Salesforce Platform Developer Practice Exam

Which of the following statements is true regarding an auto number field?

1. The data remains unchanged if changed to a text field

2. All records created as auto-number will be deleted

3. Data contained in a text field will be deleted when changed to auto number

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: The data remains unchanged if changed to a text field

An auto number field in Salesforce is designed to automatically generate a unique number for each record, based on a specified format. When an auto number field is changed to a text field, the data in that field remains unchanged. This means that the previously generated numbers will stay the same, but the field type will allow for more flexibility in data entry and manipulation. In contrast, when a field type is changed, the data integrity must be maintained. In this case, changing from an auto number to a text field does not delete or alter the existing data; it simply changes how the information can be interacted with going forward. For instance, records that were previously assigned an auto number will retain their values when viewed in the text format, which enhances usability. Thus, the reason this choice is correct lies in the fact that the content of the records created remains intact, and users have the potential to further utilize this data. The other responses address scenarios that are either incorrect or do not accurately represent how Salesforce handles these field type changes. Transitioning from auto number to text does not lead to the deletion of records or their data; therefore, the selected statement is indeed the only one that stands true in this context.