Adding Custom List Buttons using Standard List Controllers

In addition to overriding standard buttons and links, you can also create custom list buttons that link to pages that use a standard list controller. These list buttons can be used on a list page, search results, and any related list for the object and allow you to take actions on a group of selected records. To indicate the set of records that have been selected, use the {!selected} expression.

For example, to add a custom button to a related list for opportunities that allows you to edit and save the opportunity stage and close date on selected records:

1. Create the following Apex class:
2. Create the following page and call it oppEditStageAndCloseDate:
3. Make the page available to all users.
   1. From Setup, enter Visualforce Pages in the Quick Find box, then select Visualforce Pages.
   2. Click Security for the oppEditStageAndCloseDate page.
   3. Add the appropriate profiles to the Enabled Profiles list.
   4. Click Save.
4. Create a custom button on opportunities.
   1. From the object management settings for opportunities, go to Buttons, Links, and Actions.
   2. Click the button for creating a new button or link.
   3. Set the Label to Edit Stage & Date.
   4. Set the Display Type to List Button.
   5. Set the Content Source to Visualforce Page.
   6. From the Content drop-down list, select oppEditStageAndCloseDate.
   7. Click Save.
   8. A warning will display notifying you that the button will not be displayed until you have updated page layouts. Click OK.
5. Add the custom button to an account page layout.
   1. From the object management settings for accounts, go to Page Layouts.
   2. Click Edit for the appropriate page layout.
   3. In the Related List Section, click on Opportunities, then click to edit the properties.
   4. In the Custom Buttons section, select Edit Stage & Date in the Available Buttons list and add it to the Selected Buttons list.
   5. Click OK.
   6. Click Save.

Now, when you visit the account page, there is a new button in the opportunities related list.

Example of New Button

When you select an opportunity and click Edit Stage & Date, you are taken to your custom edit page.

Example of Custom Edit Page