Salesforce Data Loader

What is data loader? and why we use data loader?

Data loader is a tool provided by sales force to perform following opearation on data.

1. Insert

2. Update

3. Upsert

4. Delete

5. Hard delete

6. Export

7. Export All

When importing data, Data Loader reads, extracts, and loads data from comma separated values(CSV) files or from databasa conections. When exporting data, it outputs CSV files.

We can use data loader in following 2 ways.

1. User Interface

2. Command Line

Key features of the data loader

- An easy-to-use wizard interface for interactive use
- An alternate command line interface for automated batch operations
- Support for large files with up to 5 million records
- Drag-and-drop field mapping
-  Support for all objects, including custom objects
- Can be used to process data in both Salesforce and Database.com
- Detailed success and error log files in CSV format
- A built-in CSV file viewer
- Support for Windows 7

Import Wizard vs Data Loader

Use the Data Loader when

- To load the data greater than 50,000 we will go for data loader. We can load up to 5,00,000 records at a time by using data loader.

- To load the data into an object that is not supported by the import wizards.

- To schedule regular data loads, such as nightly imports.

- To export data for backup purposes.

Use the import Wizard when

- By using import wizard we can load below 50,000 records.

- The object you need to import is supported by import wizard. Go to setup -> Data management here you can find what are all the objects supported through import wizards.

- You want to prevent duplicates by uploading records according to account name and site, contact email address, or lead email address you can use import wizard.

Installing Data Loader

1. Log in to your salesforce application.

2. Go to setup-> Data management ->data loader

see the following image for reference

Once you clicked on data loader you will navigate to another screen there you can download data loader.

3. Install that downloaded file in your machine.

4. To start data loader double click on short cut on your desktop or go to Start > all programs >saledforce.com>Apex data loader>Apex Data loader.

Following is look and feel of data loader.

 To log in to data loader click on any operation and provide your log in credentials. If you are log in to Production please provide “Password+security token” in password field.

Before log in to data loader please change settings. Go to settings and provide server host url.

If you are working under proxy settings please provide proxy details.

Salesforce Data Loader Operations

Inserting records:

To insert records into Salesforce click on insert button and login with your credentials, during login provide “your org password + security token”.

Click on NEXT and select the object you want to insert the records and choose the .csv file you want upload.

Note: Data loader allow only .csv files.

                   Map the fields by using drag and drop.

Click on ok or save the mapping if need in future.

Click on NEXT and then click on Finish. After inserting records it will display error files and success files.

Update:

To update the records click on update and login.

Next select the csv file contains updated records with IDs and sect the object and complete the operation.

Upsert:

Upsert also same as update but here we can insert new records also.

By using this operation we can insert new records and update existing new records.

Export:

Export means down loading the data from organization.

Click on export button and then login with your credentials.

Select the object you want export data and specify the folder where you want to save this exported file.

And then finish the operation

Export All: “Export All” means it will give the data including data in recycle bin.

Delete:

Delete means it will delete data from your organization. To delete the data you want export the existing data with ID’s and then by using this file we can delete the data. The data deleted by this operation will be available in recycle bin. If want delete data permanently choose hard delete option.

To delete data from object follow below mentioned activities.

Click on delete button and login with your org credentials

Select the object you want to remove the data. And select the csv files with record id’s you want remove.

Map the ID field and then complete activity

Hard Delete

Hard delete means deleting the data permanently from the org. That mean data will not be stored recycle bin.

To enable this button enable bulk API. To enable bulk API button go to data loader settings and then enable bulk API check box.