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Importing Data into Salesforce - Dataloader.io

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Overview

This article details an example of how to get Absorb Course Enrollments synced into Salesforce using dataloader.io. This is just one of many methods available to exchange data between Salesforce and Absorb. If you use another tool or process to import data into Salesforce, simply skip to the Absorb Setup section for details on scheduling a data export from Absorb. You might also consider using our RESTful API to build an integration between your Salesforce instance and Absorb.

In this example, the Absorb Course Enrollment information will be attached to a Salesforce Contact to show the courses completed by individual Contacts. The process described in this article can also be used as a rough guide for exporting any type of data from Absorb and importing it as a custom object in Salesforce.

Prerequisites

  • Dataloader.io Account (Preferably Enterprise version).
  • User records in Absorb that share some unique identifier with Contacts in Salesforce. In this example, we already have Absorb users with External IDs that match up to Salesforce contact ID. This is something that needs to be done as part of creating/importing the users into Absorb.
  • A scheduled data export (sometimes called a Custom Report) from Absorb. Contact your Customer Success Manager for more information on this additional service. 
  • An SFTP server from which files can be delivered to and picked up (see notes in Absorb Setup section).

Disclaimer

Absorb LMS supports scheduled data exports which can then be imported into other systems in general (not only Salesforce). 

This guide is provided to our clients as a convenience only, based on our past experience working with Absorb data exports, Salesforce, and dataloader.io.

Salesforce Setup

How to Create a Custom Object

Instructions
The first thing we'll do is to prepare Salesforce to receive the data from Absorb. This is done by creating a custom object that is linked to the Salesforce Contact object.
  1. Under Setup: search for Object in the search field:
    SalesForceImport_1.png

  2. Create a custom object:
    SalesForceImport_2.pngSalesForceImport_3.png

  3. Optional features:
    SalesForceImport_4.png

  4. Add custom fields to the object. The contact field is important as it allows you to relate the Absorb Course Enrollment record to a Contact in Salesforce.
    SalesForceImport_5.png

  5. Add the Object as a related list to the Contact Layout. To do so, go to Setup, search for “Contacts” in the search field and click on Page Layout under the Contact Object.
    SalesForceImport_6.png

  6. Select the Salesforce layout you want to update and add the Related object previously created to the layout. Then click Save.
    SalesForceImport_7.png
    SalesForceImport_8.png

Absorb Setup

Next, you will need a scheduled custom CSV file export from Absorb. Contact your Client Success Manager to discuss this additional service. The export should contain Course Enrollment records, and while the exact fields to include will depend on your own requirements, we usually recommend including the following columns:

  • Id (record guid of the enrollment record)
  • Name (course name)
  • Salesforce Contact ID OR some way to link the record (The user's External ID in this example)
  • Date Completed
  • Date Enrolled
  • Progress(%)
  • Score(%)
  • Status

Dataloader.io does not support FTPS for file transfers at this time. Unfortunately, Absorb can only provide FTPS accounts, so you will need to obtain an SFTP for this process. Provide the details to Absorb as part of creating the custom export - this should be the same SFTP location that you will set up dataloader.io to process files from in the next section. 

Dataloader.io Setup

Once you have a scheduled custom export from Absorb and a custom object setup in Salesforce to receive the data, it's time to put it all together. Create an upsert task using Dataloader.io to update the information from the CSV file. Note that we recommend subscribing to the Enterprise version of Dataloader.io as there is a daily limit on the number of records that can be synchronized with the free version.

Instructions
  1. In Dataloader.io, click on “New Task” > Import to create a new scheduled import task.

  2. Select the Upsert type and select the Custom object you previously created in Salesforce.
    SalesForceImport_9.png

  3. Select the file that will be synced with Salesforce.
    • Note that only a unique file can be selected and dataloader.io doesn’t handle files with timestamps.
      SalesForceImport_10.png

  4. Click next to map the fields to the Salesforce object and complete the following mapping for the Id and the Salesforce Contact Id. The other fields should be mapped automatically if the names match, otherwise, you need to complete the mapping (e.g. Course Name):
    SalesForceImport_11.png

  5. Add scheduling for the Upsert task make sure it’s AFTER the Custom report generation:
    SalesForceImport_12.png
    Click for a larger image

Once the upsert task runs, you should see the Absorb Course Enrollment records under your Contact object in Salesforce.

References

https://dataloader.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/219333148
https://dataloader.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/218959408
https://dataloader.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/219766327

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