The record locking feature in Net Zero Cloud is designed to ensure data integrity, typically after a reporting period is finalized or audited. When a Carbon Footprint record is locked, it freezes the calculated emissions on that record. Crucially, this lock cascades down to all the associated Energy Use Records that feed into it. This action prevents any recalculation of the footprint, either by manual trigger or automated processes, thus preserving the finalized data. Unlocking the Carbon Footprint record is required to allow for recalculations.

A. Records can be unlocked. The locking mechanism is a reversible state to allow for corrections if necessary, not a permanent, irreversible action.

B. The locking hierarchy flows from the summary (Carbon Footprint) to the detail (Energy Use Record), not the other way around.

C. Locking a record is a data state change (a checkbox field is set to true), not a process that inherently moves it to a specific audit stage.

1. Salesforce Help. Net Zero Cloud Developer Guide. "Lock and Unlock Net Zero Cloud Records". "When you lock a carbon footprint record, the record and all its associated energy use records are prevented from being recalculated. You can unlock the records to recalculate them."