Data Loader Guide

Data Loader
When to Use Data Loader
Using Data Loader
Running in Batch Mode (Windows Only)
Installed Directories and Files
Encrypt from the Command Line
Upgrade Your Batch Mode Interface
Data Loader Command-Line Interface
Configure Batch Processes
Data Loader Process Configuration Parameters
Data Loader Command-Line Operations
Configure Database Access
Map Columns
Run Individual Batch Processes
Command-Line Quick Start (Windows Only)
Data Loader Third-Party Licenses
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Data Loader Command-Line Interface

Available in: Salesforce Classic
Available in: Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, Developer, and Database.com Editions

The Data Loader command-line interface is supported for Windows only.

Note

For automated batch operations such as nightly scheduled loads and extractions, run Data Loader from the command line. Before running any batch operation, be sure to include your encrypted password in the configuration file. For more information, see Data Loader Introduction and Encrypt from the Command Line. From the command line, navigate to the bin directory and type process.bat, which takes the following parameters:
  • The directory containing config.properties.
  • The name of the batch process bean contained in process-conf.xml.

The log-conf.xml file is included with version 35.0 of the Data Loader for Windows installer. The log-conf.xml is located at %LOCALAPPDATA%\salesforce.com\Data Loader\samples\conf\log-conf.xml for the current user, and C:\Program Files (x86)\salesforce.com\Data Loader\samples\conf\log-conf.xml for all users.

For more information about using process.bat, see Run Individual Batch Processes.

To view tips and instructions, add -help to the command contained in process.bat.

Data Loader runs whatever operation, file, or map is specified in the configuration file that you specify. If you do not specify a configuration directory, the current directory is used. By default, Data Loader configuration files are installed at the following location:

C:\Program Files\Salesforce\Data Loader version number\conf

You use the process-conf.xml file to configure batch processing. Set the name of the process in the bean element's id attribute: (for example <bean id="myProcessName">).

If you want to implement enhanced logging, use a copy of log-conf.xml.

You can change parameters at runtime by giving param=value as program arguments. For example, adding process.operation=insert to the command changes the configuration at runtime.

You can set the minimum and maximum heap size. For example, -Xms256m -Xmx256m sets the heap size to 256 MB.

These topics only apply to Data Loader version 8.0 and later.

Note

If you experience login issues in the command line interface after upgrading to a new version of Data Loader, please try re-encrypting your password to solve the problem. For information on the password encryption utility, see Encrypt from the Command Line.

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