Introduction:
NetSuite is a powerful and versatile Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, but there are times when its native features might not fully align with your data management needs. One such scenario is the need for a custom recycle bin. While NetSuite doesn’t provide a native recycle bin feature for all records, you can implement your own using SuiteScript and custom records. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a custom recycle bin in NetSuite, focusing on SuiteScript.
1. Understand the Approach:
To create a custom recycle bin, we will use SuiteScript and custom records. The core idea is to capture deleted records before they’re permanently removed from the system and store them in a structured manner for potential recovery.
2. Set up SuiteScript:
- User Event Scripts: Deploy a User Event script for the relevant record types. This script will be triggered when a record is deleted.
3. Capture Deleted Record Data:
- In the User Event script’s ‘beforeSubmit’ or ‘afterSubmit’ function (depending on your specific use case), retrieve the old record data from the script context. This is the record data before it was deleted.
- Serialize this record data (e.g., to JSON) and save it to a file.
4. Custom Record for Storing Functionality:
- Create a custom record to store the information about the deleted records. This record will serve as your custom recycle bin.
- Define fields within this custom record to capture relevant information, such as the record type, record ID, user who deleted it, deletion timestamp, and any other pertinent details.
5. Storing Serialized Data:
- In your SuiteScript, create a record context for your custom record.
- Attach the file containing the serialized deleted record data to this custom record entry.
6. Restore Deleted Records:
- To restore a deleted record, access the record context from the custom record. Retrieve the serialized data and deserialize it (e.g., convert it back from JSON).
- Use this data to recreate the deleted record with its original details.
7. Limitations:
- Keep in mind that this customization is applicable only to SuiteScript-supported records.
- You can only restore data available in the serialized file. Information like attached files and communication tab details cannot be retrieved through this customization.
8. Test and Refine:
- Thoroughly test this custom recycle bin solution in a NetSuite sandbox environment to ensure it functions as expected and does not interfere with standard NetSuite functionality.
Conclusion:
Creating a custom recycle bin in NetSuite using SuiteScript and custom records allows you to take control of data recovery and retention. By capturing deleted records and storing them in a structured manner, you can recover essential data when needed. However, it’s crucial to be aware of the limitations, such as its applicability to SuiteScript-supported records and the inability to retrieve certain types of data. Implement this solution thoughtfully to meet your business’s specific needs.