Module 2: Creating the Data Model

In this module, you create the custom objects that make up the data model for the conference application.

Step 1: Create the Conference Session Object

1. Login into your Developer Edition account

2. Click the Setup link (upper right corner)

   

3. In the left navigation, select Build > Create > Objects

   

4. Click New Custom Object, and define the Session object as follows (accept the default values for the properties that are not mentioned below):

   • Label: Session
   • Plural Label: Sessions
   • Object Name: Session
   • Record Name: Session Name
   • Data Type: Text

   

5. Click Save

6. In the Custom Fields & Relationships section, click New

   

7. Create a Session Date field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Date/Time
   • Field Label: Session Date
   • Field Name: Session_Date

   

   Click Next, Next, Save & New

8. Create a Description field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Text Area (Long)
   • Field Label: Description
   • Field Name: Description

   Click Next, Next, Save & New

9. Create a Level field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Picklist
   • Field Label: Level
   • Values: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced (specify each value on its own row)
   • Field Name: Level

   Click Next, Next, Save

Step 2: Create the Speaker Object

1. In Setup mode, select Build > Create > Objects

2. Click New Custom Object, and define the Speaker object as follows (accept the default values for the properties that are not mentioned below):

   • Label: Speaker
   • Plural Label: Speakers
   • Object Name: Speaker
   • Record Name: Speaker Number
   • Data Type: Auto Number
   • Display Format: SP-{00000}
   • Starting Number: 1

3. Click Save

4. In the Custom Fields & Relationships section, click New, and create a First Name field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Text
   • Field Label: First Name
   • Length: 30
   • Field Name: First_Name

   Click Next, Next, Save & New

5. Create a Last Name field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Text
   • Field Label: Last Name
   • Length: 30
   • Field Name: Last_Name

   Click Next, Next, Save & New

6. Create an Email field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Email
   • Field Label: Email
   • Field Name: Email

   Click Next, Next, Save & New

7. Create a Bio field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Text Area (Long)
   • Field Label: Bio
   • Field Name: Bio

   Click Next, Next, Save

Step 3: Create the Session_Speaker Junction Object

The Session_Speaker object is used to model the many-to-many relationship between Session and Speaker: a session can have one or many speakers, and a speaker can have one or many sessions. This is similar to an associative table in a traditional relational database.

1. In Setup mode, select Build > Create > Objects

2. Click New Custom Object, and define the Session_Speaker object as follows:

   • Label: Session Speaker
   • Plural Label: Session Speakers
   • Object Name: Session_Speaker
   • Record Name: Session Speaker Number
   • Data Type: Auto Number
   • Display Format: SESP-{00000}
   • Starting Number: 1

3. Click Save

4. In the Custom Fields & Relationships section, click New, and create a Session field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Master-Detail Relationship
   • Related To: Session
   • Field Label: Session
   • Field Name: Session

   Click Next, Next, Next, set the Related List Label to "Speakers" and click Save & New

5. Create a Speaker field defined as follows:

   • Data Type: Master-Detail Relationship
   • Related To: Speaker
   • Field Label: Speaker
   • Field Name: Speaker

   Click Next, Next, Next, set the Related List Label to "Sessions" and click Save

Step 4: Examine the Data Model in Schema Builder

1. In Setup mode, search for "schema" in the left navigation, and click Schema Builder

   

2. Click Clear All

3. Check Session, Speaker, and Session Speaker

4. Examine the Conference application data model. Rearrange the objects as needed.