Sync to salesforce multi select picklist field

[Biren_Dhulia]

I have a Multiple choice field in Marketo Form which is syncing to a Picklist (Not Multi Select Picklist) in Salesforce. So when leads go to the website and choose more than one option, only the first one syncs to Salesforce field. How do I capture all the options that lead had chosen? Do I just change the Picklist field in Salesforce to Multi Select Picklist?

Thanks.

[Mariah_Mattick]

Hi Biren! It may be best to align that picklist with SFDC's values to ensure proper data sync OR to align the SFDC field type to what users are seeing on the form (the multi-select). This will keep the data and user experience in 1-1 alignment between both systems. 

[Biren_Dhulia]

Hi Mariah Mattick,

Thanks for your reply. Both the picklist values (Marketo & SFDC) are aligned. The reason all the values are not syncing is SDFC field is Picklist not Multi-Select Picklist & Marketo field is Multi-Select checkboxes on the form. If i just simply change the SFDC field to Multi-Select picklist, will that resolve the issue? Will Marketo recognize the field type change in SFDC?

[SanfordWhiteman]

The situation actually has nothing to do with the type of form widget (Checkboxes).

It's solely about the value of the field: if you had a String or Textarea field on the form and filled in a semicolon-delimited string, or used a Change Data Value flow step, or the REST API, the outcome would be exactly the same.

The datatype in the Marketo database does not have a fixed relationship to the widget type. What matters is the value you try to fit in the field and whether SFDC understands it once it syncs over.

So yes, you must change the SFDC field to a multi-select picklist. Unlike in Marketo, the visual widget associated with an SFDC field is more closely related to the allowed value/s.

[Biren_Dhulia]

Sanford Whiteman‌ I did change the SFDC field to Multi-Select picklist but the result is the same. Only the first selected checkbox from the form is synced to Salesforce. Do you where could be the disconnect? So for example - values on form checked was abc, def, ghi, jkl only abc was synced to matching SFDC field which is multi-select picklist.

[SanfordWhiteman]

What's happening in the other direction, if you select multiple values in SFDC for a new contact/person and wait for the sync?

Are you also positive that the Marketo field is holding the all the values in the first place (we didn't actually verify that above)?

[Biren_Dhulia]

If i select multiple values in SFDC for new lead when it synced to Marketo i can see all values under SFDC custom field on the lead info page. I can see the form has the multiple checkboxes. Not sure which Marketo field holds the value that is coming from the website form.

[SanfordWhiteman]

You're looking at the field under SFDC Custom Fields. There's not a separate Marketo field, that *is* the field.

[Biren_Dhulia]

This is what the field looks like. Not sure what if it holds any values.

[SanfordWhiteman]

Adding the column to a Smart List will tell you if it holds any values.

[Biren_Dhulia]

Under workflow, smart list filter does show 6 values.

[SanfordWhiteman]

I mean look at the literal String value in a Smart List, or at the lead level.

[Biren_Dhulia]

Under the active marketing program, i don't see any smart list under local assets. At the Lead level when the lead comes in from website under SFDC custom field it only shows the first checkbox that was selected on the form. 

[SanfordWhiteman]

You can create a Smart List at any time, anywhere!  Or a static List. I'm merely asking you to look at this field's contents, same as you would look at Company or First Name for a group of leads at once.

[Biren_Dhulia]

I am sorry about lots of back & forth messages. I am new to Marketo and really appreciate your patience with me. The field content in actual lead records is only one value not the multiple values. I hope i am answering your question correctly. When i pull the lead record in Database, under SFDC custom fields the value for Inquiry Type field is the value of first checkbox that was checked on website not the multiple values. 

[SanfordWhiteman]

If the full value, which should be a semicolon-delimited string, is not even syncing (unidirectionally) from SFDC to Marketo then you have another problem. That's no longer about the Marketo String not syncing all values to Salesforce.

I'd recommending stopping and restarting the SFDC Sync to see if the change to the (SFDC) field type gets picked up.

You must develop a set of debugging techniques for things like this. Lists of leads, Views w/custom columns, and looking at the Activity Log are crucial. 

[Biren_Dhulia]

The full semicolon-delimited string is syncing from Salesforce to Marketo. Problem is the other way around. I have changed the field type in Salesforce to Multi-Select picklist but that did not help. Will this field type change will be reflected automatically in Marketo?

This is what it shows under field management. 

[Michelle_Roch]

Hi Biren. We experienced a similar issue and were able to fix it. I'd be happy to screen share to determine if our instances are related. Feel free to send me a private message with your availability if you want to connect.

[Biren_Dhulia]

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for your reply. I have created a case with Marketo as we have experienced other sync issues as well. I will let you know if we were able to get this fix or not and if I need your help.

[Michelle_Roch]

Sounds good. Good luck!

[Namita_Parikh]

@Michelle_Roch we are actually running into an issue that sounds similar. If you have some time to meet/chat about what you did to fix the issue, that would be fantastic and much appreciated!