Whats wrong with this custom button URL (prepopulating custom lookup field)

Question

I have a custom button URL with only two parameters being passed, the record type ID and an ID being passed to a custom Opportunity lookup field

/500/e?
CF00NC0000005Au31_lkid={!Opportunity.Id}
&RecordType=012C0000000MK5d

The lookup field parameter has both the 'CF' prefix (for custom fields) and '_lkid' suffix (for lookup fields). And yet, when I click the button from the opportunity, the custom lookup field on the Case remains empty (both in Edit view and after I save).

The record type is updated appropriately, just FYI.

Also, if I remove the '_lkid' suffix, then the actual opportunity ID does show up in the field, but of course returns an error since the lookup can't take actual IDs via the UI.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

You are missing one other param to which you pass the actual name of the opportunity (when you remove _lkid you are passing the lookupfield name = {!opportunity_Id})

Read this blog for thorough understanding on hop to do URL hacking with lookups

some ID field: e.g. CF00…. This corresponds to the ID of the field that you want to be prepopulated. This will always be the text that is displayed in the box.

{some ID field}_lkid: e.g. CF00…_lkid. If the field in question is a lookup or master-detail, then this field should be set to the resulting record ID {some other ID field}. Note that in this case, the actual non _lkid field is irrelevant, and not consulted.

http://raydehler.com/cloud/clod/salesforce-url-hacking-to-prepopulate-fields-on-a-standard-page-layout.html

Answer for your question

/500/e?
CF00NC0000005Au31={!opportunity.name}&
CF00NC0000005Au31_lkid={!Opportunity.Id}
&RecordType=012C0000000MK5d

Should populate the opportunity in the lookup field

Answer 2

Just create formula field that will have lookup field reference. Now refer formula field like below -

YourLookupField__c={!URLENCODE(SObjectApiName.YourFormulaeField__c)}