Formula fields - Request for dynamic recalculation / proper implementation

Hi Guys,

I have a big problem with Zoho formula fields. They don't recalculate each time the record is viewed - only when a record is edited. Formula fields should be updated dynamically each time a record is retrieved.

As an example:

I have a formula field; "Days since Last Contact". This field should count the number of days between today/now and the "Last Interaction". This is a custom date field with associated workflows that we created to get around limitations with "Last Activity" and "Last Modified" fields.

Floor(Datecomp(Now(),${Contacts.Last Interaction})/1440)

Unfortunately, it only updates when a record is created or edited.

In other words - unless you open the record and modify a value - the "days since last contact" field will show the same date forever - even though I used "Now()" in my formula.

Worse still - any existing records in my system don't get a value at all for this new formula field.... that is unless you go back and perform some kind of edit on them all.

The obvious issue here is that you ruin the integrity of "Last Modified" / "Last Activity" dates when you perform these kinds of bulk edits.

Please fix this so that:

- Formula fields are computed dynamically and update whenever a record is viewed / retrieved

- That the above applies to historical records whenever a new formula field is added

Others with this issue / Examples of use cases:

People have been requesting this as far back as 2009. See other threads/discussions (there are at least another 50 upvotes across these threads):

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/how-to-update-automaticaly-a-custome-formula-field

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/function-needed-update-formula-field-daily

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/formula-fields-not-updating

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/dynamic-formula-field-trigger-formula-field-on-viewing-record

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/formula-update

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/update-of-formula-filed

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/formula-field-update-frequency

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/formula-aged-date

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/forumula-field-only-updates-after-editing-record

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/formula-field-produces-no-effect-blank-value-on-field

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/calculating-lead-age-custom-field-creation

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/custom-fields-to-prioritize-follow-up-with-contacts

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/age-field-from-date-of-birth-field

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/formula-with-date-field

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/formula-field-date-compare-from-a-date-field-to-today

https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/how-to-calculate-current-age%3F

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