Salesforce Data Model Template

Salesforce Data Model Template

Data model diagram template using flowchart LR for visualizing Salesforce object relationships with color coding, LDV markers, and relationship type labels.

When to Use

• Documenting object relationships
• Planning data model changes
• Understanding existing schema
• Design reviews and architecture discussions

Cloud-Specific Templates

For pre-built cloud diagrams, see:

• Sales Cloud ERD - Account, Contact, Opportunity, Lead, Product, Campaign
• Service Cloud ERD - Case, Entitlement, Knowledge, ServiceContract

Preferred Format: flowchart LR

Use flowchart LR (left-to-right) for data model diagrams. This format supports:

• Individual node color coding by object type
• Thick arrows (==>) for Master-Detail relationships
• Left-to-right flow for readability
• Simple object nodes (name + record count, no fields)

Quick Reference

Object Type Colors

Relationship Arrows

Metadata Annotations

Query Org Metadata

Enrich diagrams with live org data:

python3 ~/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/sf-skills/sf-diagram-mermaid/scripts/query-org-metadata.py \
    --objects Account,Contact,Opportunity,Case \
    --target-org myorg

Mermaid Template (Preferred)

%%{init: {"flowchart": {"nodeSpacing": 50, "rankSpacing": 80}} }%%
flowchart LR
    %% ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
    %% LEGEND: LK = Lookup (-->), MD = Master-Detail (==>)
    %% Colors: Blue = Standard, Orange = Custom, Green = External
    %% ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

    Account["Account<br/>(317)"]
    Contact["Contact<br/>(346)"]
    Opportunity["Opportunity<br/>(6)"]
    Case["Case<br/>(2)"]

    Account -->|"LK"| Contact
    Account -->|"LK"| Opportunity
    Account -->|"LK"| Case
    Contact -->|"LK"| Case

    %% Standard Objects - Sky Blue
    style Account fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937
    style Contact fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937
    style Opportunity fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937
    style Case fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937

ASCII Fallback Template

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  DATA MODEL (L→R)                                                           │
│  Legend: LK = Lookup (-->), MD = Master-Detail (==>)                        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌────────────────┐         ┌────────────────┐         ┌────────────────┐
│    ACCOUNT     │── LK ──>│    CONTACT     │── LK ──>│     CASE       │
│     (317)      │         │     (346)      │         │      (2)       │
└───────┬────────┘         └────────────────┘         └────────────────┘
        │
        │ LK
        ▼
┌────────────────┐
│  OPPORTUNITY   │
│      (6)       │
└────────────────┘

Custom Object Example

Shows mixing Standard (blue) and Custom (orange) objects:

%%{init: {"flowchart": {"nodeSpacing": 50, "rankSpacing": 80}} }%%
flowchart LR
    %% Standard Objects
    Account["Account<br/>(317)"]
    Product2["Product2<br/>(50)"]

    %% Custom Objects
    Invoice["Invoice__c<br/>(1,200)"]
    InvoiceLine["Invoice_Line_Item__c<br/>(5,400)"]

    Account ==>|"MD"| Invoice
    Invoice ==>|"MD"| InvoiceLine
    Product2 -->|"LK"| InvoiceLine

    %% Standard - Sky Blue
    style Account fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937
    style Product2 fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937

    %% Custom - Orange
    style Invoice fill:#fed7aa,stroke:#c2410c,color:#1f2937
    style InvoiceLine fill:#fed7aa,stroke:#c2410c,color:#1f2937

External Object Example

Shows Standard, Custom, and External objects together:

%%{init: {"flowchart": {"nodeSpacing": 50, "rankSpacing": 80}} }%%
flowchart LR
    Account["Account<br/>(317)"]
    SAPOrder["SAP_Order__x<br/>(ext)"]
    OrderLine["Order_Line__c<br/>(2,400)"]

    Account -->|"LK"| SAPOrder
    SAPOrder -->|"LK"| OrderLine

    %% Standard - Sky Blue
    style Account fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937

    %% External - Green
    style SAPOrder fill:#a7f3d0,stroke:#047857,color:#1f2937

    %% Custom - Orange
    style OrderLine fill:#fed7aa,stroke:#c2410c,color:#1f2937

LDV (Large Data Volume) Example

Objects with >2M records show LDV indicator:

%%{init: {"flowchart": {"nodeSpacing": 50, "rankSpacing": 80}} }%%
flowchart LR
    Account["Account<br/>LDV[~4M]"]
    Contact["Contact<br/>LDV[~8M]"]
    Case["Case<br/>(450K)"]

    Account -->|"LK"| Contact
    Account -->|"LK"| Case
    Contact -->|"LK"| Case

    style Account fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937
    style Contact fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937
    style Case fill:#bae6fd,stroke:#0369a1,color:#1f2937

Best Practices

1. Use flowchart LR - Left-to-right flow is easier to read
2. Keep objects simple - Show name + record count only (no fields)
3. Color code by type - Blue=Standard, Orange=Custom, Green=External
4. Use correct arrows - --> for Lookup, ==> for Master-Detail
5. Add LDV indicators - For objects >2M records
6. Use API names - Show Account not "Accounts"

ERD Conventions

See ERD Conventions for full documentation.