Process Builder - Simplified

What is Process Builder?

Process Builder is a workflow tool that helps you easily automate your business processes by providing a powerful and user-friendly graphical representation of your process as you build it.

OK, So what does this means?
In simple terms, process builder is a tool that allows salesforce admins to build some pretty cool automation by simple point and click configurations (well, almost). Automatons that earlier required writing triggers, or series of workflow or combination of workflows, approval and triggers.

Like what, Exactly?
How about

• Updating a lookup record (Parent), not just the Master-detail, but lookup parent record.
• Update related (child) records
• Create a record, yes you heard it right, you can create records.
• Update a picklist field dynamically and not just predefined selected values
• Post to Chatter
• Submit record for Approval (Automatically)

Sweet, So does process builder replaces workflows?

Eventually yes, but for now there are some limitations due to which you might want to use workflows. For eg: Outbound messages are not yet supported in process builders.

Did I said some limitations, I guess meant 1 limitation ;)

Can Process builder replace triggers?
To be honest, I hope someday it would. As of now its not a replacement for triggers, however it can certainly replaces chunks or functionalities from trigger. Remember how many times we have created triggers for trivial automation such as submission of approval process without clicking submit for approval button or create child record or update records. All these functions can now be ported into process builder.

OK I am impressed, now show me how its done?

Process builder Interface has two main components the button bar and canvas.

Button Bar (Item 1)

• Expand or collapse actions on the canvas
• Open the process management page
• Create an inactive copy of the current process (oh did i mentioned that process builder creates versions)
• Edit or view the properties of the current process
• Activate or deactivate the current process

Canvas (Item 2)

The canvas is the main work-space for a process. On the canvas, you can define:

• The records that the process should evaluate (Item 3)
• You identify the object and specify the changes to that object’s records that cause the process to run.
• One or more criteria nodes (Item 4)
• Each criteria node includes conditions that are used to evaluate the record. A criteria node evaluates based on filter criteria or based on a formula. You can also simply execute the associated actions without evaluating the record.
• One or more actions (Item 5)
• Create a record 
• Update any related record—not just the record or its parent
• Use a quick action to create a record, update a record, or log a call
• Launch a flow—you can’t schedule this action with workflow
• Send an email
• Post to Chatter
• Submit for approval
• If the criteria are met for the record that starts the process, the criteria node’s associated action group (Item 6) either executes immediately or according to the schedule defined for the action.