Exposing User object custom fields to Activity report dashboard filters in native Salesforce is challenging because Activity objects have platform limitations in cross-object field references that prevent User custom fields from appearing in dashboard filter options.
Traditional approaches like creating formula fields on the Activity object or building custom report types often fail to make these fields available in dashboard filter contexts. Here’s a solution that provides direct exposure.
Get complete field exposure with direct access to user object custom fields using Coefficient
Coefficient provides direct exposure of User object custom fields for Activity report filtering by importing Activity data with direct access to User relationship fields using the format “CustomField__c (Owner)” without needing intermediary fields.
How to make it work
Step 1. Import Activity data with direct User relationship fields.
Use Coefficient’s “From Objects & Fields” method to select the Activity object (Task or Event). Include standard Activity fields like Subject, Status, ActivityDate, and Type, then add User relationship fields like “Owner.Sales_Region__c”, “Owner.Territory__c”, and “Owner.Department__c” for direct access to all User custom fields.
Step 2. Set up dynamic filters using User custom fields.
Create filter controls in your spreadsheet that point directly to these User custom fields. Set up dropdown filters for Sales Region, Territory, or Department, and use dynamic filtering where filters reference specific cells for easy stakeholder control.
Step 3. Build advanced filtering capabilities with multiple User fields.
Filter Activities by multiple User custom fields simultaneously, create hierarchical filtering like Region > Territory > Rep, and use complex AND/OR logic to combine User field criteria with Activity-specific filters like date ranges or activity types.
Step 4. Schedule automatic data refreshes to maintain current User field values.
Set up hourly, daily, or weekly refresh schedules to keep your User custom field values current. Your filtering setup remains intact while User data like territory assignments or regional changes update automatically from Salesforce .
Get reliable access to all User object custom fields
This approach completely bypasses the native platform limitations and provides reliable access to all User object custom fields for Activity report filtering, working consistently where User custom fields function identically for Activity filtering as they do for Opportunity filtering. Start accessing all your User fields today.