Accessing CustomFieldDefinition metadata via tooling api

Question

So, I've been attempting to gather picklist dependencies per Opportunity record type for my lightning components. I have been able to retrieve Standard Field dependencies by RecordType, but it the Tooling API will not return the custom field dependencies. Standard calls and queries will not work either, as they state that the field has no controlling value or dependency.

Given this information I suspected that there was a table that is hidden somewhere that contains the keys for the RecordType and FieldDefinition, hopefully with a nested Metadata object.

I found an Id in one of the parameters in the setup menu for a Record Type and Id.getSObjectType() on it. The table name is CustomFieldDefinition. However, it is not accessible via SOQL or the Tooling API.

Has anyone accessed this table? Or has anyone been able to retrieve the field-record type picklist dependencies on custom fields AND standard fields?Tooling API ResponseDebug Log with SObject Name

Answer 1

I think you're doing it wrong.

"Controlling field" would be another picklist or a checkbox for example, something you change during same edit action. If you have dependency to record type - in that sense it's not a controlling field. Sure, you change record type and picklist changes - but really everything would change, it should be a different page layout (different fields shown, marked readonly/required etc). There's a reason that record type change is not done on normal edit screen, you do it by clicking special link on detail view and then everything "explodes".

1. Have a look at "User Interface API" - set of tools meant to help your custom app (mobile? desktop?) steal recreate a normal page layout. This one might be especially useful: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.uiapi.meta/uiapi/ui_api_resources_picklist_values_collection.htm
2. There's even a Trailhead: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/modules/user-interface-api (skim through whole set but especially read last module)
3. And since you mentioned Lightning Components - are you aware of these ready tools:
   • https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/component-library/documentation/lwc/lwc.reference_ui_api
   • getPicklistValuesByRecordType
   • https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/component-library/documentation/lwc/lwc.reference_generate_record_input_create
   • or maybe you don't have to code it all and stuff like <lightning-record-edit-form> with recordtypeid passed to it will solve all your problems

Have a look, if I didn't give you a working solution then at least you have some keywords to Google around. If you're still stuck - try to post a code sample as new question?