Salesforce Schema Builder is a drag-and-drop, entity-relationship diagram (ERD) tool that lets you view and edit your org's entire data model on a single canvas. To open it, go to Setup, type Schema Builder in the Quick Find box, and select it - or click the Schema Builder button from any object in Object Manager. You need the Customize Application permission to use it.
Key takeaways
- Where: Setup -> Quick Find -> Schema Builder (or the Schema Builder button in Object Manager).
- Permission: requires Customize Application (part of the System Administrator profile).
- What it is: a live, visual ERD of standard and custom objects and the relationships between them.
- Create on the canvas: drag a new object or field straight onto the canvas - changes are live and immediate, not a draft.
- Best for: visualizing the data model and quick object/field creation - not deep field configuration.
- Use Object Manager for page layouts, validation rules, and detailed field settings.
How do you open Schema Builder in Salesforce?
There are two routes, and both land on the same canvas:
- From Setup (most common): click the gear icon -> Setup, then in the Quick Find box type
Schema Builderand click the matching result. - From Object Manager: go to Setup -> Object Manager, open any object, and click the Schema Builder button at the top of the page.
Schema Builder opens in its own tab and renders a diagram of the objects you choose to display.
What permission do you need?
You must have the Customize Application permission, which is included in the System Administrator profile. Without it, the Schema Builder option will not appear in Setup.
What can you do in Schema Builder?
Schema Builder is built around a single canvas with a few control panels:
- Elements tab - drag a new object or field onto the canvas to create it. The change is written to your org immediately (there is no save or draft step).
- Objects tab - use the Select from picklist (All, Selected, Standard, Custom, System) to choose which existing objects appear on the canvas.
- View Options - toggle Display Element Labels (shows API names), Show Relationships (draws the connector lines), and Hide Legend.
- Auto-Layout - automatically arranges the objects on the canvas. Note: auto-layout cannot be undone.
- Legend - relationship lines are colour-coded by type (lookup vs master-detail).
Relationships appear as connector lines between objects, so you can read lookup and master-detail relationships at a glance. You can model the same one-to-many, many-to-many, or one-to-one relationships you would build in Object Manager.
Schema Builder vs Object Manager: which should you use?
Object Manager is the primary, full-control place to manage objects and fields. Schema Builder is the visual companion. Use this table to decide:
| Task | Schema Builder | Object Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Visualize the whole data model (ERD) | Best for this | One object at a time |
| See all relationships as a diagram | Yes | No |
| Quickly create an object or field | Yes (drag-and-drop) | Yes (step-by-step wizard) |
| Edit page layouts | No | Yes |
| Add validation rules | No | Yes |
| Configure field-level security | Limited | Yes |
| Deep field attributes and dependencies | No | Yes |
What relationships can you create on the canvas?
| Relationship | What it does | Created in Schema Builder? |
|---|---|---|
| Lookup | Loosely links two objects | Yes |
| Master-detail | Tight parent-child; child inherits sharing and is deleted with its parent | Yes |
| Hierarchical | A lookup from the User object to itself | Via field creation |
Most field types can be added from the canvas, with a few historical exceptions (for example, geolocation).
What are the limitations of Schema Builder?
Schema Builder is for visualizing and quick creation, not full administration. Keep these honest limits in mind:
- Changes are live. Anything you drag onto the canvas is created in the org instantly - be careful in a production org.
- Not for deep configuration. Page layouts, validation rules, field dependencies, and many field settings still require Object Manager.
- Objects created elsewhere don't appear automatically. Objects added via an app or the API must be selected from the Objects tab to show on the canvas.
- No native image export. Historically there is no built-in export of the diagram to an image or PDF.
- Slows down on large orgs. Rendering hundreds of objects and relationships can be sluggish, so display only the objects you need.
- No cross-org export. You cannot export a schema from one org and import it into another.
Data-modeling best practice
Treat Schema Builder as your read-and-review map: use it to audit how objects connect, spot redundant lookups, and onboard new admins quickly. Do the precise build work - naming conventions, security, and automation - in Object Manager, and follow Salesforce customization best practices so your data model stays maintainable as it grows.
Need a hand designing or untangling a complex Salesforce data model? Our team has delivered Salesforce consulting and development across 50+ projects since 2014.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Schema Builder in Salesforce?
Go to Setup, type Schema Builder in the Quick Find box, and click the result. You can also open it from the Schema Builder button inside Setup -> Object Manager.
Do changes in Schema Builder go live immediately?
Yes. When you drag a new object or field onto the canvas, it is created in your org right away - there is no draft or save step, so take care when working in a production org.
What permission do I need to use Schema Builder?
You need the Customize Application permission. It is part of the System Administrator profile; without it, Schema Builder will not show in Setup.
Can I create relationships in Schema Builder?
Yes. You can create lookup and master-detail relationships by dragging the relationship field onto an object, and the connector lines on the canvas show how objects relate.
Can I export the Schema Builder diagram as an image?
Not natively. Salesforce has historically not offered a built-in export of the canvas to an image or PDF, and you cannot export a schema from one org to another.
Should I use Schema Builder or Object Manager?
Use Schema Builder to visualize the data model and create objects or fields quickly. Use Object Manager for detailed work - page layouts, validation rules, field-level security, and other field settings.