Not able to update records with NULL values

[ghareesh]

Hi,
Have 2 issues using package while updating null values with sf_update function..
Ex: sf_update(test,"Case")

1. While trying to write back NA date values
   When NA(formatted as date) values is to be written back, it shows following error..

HTTP error 500 on attempt 1 ...
backing off 1.00 seconds, retrying
HTTP error 500 on attempt 2 ...
backing off 3.00 seconds, retrying
HTTP error 500 on attempt 3 ...
backing off 0.56 seconds, retrying
HTTP error 500 on attempt 4 ...
backing off 6.10 seconds, retrying
Error in catch_errors(httr_response) :
'NA' is not a valid value for the type xsd:date

While using createBulkBatch method , this was smooth. But we cannot continue using bulk updates due to salesforce restrictions for number of bulk operations per day in our org.

2. When Null values to be updated to picklist fields
   While using createBulkBatch updates, Null value written back will delete the existing values in the picklist field.
   Example:
   Before write back :
   Substatus = "Waiting for AI process"
   After writing back NA value,
   Substatus will be blank. History of record will say the substatus is deleted.

But while using sf_update, the "NA" value is getting written back. Is there a way to make this to be delete of existing value than writing back "NA" as a value?

Thanks a lot for all your support..

[StevenMMortimer]

Below is an example of how to update a field. You need to specify the api_type="REST" because that currently supports the functionality you want. I just added it for the SOAP API as well, so you will have to re-install from GitHub if you want to use the SOAP API in the way you are calling as sf_update(test, 'Contact') which uses the SOAP API by default.

library(tidyverse)
library(salesforcer)
sf_auth()

contact_to_update <- tibble(Id = "0036A00000aABCnZZZ", Field1 = NA_character_)
result <- sf_update(contact_to_update, "Contact", api_type="REST")
result

[ghareesh]

Great Steven.. Thanks a ton ton for this.. Really helps a lot and you made my day.. Respect!!