId.

SOQL logic will be like this:

SELECT Id
FROM Account
WHERE Name =:<AccountName>

answered Jan 19 '18 at 15:10

Santanu Boral

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Got it, but what if i want to do an upsert by AccountName? What if i want to say "if an account with this name doesn't exist, create it. if it does, do nothing"
– user9064103
Jan 19 '18 at 15:16
Ok thanks for your answer! Can a LookUp field be an external ID? Because i know you could do upsert that way too right?
– user9064103
Jan 19 '18 at 15:33
External Id cannot be a lookup field
– Santanu Boral
Jan 19 '18 at 15:50

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