Preparing the CSV file for ARM Data Loader

When creating the CSV file, follow the considerations below to ensure compatibility and efficiency with ARM Data Loader.

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File Format and General Recommendations

1. Files must be in CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format. Use Microsoft Excel or a similar spreadsheet program to create your file.

2. Ensure the file is UTF-8 encoded.

3. Do not include duplicated or empty headers.

4. Remove empty columns and duplicate header names, as these can disrupt field mapping.

5. Include column headers and data rows for all required system fields (e.g., Account Name, Contact Last Name).

6. Match column headers to Salesforce API field names for easier mapping.

7. Use Excel’s conditional formatting to highlight duplicate values in fields that must be unique before saving.

8. File size must not exceed 10MB.

9. For files with more than 200 rows, enable "Use Bulk API" during Run Configuration for better performance.

10. Concatenate fields before upload—Data Loader does not merge multiple columns into one Salesforce field.

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Field Type Format Supported

ID Field

• Format: 15-character alphanumeric, case-sensitive (e.g., 003D000000yUbCD)

Number

• Accepts only numbers and decimal points. Text values are not allowed.

Text

• Accepts all characters, including letters, numbers, and symbols.

Currency

• Accepts numbers and decimal points only.

• Remove currency symbols and commas.

Date

• Format: MM-DD-YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD Refer to Salesforce Date Formatting for alternatives.

Date/Time

• Format: MM-DD-YYYYThh:mm:ss-hh:mm or YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss-hh:mm

Email

• Must include @ and a valid domain suffix (e.g., .com, .org, .uk)

Checkbox

• Use TRUE/FALSE or 1/0

Zip Code

• Excel may strip leading zeros. Format cells as text and reapply after conversion to CSV.

RecordTypeID

• Provide the record type ID for each relevant entry.

Lookup Fields

• Must contain a valid record ID from an existing ARM record.

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Sample CSV File

Below is a sample CSV containing 11 records for the Account object. Each row includes six fields. You may include additional fields based on your data needs. Fields omitted from the CSV will not be updated.