SimpleImport: Mapping data to Salesforce fields

This article will cover:

• Mapping file columns to Salesforce fields.
• Using the Field finder.
• Adding constant values to the mapping.

The destination object has been selected and the import type has been defined. We’re now ready to tell SimpleImport where we want the file’s data to be imported into.

Mapping file columns to Salesforce fields

This example will cover inserting accounts from the template file shown below. It contains three accounts shown in rows 2, 3 and 4 and has column headings shown in row 1.

The mapping page contains some key features:

• File columns – populated with the row 1 data from the file.
• Sample data – displays the first 5 rows of data from the file. Use the left and right arrows next to sample data to scroll through the rows.
• Object fields – a place to select the Salesforce fields from the object you’re importing into. Clicking each row reveals the field finder.
• Add Constant – generate a new row to add a constant value to each record and map it to a Salesforce field.

Using the Field finder

The key objective on the mapping page is to associate each of the file columns that need importing with a Salesforce field. Select Map to Salesforce in the Object fields section to access the field finder for each row.

The field finder lists all fields that exist on the object you’re importing to and provides a search box to quickly locate the fields you want to map your import to.

Each field will be presented in the following format:

Field Name | External ID Field | Object Name | Required

• Field Name provides the name of the field. This may be the field name, API name, or both depending on your configured preferences.
• External Id Field will be displayed if the field type is a lookup field. This allows you to populate lookup fields with any supported external ID specified on field selection’s destination object.
• Object Name will always display and is beneficial when importing into multiple objects. An M or D will follow in brackets highlighting whether the field is part of the master or the detail.
• Required will be displayed if the field is required.

To map file columns to Salesforce fields:

• Press Map to Salesforce for the row you’d like to map.
• Use the Field finder search to filter the list of fields.
• Select the field from the list. The field list is scrollable if there is a long list of fields.
• Repeat for each file column you want to import.

To change an existing field mapping or remove an exiting field:

• Press the existing mapped field for the row you’d like to edit.
• Use the Field finder search to filter the list of fields.
• If you’d like to remove the map, select --Click to Unmap-- found at the top on the list.
• Select the desired item from the list.

Adding constant values to the mapping

Constant values allow you to import a consistent data value into a Salesforce field for each record being imported. A common use case is importing new products and making them all active, or inserting new accounts and setting the billing country to a set location.

To add a constant value:

• Select Add Constant to generate a new constant row.
• Type the value into the new text field. The new text field will be appended to the list of file columns.
• Press Map to Salesforce in the constant’s row.
• Use the Field finder search to filter the list of fields.
• Select the field from the list.

To delete a constant value:

• Select the more actions in the constant value’s row (down arrow).
• Select Delete.

Summary

You should now be confident in understanding how to map your spreadsheet file to Salesforce fields and optionally add constant values to the mapping. This covers all of the configuration required to import into Salesforce. We’ll now head to the summary page to review the import before submitting the job. Move onto the next article to continue.

---

Back to the SimpleImport User Guide