Prepare Data Files

The Bulk API processes records in comma-separated values (CSV) files, XML files, or JSON files.

For best performance, Salesforce recommends the following order of preference for data files: CSV, JSON, XML.

Note

For information about loading records containing binary attachments, see Load Binary Attachments.

For information about loading data from third-party sources, see Map Data Fields.

Find Field Names

After you set up your client, you can build client applications that use the Bulk API. Use the following sample to create a client application. Each section steps through part of the code. The complete sample is included at the end.
Valid Date Format in Records

Specify the right format for dateTime and date fields.
Prepare CSV Files

The first row in a CSV file lists the field names for the object that you’re processing. Each subsequent row corresponds to a record in Salesforce. A record consists of a series of fields that are delimited by commas. A CSV file can contain multiple records and constitutes a batch.
Prepare XML and JSON Files

The Bulk API processes records in XML, JSON, or CSV files. An XML or JSON file can contain multiple records and constitutes a batch. A record in an XML file is defined in an sObjects tag.