2. Objectives
Quick overview on ways in import
List objects exposed to the import wizards
List some of the capabilities of API-tools that the
import wizards don’t have
How to obtain the Data Loader
List the capabilities of the Data Loader
Show Data Loader example
3. Tools for Executing Data Migration
Via Application import / Via Web Services API
export Wizards
Accounts Data Loader
Contacts Partner Tools
Leads Custom-built Tools
Solutions Open Source Tools
Custom Objects
4. Import Wizards
Easy to use tool to load Accounts, Contacts, Leads,
Solutions, or Custom Objects.
Load 50,000 records or less
Prevent duplicates
Account Name and Site; Account Ids
Contact Email Address; Contact Name; Contact ID
Lead Email Address; Lead IDs
5. Overview of API-Based Tools
Load any object supported by the API
Load more than 50,000 records
Schedule regular data loads such as nightly feeds.
Export data for backup
Mass delete supported objects
6. Data Loader
Is a fully supported salesforce.com product.
Supports import from CSV or export to CSV.
Supports loading from or exporting to a database via
JDBC.
Supports custom relationships for upsert.
Can be run from the command line.
7. Obtaining Data Loader
Available in: UE, EE, DE
System Administrators download through the
application
1. Setup | Data Management | Data Loader
2. Download the Data Loader link and save
3. Launch the installShield Wizard
Open Source Project
SourceForge.net
Not supported by salesforce.com
8. Which tool do you use?
Wizard vs API is the essential question
Depends on the operations you want to perform
Depends on the objects involved
Depends on your scheduling needs
Depends on your de-duping needs
Depends on the number of records involved
Depends on the data sources/destinations involved
9. Review
1. Can you import data into custom objects using the
Salesforce import wizard?
2. How do you decide which tool to use?
3. True or False: An External ID is always unique
10. Upsert
Upsert is an API function that combines insert and
update into a single call.
Upsert uses an indexed custom field or external ID to
determine whether to create a new object or update an
existing object.
If the external ID is not matched, then a new object is
created
If an external ID is matched once, then the existing object is
updated.
If an external ID is matched multiple times, then an error is
reported.
Use Upsert when importing data to prevent the creation
of duplicates.
11. External IDs
External ID is flag that can be added to a custom field to
indicate it should be indexed and treated as an ID.
Custom index on any custom field of type: Text, Number
or Email
Available on all objects that support custom fields
User-defined cross-reference field
Why is this important?
Increases report and API SOQL performance
Used with upsert to easily integrate apps with other systems.
An object can have three External ID fields.
