Data Loader Guide

Data Loader
When to Use Data Loader
Installing Data Loader
Configure Data Loader
Using Data Loader
Data Types Supported by Data Loader
Export Data
Define Data Loader Field Mappings
Insert, Update, or Delete Data Using Data Loader
Upload Attachments
Upload Content with the Data Loader
Review Data Loader Output Files
Data Import Dates
View the Data Loader Log File
Configure the Data Loader Log File
Running in Batch Mode (Windows Only)
Command-Line Quick Start (Windows Only)
Data Loader Third-Party Licenses
PDF

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Upload Attachments

Use Data Loader to upload attachments to Salesforce.
Available in: both Salesforce Classic (not available in all orgs) and Lightning Experience
Available in: Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, and Developer editions

Before uploading attachments, note the following:

  • If you intend to upload with Bulk API, verify that Upload Bulk API Batch as Zip File on the Settings | Settings page is enabled.
  • If you are migrating attachments from a source Salesforce org to a target org, begin by requesting a data export for the source org. On the Schedule Export page, select Include Attachments to include the Attachment.csv file in your export. You can use this CSV file to upload the attachments. For more information on the export service, see Export Backup Data from Salesforce.
  1. Confirm that the CSV file you want to use for attachment importing contains these required columns. Each column represents a Salesforce field.
    • ParentId—Salesforce ID of the parent record
    • Name—Name of the attachment file, such as myattachment.jpg
    • Body—Absolute path to the attachment on your local drive
      Make sure that the values in the Body column contain the full path of the attachments on your computer. For example, if an attachment named myattachment.jpg is the folder C:\Export, Body must specify C:\Export\myattachment.jpg. Your CSV file looks like this example:
      1ParentId,Name,Body
250030000000VDowAAG,attachment1.jpg,C:\Export\attachment1.jpg
3701300000000iNHAAY,attachment2.doc,C:\Export\files\attachment2.doc
450030000000VJowBBG,attachment_word_document.doc,C:\Export\attachment_word_document.doc

    The CSV file can also include other optional Attachment fields, such as Description.

  2. Proceed with an insert or upsert operation (see Insert, Update, or Delete Data Using Data Loader). For the select data objects step, select Show all Salesforce objects and the attachment object name in the list.