Tips for Data Loader

Data Loader Tips and Tricks

Tip 1: Use Bulk API

If you have more than 10,000 records to load, it is recommended to use Bulk API for better efficiency. To enable Bulk API, go to Settings in Data Loader, scroll down, and select Use Bulk API. You can also choose to enable serial mode, which ensures that Bulk API operations are processed one after another instead of in parallel.

Tip 2: Use Multiple Data Loaders Simultaneously

You can use multiple Data Loaders simultaneously to upload multiple files at the same time. Each Data Loader can be configured independently, so you can use Bulk API in one and the regular API in another.

Tip 3: Adjust Batch Size

You can change the batch size of your operation to optimize performance. The maximum batch size is 2,000 for Bulk API and 200 for the regular API. For heavier objects like opportunities, it is recommended to reduce the batch size to 50, 20, 10, or even 1, depending on the complexity of the object and your Salesforce instance.

Tip 4: Adjust Time Zone

When uploading date/time fields, it is important to adjust the time zone in Data Loader to match the time zone in Salesforce. This ensures that records are updated with the correct timestamps. To adjust the time zone, go to Settings in Data Loader and copy and paste the time zone from Salesforce.

Tip 5: Update Fields with New Values

To update fields with new values that are not standard in Data Loader, you need to enable the Insert new values checkbox in Settings. Note that this option is only available when using the regular API, not Bulk API.