What is the maximum number of records Salesforce Data Loader can process?

Technically, [150 million records with Bulk API 2.0](https://developer.salesforce.com/tools/data-loader), but in reality, you'll hit API limits or suffer a mental breakdown long before that. I've pushed 5 million records through it and it took 8 hours while I slowly questioned my life choices. Your mileage will vary based on how much of a disaster your data is and whether Salesforce decided to take a coffee break that day.

Does Salesforce Data Loader work on Mac computers?

Yeah, it works on Mac, including the new ARM chips. But here's the catch - CLI automation is Windows-only, because apparently Salesforce thinks it's still 2005. So if you're on Mac and want to automate imports, you're stuck with the GUI or need to spin up a Windows VM.

How do I automate Salesforce Data Loader operations?

CLI automation requires Windows and about 2 hours of setup that should take 30 minutes if you believe in fairy tales. You'll need to encrypt your password, write XML config files that hate you personally, create field mappings, and sacrifice a goat to the Windows Task Scheduler gods. Plan for it to break randomly and require debugging during dinner when your nightly sync fails spectacularly.

What file formats does Data Loader support besides CSV?

Just CSV. That's it. No Excel, no JSON, no XML - just comma-separated values like we're still using floppy disks. You'll spend half your time converting Excel files to CSV and dealing with encoding issues that make your customer names look like ancient hieroglyphics. Use UTF-8 encoding or you'll get "Invalid UTF-8 character" errors and have to explain to legal why Mr. Smith became Mr. Smth.

Can I undo or rollback Data Loader operations?

Nope, no undo button. Export your data first if you give a shit about being able to fix things later. Deleted records go to Recycle Bin for 15 days, but updated records? You're screwed if you don't have a backup. Always test in sandbox unless you enjoy explaining to your boss why 100,000 accounts now have the wrong phone numbers.

What permissions do I need to use Salesforce Data Loader?

"API Enabled" permission (which your admin will forget to give you), read/write access to whatever objects you're importing to, and "Bulk API" permission for the good stuff. Standard users get jack shit by default, so you'll need to bug your admin. When Data Loader gives you "INSUFFICIENT_ACCESS" errors, this is probably why.

How does Data Loader handle duplicate records?

Use the Upsert operation with external IDs - it updates existing records and creates new ones. Works great if your external IDs are actually unique. If they're not, you'll get duplicate records anyway and wonder why you didn't just clean your data first. Salesforce duplicate rules can block this if they're set up, which is both helpful and infuriating.

Can Data Loader connect to multiple Salesforce organizations simultaneously?

Nope, one org at a time like we're back in the stone age. You can run multiple instances if you hate yourself, but you'll spend more time managing connections than actually importing data. If you're dealing with multiple orgs regularly, just use a cloud tool instead of this desktop dinosaur.

What are the main limitations of using Data Loader?

CSV-only like it's the stone age, Windows-only automation (Mac users are screwed), no scheduling in the GUI, and error handling that requires actual human intervention. Plus API limits will block you if you're not careful. It's free though, so you get what you pay for.

How do I troubleshoot Data Loader connection issues?

First thing: is your internet actually working? Then check if your admin gave you API permissions (they probably didn't). If you see "Unable to find a valid IP range", your firewall is blocking it. Sandbox connections need the right My Domain URL or they'll fail with "INVALID_LOGIN: invalid username or password". Corporate firewalls love blocking this too. When in doubt, try the latest version - they fix connection bugs constantly.

Does Data Loader consume Salesforce API limits?

Hell yes it does. Each batch burns an API call, so 1000 batches = 1000 API calls. Professional Edition gives you like 1000/day total, so do the math. When you hit the limit, you'll get "REQUEST_LIMIT_EXCEEDED: TotalRequests Limit exceeded" and have to wait until tomorrow. Monitor this in Setup System Overview API Usage or you'll get locked out halfway through your import.

Can I export data with complex SOQL queries in Data Loader?

Yeah, you can write SOQL queries for exports. Basic WHERE clauses work fine, but if you need complex joins or subqueries, just use Workbench instead. Data Loader's SOQL editor is pretty basic and will make you want to pull your hair out for anything fancy.

What happens if my Data Loader operation fails midway?

Good news: it processes in batches, so successful batches are already committed. Bad news: you'll need to fix the error and reprocess the failures manually. The error logs actually tell you what went wrong, which is more than most Salesforce tools give you. Clean up the bad data and run just the failures - don't restart the whole thing.

How secure is data transmission through Data Loader?

Data transfer to Salesforce is encrypted via HTTPS, and OAuth 2.0 handles authentication (no more security tokens, thank god). But your CSV files sit unencrypted on your hard drive like a security team's nightmare. Encrypt that shit yourself if you're dealing with sensitive data, or use encrypted folders.

Can Data Loader handle custom objects and fields?

Yep, custom objects work fine. Data Loader pulls the metadata automatically so you'll see all your custom fields in the field mapping. Same functionality as standard objects - it doesn't give a shit if it's Account or some weird custom object your admin created called "Elephant_Tracking__c".

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Salesforce Data Loader: AI-Optimized Technical Reference

Overview and Purpose

What It Does: Desktop application for bulk data operations when Salesforce's web importer fails (limit: 50,000 records)
Primary Use Case: Handling data imports/exports beyond web interface limitations
Current Version: 64.1.0 (Summer '25) - first stable version after previous unreliable releases

Technical Specifications

System Requirements

Java: 17+ (critical - application won't start without it)
Operating Systems: Windows 10/11, macOS 13-15 (ARM Macs supported)
Minimum RAM: 256MB (documentation lie - actually needs 2GB+ for serious work)
Disk Space: 120MB (another lie for large operations)
Real Performance Threshold: 500K records on 4GB RAM = 6 hours + crashes

Record Limits and Performance

API Version	Max Records	Real-World Performance
Bulk API 2.0	150 million	Tested: 2 million contacts successfully
Bulk API 1.0	5 million	Standard for most operations
Web Import Wizard	50,000	Fails regularly before limit

Batch Processing:

Default: 200 records/batch (works 90% of time)
Maximum: 2,000 records/batch (hits API limits/timeouts)
Processing Time: 100K records = 20-30 minutes (success) / 2+ hours (failures)

Critical Configuration Requirements

Authentication (Version 64.1.0+)

Method: OAuth 2.0 with PKCE (no more security tokens)
Required Permissions:
- "API Enabled" (admin frequently forgets this)
- Read/write access to target objects
- "Bulk API" permission for large operations
Failure Mode: "INVALID_LOGIN" error when permissions missing

API Consumption Reality

Edition	Daily API Limit	Batch Impact	Practical Limit
Professional	1,000 calls	1 call per batch	200,000 records max
Enterprise	5,000 calls	1 call per batch	1,000,000 records max
Unlimited	20,000 calls	1 call per batch	4,000,000 records max

Critical Warning: Each batch consumes one API call - plan accordingly or get locked out mid-import

Operational Capabilities

Supported Operations

Insert: New records from CSV
Update: Existing records (requires Salesforce ID)
Upsert: Insert/update via external ID (most useful)
Delete: Record deletion (irreversible)
Export: SOQL-based data extraction

Data Format Limitations

Input: CSV only (no Excel, JSON, XML)
Encoding: UTF-8 required (other encodings cause "Invalid UTF-8 character" errors)
Output: Unencrypted CSV files on local disk (security risk)

Platform-Specific Limitations

Windows vs macOS Functionality

Feature	Windows	macOS	Impact
GUI Operations	Full support	Full support	None
CLI Automation	Supported	Not supported	Mac users need Windows VM
Scheduling	Task Scheduler	Manual only	Mac automation impossible
Error Handling	Full logging	GUI-only review	Limited troubleshooting

Critical Failure Modes

Common Breaking Points

Memory Issues: OutOfMemoryError on large datasets (increase JVM heap size)
API Limits: REQUEST_LIMIT_EXCEEDED mid-import (monitor API usage)
Permission Failures: INSUFFICIENT_ACCESS (check user permissions)
Connection Issues: Firewall blocking, wrong My Domain URL
Data Quality: Invalid email formats, encoding issues cause mass failures

Security Vulnerabilities

Local Storage: Exported files unencrypted on hard drive
Compliance Risk: Sensitive data in Downloads folder (audit nightmare)
Mitigation: Use encrypted folders, dedicated export directories

Automation Setup (Windows Only)

Required Components

Password Encryption: Built-in utility (never store plain text)
Configuration Files: process-conf.xml for each operation
Field Mapping: .sdl files for data mapping
Scheduling: Windows Task Scheduler (fails randomly ~2am)
Monitoring: Enable task history or debug blind

Automation Failure Points

Service Crashes: "Task Scheduler service not available" (restart service)
Memory Errors: Java heap space issues on large imports
Random Failures: Windows decides not to run scheduled tasks

Competitive Analysis

When to Use Alternatives

Scenario	Recommended Tool	Reason
Mac automation needed	Skyvia ($19-99/month)	Cloud-based scheduling
Multi-system integration	Skyvia	200+ connectors
Simple occasional imports	Data Import Wizard	Free, built-in
Complex SOQL queries	Workbench	Better query interface
Small regular imports	Dataloader.io ($99-299/month)	Web-based automation

Error Handling and Recovery

Diagnostic Capabilities

Success: Detailed CSV logs with actual error descriptions
Failure Tracking: Batch-level success/failure reporting
Recovery: Partial processing - successful batches committed, failures logged
Data Integrity: No rollback capability (export backup first)

Troubleshooting Decision Tree

Connection Failed: Check API permissions → firewall → My Domain URL
Import Failed: Review CSV error logs → clean data → retry failures only
Performance Issues: Increase RAM allocation → reduce batch size → monitor API usage
Automation Failed: Check Task Scheduler history → restart services → verify config files

Resource Requirements

Time Investment

Initial Setup: 30 minutes (GUI) / 2+ hours (CLI automation)
Learning Curve: Moderate (field mapping complexity)
Maintenance: Regular monitoring for random automation failures

Expertise Requirements

Basic Use: Business user capable
Automation: Windows admin skills, XML configuration
Troubleshooting: API knowledge, SOQL understanding
Security: Encryption, compliance awareness

Critical Success Factors

Pre-Import: Always test in sandbox (production mistakes career-limiting)
Data Quality: Clean before import or face thousands of format errors
API Monitoring: Track usage to avoid mid-import lockout
Backup Strategy: Export before updates (no undo functionality)
Permission Verification: Confirm API access before large operations

Breaking Changes and Version Notes

Version 64.1.0 Improvements

OAuth 2.0 replaces security tokens (finally)
ARM Mac support added
Connection stability improved
Legacy authentication removed (breaking change)

Known Issues

CLI still Windows-only (2025 and counting)
Memory management poor for large datasets
Task Scheduler integration unreliable
Error messages improved but still cryptic for edge cases

Useful Links for Further Investigation

Essential Resources and Documentation

Link	Description
Salesforce Data Loader Download	Get the latest version here. Actually check the release notes because they fix bugs regularly - unlike most Salesforce tools that seem to add bugs with each update.
Data Loader User Guide	The official docs. Dense as a brick but actually covers everything without bullshitting you. Rare for Salesforce documentation.
Data Loader GitHub Repository	Open source repo with release notes and version history. Actually useful for seeing what they fixed recently.
Salesforce API Documentation	API reference docs. Dry as toast but necessary if you need to understand what's happening under the hood.
Java Runtime Environment Download	You need Java 17+ or Data Loader won't start. Download, install, restart everything, try again, probably still breaks once because Java installations are cursed.
Data Loader Knowledge Article	Official troubleshooting for OAuth 2.0 changes. Bookmark this for when authentication randomly breaks and you're left wondering what the hell happened.
Permission Set Configuration Guide	How to set up API permissions. Send this to your admin when they inevitably forget to enable API access and then act surprised when you can't connect.
Skyvia Data Integration Platform	Cloud-based with 200+ connectors and actual scheduling. Costs money but works on Mac without needing Windows VM bullshit.
Dataloader.io	Web-based alternative with cloud storage integration. Also costs money but you don't have to babysit CSV files.
Salesforce Workbench	Free web-based tool for advanced SOQL queries and API testing. Better than Data Loader for complex queries.
Salesforce Trailblazer Community	Official community forum. Search first because your problem has definitely been asked before.
Import and Export with Data Management Tools	Salesforce's official training. Actually pretty good for understanding the basics.
Salesforce Stack Exchange	Stack Overflow for Salesforce. Better quality answers than the official forums, where every response is "have you tried turning it off and on again?" and "please provide more details."
Windows Task Scheduler Documentation	Microsoft's guide to Task Scheduler. You'll need this for CLI automation since Data Loader doesn't have built-in scheduling.
Bulk API Developer Guide	Deep dive into Bulk API if you want to understand what Data Loader is doing behind the scenes.
SOQL Reference Guide	SOQL syntax reference for export queries. Useful when Data Loader's basic query builder isn't enough.
Salesforce Security Implementation Guide	Security best practices for API usage and data handling. Read this before your compliance team freaks out.
Data Protection and Privacy Resources	GDPR and privacy guidelines. Important if you're dealing with EU customer data.
API Usage Monitoring	How to monitor API limits so you don't get locked out halfway through your import. Actually important.
Salesforce System Status	Check here when Data Loader won't connect. Sometimes it's not your fault, Salesforce is just having issues.

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