Data Import Wizard:
- It is designed for less-technical users (like business users).
- Used for smaller, simpler imports of up to 50,000 records.
- Can only import data of Account, Contact, Leads, Solutions, Campaign
Member and Custom Objects.
- Can only Insert, Update and Upsert.
- We don’t need to download anything on our system, as this runs on
cloud.
- Can’t schedule.
When to use Data Import Wizard?
- If you are loading less than 50,000 records.
- The object must import is supported by import wizard.
- If you want to prevent duplicates by uploading records according to
account name and site, contact email address, or lead email address.
- If your target objects have fewer than 50 fields.
- If your data doesn’t include complex field mappings.
Data Loader:
- It is designed for technical users.
- Can process more than 50,000 records (process up to 5,00,000 records
at a time).
- Can work with any object (any standard as well as custom object).
- We can use it for complex imports of large size.
- Can do Insert, Delete, Hard Delete, Update and Upsert.
- We do need to download software on our system, as this runs on our
local machine.
- We can schedule it (by using services like Command Line Interface, OS
Feature, Scripting Language, etc.).
When to use Data Loader?
- If you want to load more than 50,000 records, as data loader can load
up to 5 million records.
- You must load into an object that isn’t yet supported by the import
wizard.
- If your data includes complex field mappings that you must load
consistently on regular basis.
- If you want to schedule regular data loads, such as nightly imports.
- If you want to export your data for backup purposes.
Record ID:
- Each record in Salesforce has a unique ID. It has 2 versions, 15
characters ID, and 18 characters ID.
- All record in Salesforce has an owner. If you omit it in an import, then
the user doing the import becomes the owner.
- Each child record has Parent Id. Should be specified in the import file.
Import fails if omitted.
- The 15 character ID (case sensitive), which is displayed in the user
interface.
- The 18 character ID, which is returned via the API by default.
- The 18 character ID is combination of the 15 character ID with 3 extra
added characters it ensure that it is unique on a case insensitive basis.
- The API will accept 15 or 18 character IDs but will return 18 character
IDs by default.
-
Q: What is Data Loader?
- This is the native tool provided by Salesforce, by which we can process
large number of records in one go, instead of making the things slowly
in the manual way.
- This tool is widely used in data migration process of legacy
(old/previous) systems, when client wants to shift to the Salesforce
platform from DOTNET/Java/SAP etc.
- At that time, client also wants us to bring that old platform’s data to
Salesforce; hence we need to know this tool.
Q: What is Sandbox/Development Environment?
- This is the environment, where we will be working on any project
building process.
- This be not connected to clients environment, so if any mistakes
happens here, that will not be a matter of concern.
Q: What is Production/Live Environment?
- This is the LIVE Environment of client, where actual business will be
running.
- Here a small mistake also going to bring concerns as this is the ‘real
user/client/business people.
- Warning: Be very careful while working in Production when you join
any company.
Q: What is Server Host in data loader?
- Server host is a URL which tells whether the Data Loader is going to
connect/work on Sandbox or Production.
- When you open Data Loader and click on Settings tab, you will find
option as given in below image.
- We can mention one out of two URL in above options.
o https://login.salesforce.com (Live) Production.
o https://test.salesforce.com for (Development) Sandbox.
Q: What is Batch size in data loader?
- The number of records that will be processed/shifted from source file
to Salesforce org “at a time”, is called as Batch Size.
- Default value is 200.
- Max allowed batch size “we can enter” is 10,000.
- Means, no matter we enter 20k, 50k or more than that. Maximum
capacity is 10k only.
Q: What is “Export” and “Export All”?
- “Export” will pull only the ‘Non Deleted’ records from the Salesforce
object.
- “Export All” will pull ‘Non Deleted’ as well as ‘Deleted’ records from the
Salesforce object.
Q: When to use Export All/Export in your current or in ex project?
- We use Export All In some banking/financial projects, where we need to
keep an “audit” of “everything”, even cancelled or deleted
transactions/deals, for safer side, we download all data, even from
Recycle Bin and stored somewhere in local machine.
- Also, in some “data sensitive projects”, if by mistake anyone deletes
the record and that is present in recycle bin, then also “Export All”
practice helped us to get that data backup, as, after 15 days, all
content in recycle bin will be wiped out.
Q: Which is the column/field, on which Update activity is Completely relying?
- Only by Record Id.
Q: Can we bypass/keep empty/skip the mandatory field during data loader?
- No. Mandatory fields we cannot bypass using data loader.
Q: What is the way to decide rate of Export/Export All?
- Query request size.
Q: What is the way to decide rate of Insert/Update?
- Batch size.
Q: Can data loader allow partial data management/commit? (Means, if any 2-
3 records giving error then will it cancel all records in that file or will work on
correct records only)
- Absolutely, It will work partially.
Q: Why External Id is useful?
- Whenever we have to speak about any Salesforce records in the
context of Salesforce platform, we can use Salesforce Id.
- But when we need to identify the Salesforce data in the reference of
some new/other platform, then we need a common Id, which can be
understood by both platforms.
- For this, we create a new field in Salesforce, declare it as “external id”
and then solve the issue.
- It will work only with Upsert command.
- With this external id system, we can compare data of Salesforce with
other platform.
- Create Text field, and to make that text field as External Id, it is
necessary to check the External ID checkbox.
- Making characters as Case Sensitive is best practice.
Q: How to generate your Security Token?
- Go to My Settings -> Personal -> Reset my Security Token.
