Appendix E: Reference and Lookup Functions

Owned by Saurabh Gupta (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Feb 28, 2018Version comment
3 min read

Business applications have to accept specific values in their reference fields at the destination. It is not possible to map the source data with the destination data without knowing the reference field value.

To locate the reference values, using the values of the corresponding fields, you can use Select from list (for static values) or Lookup (for dynamic values) functions. 

Select from list function is used to set the static value for the reference field. For example, you may select the ID (0017000000MrSxDAAV) after identifying it through its account name (GenePoint). Whenever a Transaction will execute, the same GenePoint’s ID will be used as a value of AccountId.

The Reference (Select from list) function is supported for the following business applications:

  • Amazon S3
  • BigCommerce
  • Magento
  • NetSuite
  • QuickBooks
  • Salesforce
  • Shopify

Lookup function is used to set the dynamic value for the reference field by searching a value in the source field that matches the corresponding record of a destination field. For example, if you know the Account name at the source and do not know its respective ID, you may use the LOOKUP function and find it.    

The Lookup function is supported for the following business applications:

  • BigCommerce
  • FreshBooks
  • Magento
  • QuickBooks
  • Salesforce
  • Service Now
  • Xero
  • Zendesk

To use Reference or Lookup function:

  1. On the Mapping page of your Transaction, clickcorresponding to the reference field for which you want to use Reference or Lookup function and then click Expression and Variables, for example, parent_id. 



  2. On the Reference Selection window, select the way you want to choose your reference field. The available options are Select from list and Lookup.

    • If you choose Select from list, select the value from the Select Reference category, and click Save.



    • If you select Lookup, select the criteria based on which the reference field value will be fetched and click Save.



      1. Select the destination field for which you want to match value at source from the Target Field.

      2. Select Equals operator from the Condition. 

        You will find other operators in case of Service Now application only. Depending on the selected Target Field type (integer, boolean, string, date/time, reference, and GUID) the operators will differ.

      3. Select the source field that should match the value of the selected destination field from the Source Field. 

        You can select multiple fields if you have selected is one of or is not one of operator in the Condition drop-down list. You can select two fields only if you have selected between operator in the Condition drop-down list.

      4. Click Save.