Apex Data Loader
The Force.com platform offers you a development environment which you can use to create your own custom applications. Frequently, you will use the Force.com platform to create applications that operate on data that you already have in some form - in comma-separated variable files, spreadsheets or other relational databases.
The Apex Data Loader is an easy to use graphical tool that helps you to get your data into Salesforce objects. The Data Loader can also be used to extract data from Salesforce objects into any of the destinations mentioned above. You can even use the Data Loader to perform bulk deletions by exporting the ID fields for the data you wish to delete and using that source to specify deletions through the Data Loader.
The Apex Data Loader requires the use of the Force.com API. If your Salesforce edition allows the use of the API (Enterprise, Unlimited and Developer Editions), you can download the Apex Data Loader from the Setup menu, under Administration Setup - Data Management.
Data Loader basics
The following resources are good places to start learning about Data Loader
- Data Loader User Guide
- Video on Data Loader
Extended Data Loader capabilities
For more detailed information about the use of Data Loader, check out
- This course on the topic of migrating data into Salesforce
- A recent article on running Data Loader from the command line for non-interactive operation
- One user's experience using Data Loader from the command line, including parameter descriptions and how to encrypt passwords.
- Data Loader CLIq gives you a wizard to quickly create a working Command Line Interface (CLI) configuration.
Other loading options
- Another option for loading and unloading data from Salesforce objects is the Excel Connector, an open source project
- The Apex Data Loader uses the Salesforce API. Because of this dependence, the Data Loader is only available to Unlimited, Enterprise and Developer users. If you want to move data into Salesforce.com and are not using one of these editions, you can use the Enhanced Import Wizard
- An OSX build of the Apex Data Loader application, quickly export, create or update data in your Salesforce.com organization.