Documentation

Contents

Getting Started

Developer Workbooks

Workbooks are sets of tutorials that introduce you to various features. They are a great way to get started with the platform. The Force.com Workbook introduces you to building applications on the platform.

Visit the workbooks page to see the full list of workbooks and start working with Visualforce, ISVforce, the Mobile SDK and other features.

Introduction to Force.com - Core Resource Articles More Information
(Audience: Developers and Administrators) A series of articles that give an overview of the Force.com platform.

Visualforce Quick Start Tutorial Basic (HTML) | Advanced (HTML)
(Audience: Developers and Administrators) A quick start tutorial introduction to the Visualforce markup language.

Apex Tutorials Basic (HTML) | Advanced (HTML) | Tutorial Code and Objects (Package)
(Audience: Developers) A basic and advanced tutorial for the Apex programming language. Also a package is provided with the sample code, test code, and custom objects used in these tutorials.

Web Services API Quick Start Tutorial HTML
(Audience: Developers) A quick start tutorial introduction to the SOAP-based Force.com Web Services API..

Bulk API Quick Start Tutorial HTML
(Audience: Developers) A quick start tutorial introduction to the Force.com Bulk API.

Metadata API Quick Start Tutorial HTML
(Audience: Developers) A quick start tutorial introduction to the Force.com Metadata API.

REST API Quick Start Tutorial HTML
(Audience: Developers) A quick start tutorial introduction to the Force.com REST API.

Adobe Flash Builder for Force.com Quick Start Tutorial HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) A quick start tutorial introduction to creating Force.com Flex desktop applications with Adobe Flash Builder for Force.com.

Release Notes

Winter '12 Release Notes PDF
(Audience: Everyone) Descriptions of the new features available in Winter '12. Skip to the "Force.com" section.

PREVIEW: Spring '12 Release Notes PDF
(Audience: Everyone) Descriptions of the new features available in Spring '12. Skip to the "Force.com" section.

Reference Guides

General

Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) HTML
(Audience: Advanced Administrators and Developers) Reference and samples for querying records of one object type.

Salesforce Object Search Language (SOSL) HTML
(Audience: Advanced Administrators and Developers) Reference and samples for querying records of more than one object type, or unknown object types.

Salesforce Object Reference HTML | PDF | Earlier Versions
(Audience: Advanced Administrators and Developers) A list of the standard objects in Salesforce.com, including field types, properties, and descriptions.

Salesforce Field Reference HTML | PDF
(Audience: Advanced Administrators and Developers) A list of the standard fields for standard objects in Salesforce.com, including each field's label, data type, maximum length, precision, and scale.

Apex and Visualforce

Force.com Apex Code Developer's Guide
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF | Governor Limits | Earlier Versions
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF | Governor Limits
(Audience: Developers) Reference for Apex, a Java-like programming language that allows you to add custom logic to your apps.

Visualforce Developer's Guide
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF | Component Reference | Earlier Versions
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF | Component Reference
(Audience: Advanced Administrators and Developers) Reference for Visualforce, a tag-based markup language that allows you to build custom user interfaces for your apps.

API

Force.com Web Services API Developer's Guide
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF | ZIP | What's New | Samples | Earlier Versions
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF | ZIP | What's New | Samples
(Audience: Developers) Reference for the SOAP-based Force.com API.

Force.com Bulk API Developer's Guide
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF | Earlier Versions
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Reference for the REST-based Bulk API, a way of rapidly loading large quantities of records into Salesforce.

Force.com REST API Developer's Guide
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF | Earlier Versions
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Reference for the REST API, a resource-based API.

Force.com Streaming API Developer's Guide
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF | Earlier Versions
Pilot: Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Reference for the Streaming API, a way of receiving events for changes to Salesforce data that matches a SOQL query criteria you define, in a secure and scalable way.

Force.com Apex REST API Developer's Guide
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF
Note: in Version 23.0, the Apex REST documentation has been integrated into the Apex Developer’s Guide.
(Audience: Developers) Reference for the Apex REST API, a way to implement custom web services in Apex and expose them using a REST architecture.

Force.com Metadata API Developer's Guide
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF | Earlier Versions
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Reference for the Metadata API, a way of retrieving and deploying setup information in your organization.

Chatter REST API
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Reference for the Chatter REST API, a way of retrieving and manipulating Chatter feeds and data.

Service Cloud Console Integration Toolkit Developer's Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Reference and samples for the Service Cloud Console Integration Toolkit, an easy way to customize tabs in the Service Cloud console.

ARCHIVED: Client Certificate Expiration HTML
(Audience: Developers) Information about client certificate expirations.

Adobe Flash Builder for Force.com

Force.com Flex Developer's Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Reference for using the Adobe Flash Builder for Force.com integrated development environment (IDE) to create Force.com Flex desktop and Web applications.

Resolving Data Conflicts and Errors in Force.com Flex Apps PDF
(Audience: End Users and Administrators) How to use the data conflict and error resolution interface in Force.com Flex applications built with Adobe Flash Builder for Force.com.

Tools

Force.com Migration Tool Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Reference for the Force.com Migration Tool, a Java/Ant-based command-line utility for moving metadata between a local directory and a Salesforce organization.

AJAX Toolkit Developer's Guide
Version 24.0 for Spring '12: HTML | PDF | ZIP | Earlier Versions
Version 23.0 for Winter '12: HTML | PDF | ZIP
(Audience: Developers) Reference and samples for the AJAX Toolkit, an easy way of using the Force.com API in JavaScript.

Force.com Office Toolkit Developer's Guide
Version 4.0: HTML | PDF | MSI Install
(Audience: Developers) Reference and samples for the Office Toolkit, an easy way of using the Force.com API from within Microsoft Office.

Code and Formula Samples

Force.com Cookbook: Code Samples and Best Practices Collaborative Site
(Audience: Developers) A set of Visualforce, Apex, and API code samples that show how to solve common problems. Requires login to post and comment on recipes.

Useful Approval Processes HTML | PDF
(Audience: Administrators) Four detailed examples of how to use approval processes in a Force.com app.

Useful Formula Fields HTML | PDF
(Audience: Administrators) Over 100 examples of how to use formulas in a Force.com app, plus a handy formula operator and function reference.

Useful Validation Rules HTML | PDF
(Audience: Administrators) Over 70 examples of how to use validation rules in a Force.com app.

Useful Workflow Rules HTML | PDF
(Audience: Administrators) Over a dozen examples of how to use workflow in a Force.com app.

Usage and Implementation Guides

Development on Force.com

Development Lifecycle Guide: Enterprise Development on the Force.com Platform HTML | PDF
(Audience: Architects and Developers) How IT can plan, build, test, and deploy Force.com applications using a combination of Web-based and traditional development practices.

Force.com IDE and Data Loader

Force.com IDE Help More Information
(Audience: Developers) Help for the IDE is available within Eclipse -- just click Help in the menu bar. For context-sensitive help, click the help button or press F1.

Localizing with the Force.com IDE PDF
(Audience: Administrators and Developers) How to use the IDE to translate large numbers of custom labels more efficiently than with the Translation Workbench.

Data Loader Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Administrators) How to use the Force.com Data Loader to do a bulk import or export of data from a Salesforce.com organization.

Sites

Force.com Sites Implementation Guide PDF
(Audience: Administrators and Developers) How to create and manage public Web sites with Force.com.

Packaging and the AppExchange

ISVforce Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) Everything you need to know about ISVforce in one place, including sign up, development, AppExchange, licensing, and support.

AppExchange Publishing Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Providers, Developers, and Administrators) How to publish an app or service on AppExchange so that it's available to external customers.

Application Installation Guide HTML
(Audience: Administrators) How to download apps into a Salesforce.com organization.

License Management Application (LMA) Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Providers, Developers, and Administrators) How to install and use the License Management Application (LMA).

Security

Security Implementation Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Administrators and Developers) An overview of Force.com platform security features, including how to write Apex and Visualforce so that you avoid cross-site scripting and SOQL injection attacks.

Single Sign-On Implementation Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Administrators and Developers) How to set up Salesforce.com apps to work with single sign-on.

Mobile

Salesforce Mobile Implementation Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Administrators) How to set up Salesforce.com Mobile in an organization, and how to test a custom mobile app.

Salesforce Knowledge

Salesforce Knowledge Developer's Guide HTML | PDF
(Audience: Developers) A set of tutorials and samples that introduce you to developing with Salesforce Knowledge.

Developer Cheat Sheets

Developer cheat sheets are condensed, one- to four-page documents with the most commonly used reference material for a particular subject. Print them out and hang them on your wall for a handy quick reference.

Visit the Cheat Sheet resource page to download cheat sheets for Apex, Formulas, Visualforce, Web Services and Chatter.


Administrator Tip Sheets

Administrator tip sheets are short, one- to six-page documents that excerpt or summarize information already in the online help.

General

Salesforce.com Limits Quick Reference PDF
Browser Support and Configuration PDF
Using My Domain (Limited Release) PDF

Objects, Fields, Page Layouts, and Security

Building Custom Objects, Tabs, and Related Lists PDF
Creating Lookup Filters on Relationship Fields (Beta) PDF
Tips and Hints for Record Types PDF
Tips and Hints for Page Layouts and Field-Level Security PDF
Tips and Hints for Sharing Data PDF

Formulas and Custom Links

Formulas Quick Reference Guide PDF
Building Salesforce Custom Links PDF

Workflow, Approvals, and Email

Workflow: Automating the Process PDF
Getting Started with Approval Processes PDF
Email Approval Response FAQ PDF
Tips for Using HTML Email Templates PDF
NEW: Visual Workflow Implementation Guide (Beta) PDF


Analytics

Getting Started with Analytics PDF
Using the Drag-and-Drop Report Builder PDF
Maximizing Report Performance PDF
Report Formula Summary Functions PDF
Tips for Creating Dashboards PDF
Taking Advantage of Dynamic Dashboards PDF
Sample CRM Dashboards PDF
NEW: Using the Enhanced Reports Tab PDF


Style Guide

Salesforce.com Style Guide for Documentation and User Interface Text PDF
(Audience: Everyone) All the guidelines for writing text that sounds just like Salesforce.com.

Glossary

Force.com Platform Glossary PDF
(Audience: Everyone) A listing of every term related to the Force.com platform.