How to Set Up the Salesforce Highlights Panel

For anyone working daily in Salesforce, having everything you need right at your fingertips is extremely useful. Quick access to critical information on the records you’re viewing is not only convenient but can also speed up your work and boost productivity. Imagine no longer having to spend excessive time searching through records or scrolling endlessly for key data points! This is where the Highlights Panel shines.

The Highlights Panel is located at the top of record pages and provides a quick summary of the most important information within that record. Customizing the Highlights Panel to display important information can significantly enhance the user experience by displaying key data points prominently. This way, it’s easier for users to access relevant information quickly and plan next steps accordingly. In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps to set up and customize this nifty feature that’s often overlooked.

Setting Up the Highlights Panel

The Highlights Panel is controlled by your object’s compact layout. The compact layout dictates which fields will appear on the Highlights Panel (top of your record page). By default, an object uses the standard “System Default” compact layout.

In this scenario, the Highlights Panel contains the following fields: Priority, Status, and Case Number. Let’s customize it to add the fields Case Origin and Case Reason.

1. Open a Case record and click the gear icon on the upper right to select “Edit Object”.

2. Select “Compact Layouts” from the left side. 
3. Since standard compact layouts (like System Default) cannot be edited, click “New” to create a new compact layout. Alternatively, you can also clone System Default.
4. Add a label and name, then select the fields you want to add under “Available Fields”. Click the arrow under “Add” to transfer them to the “Selected Fields” column.
5. You can use the Top, Bottom, Up, and Down arrows to rearrange the fields as you please.

6. Hit Save.
7. Now, it’s time to use your new compact layout by assigning it properly. Click “Compact Layout Assignment”, then “Edit Assignment”.
8. Select your new compact layout. Here, I’m changing it from System Default to the new one, Case Highlights.     

9. Hit Save.

It’s time to check if it worked! Go back to your Case record and do a little refresh. Check the top of the record page and see if your new fields have been added and if their order is as you’ve configured them. Priority was first on my list, so it appeared as the largest one (primary field).

All good so far, but I realize that the primary field should be the Subject. Since this is already a custom compact layout, we know it’s editable. Let’s go ahead and update it.

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 from above.
2. Click the name of our current compact layout, Case Highlights.
3. Hit Edit.
4. Add the Subject field to the Selected Fields column, and click “Top” to move it to the top of the list.

5. Hit Save.

Great! The Subject is now the largest one since it’s first on the list. The rest of the fields are now below it and in the correct order. Easy-peasy!

Tips for an Effective Highlights Panel

Prioritize Key Fields

The Highlights Panel is there to help users see key information as soon as they open a record. Make sure to select fields that are most relevant and frequently used by your users. To know this, make sure you’ve engaged with users and analyzed their everyday behavior on the platform to understand their needs and how they interact with records.

Keep It Concise

Don’t overcrowd the panel! I know most fields on a record are important, but make sure to stick to only the most essential and frequently used fields to avoid clutter and maintain clarity. Focus on fields that directly influence decision-making, as well as those that are referenced most often by your users.

Consider Field Relevance

Ensure that the fields you’re choosing to display are relevant to the specific context of the record. For example, if we’re referring to a Lead record, fields like Lead Source and Lead Status could be vital. Also, consider that business needs are dynamic and ever-changing, so if, for example, a new product has been launched by the business, fields that are related to that product may become more relevant.

Be Aware of the Limitations

You can only add up to 10 fields to a compact layout. An attempt to add more than that will show an error when saving:

Despite adding the maximum number of ten fields, do note that the Highlights Panel uses the first seven fields only. Compact layouts are independent of page layouts. Removing a field from an object’s page layout will not remove it from the compact layout/Highlights Panel.

Summary

Setting up and customizing the Highlights Panel or compact layouts can greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your user interface. Users will thank you for making their work easier for them by showing important and relevant fields at a glance. Try experimenting with different configurations to find the setup that works best for your business, and don’t hesitate to make adjustments as your needs evolve over time.

Have you customized your org’s Highlights Panels yet? Leave your answers in the comments below!