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flow-data-tables
Use the Data Table screen component for selecting rows from collections in Screen Flows, including single/multi-select and inline actions. NOT for displaying read-only data outside flows — use flow/screen-flow-choice-component-selection.
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Flow Data Tables
The Data Table screen component (GA) displays a record collection and lets users select rows. It is the replacement for custom LWC datatables inside flows for 80% of cases. This skill configures columns, selection mode, and downstream consumption of the selected rows, and documents the row-count soft limit beyond which you should switch back to a custom LWC table with server-side paging rather than stretch the screen component into a role it wasn't designed for.
Adoption Signals
Screen flows that need row selection from a list. Not for inline edit use cases — use lightning-datatable LWC.
- Use Data Table when the user must pick one or many rows that drive a downstream Flow path.
- Avoid when row count exceeds a few hundred — pagination and search aren't first-class in the standard component.
Recommended Workflow
- Get Records of the SObject into a collection variable.
- Add Data Table component; bind Source Collection; configure columns (Label, Field Name, Type).
- Pick selection mode: Single or Multiple.
- Downstream: reference
{!DataTable.selectedRows}or.firstSelectedRow. - Empty state: branch on collection size and show a message screen if zero.
Key Considerations
- Column types inferred but can be overridden for currency/date/checkbox.
- Soft limit ~1500 rows; beyond that use pagination or refactor to LWC.
- Sort is per-column user action, not configurable default.
- Supports Lookup columns; Rich Text limited.
Worked Examples (see references/examples.md)
- Select Contact from list — Case creation
- Multi-select bulk update — Update Cases
Common Gotchas (see references/gotchas.md)
- Huge collection — Browser sluggish.
- Missing empty state — Empty screen with no action.
- Lookup column confusion — Shows Id not Name.
Top LLM Anti-Patterns (full list in references/llm-anti-patterns.md)
- Custom LWC when Data Table suffices
- Unbounded collection
- Missing empty state
Official Sources Used
- Flow Builder Guide — https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow.htm
- Flow Best Practices — https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_best_practices.htm
- Reactive Screens — https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_ref_elements_screen_reactive.htm
- Flow HTTP Callout Action — https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.flow_concepts_callout.htm