Custom Lead Convert button...more URL hacking

Although the practice of URL hacking is not officially supported by Salesforce.com, it comes in handy. The concepts you will learn here apply to a lot of other areas in Salesforce.com where you can pass parameters in the URL. Today we will focus on the lead "Convert" button.

There are instances where we need to pass specific settings/values to the Lead Conversion page. For example, we may want to check off the "Do not create a new opportunity upon conversion." checkbox by default when a user clicks on the Convert button. Let's get to it.

1. Step one is to create a custom button to replace the standard "Convert" button. Click on:

Setup | Customize | Leads | Buttons and Links | New

2. Enter the required information. See image below

3. Enter the following code in the formula field:

window.location.href="/lead/leadconvert.jsp?nooppti=1&sem=1&tsk5_fu='Contact New Lead: {!Lead.LastName}&tsk4_fu={!Today()+3}&tsk13_fu=High&tsk12_fu=In Progress&id={!Lead.Id}&RetURL=/{!Lead.Id}";

The custom Convert button now does the following:

- Checks off the "Do not create a new opportunity upon conversion." (nooppti=1)
- Passes the Task Subject value for the task (tsk5_fu)
- Passes the Task Due Date of the Task (tsk4_fu={!Today()+3})
- Passes the Task Priority value (tsk13_fu=High)
- Passes the Task Status value (tsk12_fu=In Progress)

Here are all of the page elements (fields) and their respective id's:

- Send Email to Owner: sem
- Opportunity Name: noopptt
- Converted Status: cstatus
- Priority: tsk13_fu
- Status: tsk12_fu
- Comments: tsk6_fu
- Send email notification: email_followup
- Reminder: IsReminderSet_fu
- Reminder Date: reminder_dt_fu
- Reminder Time reminder_dt_fu_time

Don't forget to add your new button to your desired page layout(s). Enjoy.