Adding Custom Links to the Side Navigation in Salesforce

In Salesforce’s Lightning interface, custom links have been replaced with Global Quick Actions.

Often called Quick Actions, they can help you not only with linking, but will really transform what you can do with your user’s mobile devices when you combine them with other features. At BackOffice Thinking, we utilize these quick actions to kick off workflows to significantly improve user productivity by reducing clicks and making clear paths to success.

The best way to learning how to create Global Quick Actions is by reviewing this Trail Head Module. If you’re looking for additional help please connect with one of our BackOffice Thinkers and we’ll show you how to amaze your users!

Note: Custom links remain possible in Salesforce Classic. See below.

How to Add Custom Sidebar links in Salesforce Classic

The side navigation Custom Links area can be handy for creating links to your most used Salesforce reports or websites staff frequent.  

To add items to the Custom Links area in the side navigation:

• Click {YourName} Setup > App Setup > Customize > Home > Home Page Components
• Under Standard Components click Edit next to Custom Links.
• In the Bookmark field enter the label you would like to appear as the custom link.
• In the URL field, enter the path of the Salesforce object or report or enter the URL of a external website.  When entering a path of a Salesforce object or report, be sure to use a relative URL by no not including the domain portion of the URL.  For example do not use https://na7.salesforce.com/00OA0000004lVqQ; instead, use /00OA0000004lVqQ.  On rare occasions, Salesforce changes the server domain associated with an organization.  Using relative links will prevent links from breaking should your domain change.
• When finished creating your custom links, click Save.

The Salesforce unique identifier for a report can be found by running the report and copying the number from the report URL.

If you do not see a Custom Links section with your new links, make sure the Custom Links section is set to display on your home page layout.  To do this go to: {YourName} > Setup > Customize > Home Page > Home Page Layouts.  Click Edit next to the Home Page Layout for your Salesforce instance (NonProfitEdition if using the Nonprofit Starter Pack).   Make sure the check box next to Custom Links is checked and click Next.  Verify that Custom Links appears in the Narrow (Left) column box.   If it does not, add it.  Click Save.
By default the custom side bar components only show on the Home Page.  To have the custom components (including the Custom Links you just created) appear on all pages, go to {YourName} > Setup > Customize > User Interface.  Check the box next to Show Custom Sidebar Components on All Pages.