And we have arrived at records. I will go back to the Excel example. We have already got a spreadsheet as an object, and columns as fields, but we are missing rows. Records are our rows. They are the basic units of data in our beloved system. They represent customers, accounts, opportunities, or leads. Fields that store data about that record make up a record. But how do you differentiate two records with the same data? The solution is simple: the Salesforce ID. The Salesforce ID (visible after export or in the URL bar upon entering a record) consists of a string of characters, either 15 characters (case-sensitive) or 18, which is the case-insensitive version, making it easier to cooperate with external systems.
Creating records takes place on a specific object. Upon entering an object, you will easily find the New button, which will activate a popup with empty fields to fill in. If you want to edit a record, that is tough – just kidding. Upon entering the list of records of a given object, you will find a drop-down arrow on the right side of each record, which, when clicked, will display the edit option.
And this way, we have reached the end of this section. You have learned what an object, field, and record are. What types of objects can you find in the system, and how many types of fields can you see when creating a new one? It is crucial to feel comfortable with this list so that you know which field to propose when someone wants to add percentages and date/time in the system.
Now, I invite you to the next section, where you will learn the magic of data import and export.
Importing and exporting data
In this section of the book, we will learn how to export and import data to Salesforce and recognize the tools and features that support these activities. As you know, all software revolves around data. Of course, features are also important, but ultimately, data and records are the keys to success for companies using Salesforce. Therefore, mastering how to deal with data is crucial for every Salesforce Administrator, as “Data is like garbage. You’d better know what you are going to do with it before you collect it.”
Exporting and importing Salesforce data
Before we delve into importing data into Salesforce, we’ll address the export options. Often, the data you import into Salesforce is data you’ve previously exported and updated with additional information. For this reason, let’s start by learning how to export data. Later, we will proceed to learn how to import it. There are several options available for exporting or importing data from Salesforce. Let’s list them as follows:
- Salesforce Reports – Data export capabilities
- Import Wizard – Data import capabilities
- Data Loader – Data import and export capabilities
- Workbench – Data import and export capabilities
Let’s now see how you can use each of these features.