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Tips and tricks

Convert Salesforce IDs

Each record in Salesforce can be identified with an unique id - of which two versions exist: One (case-sensitive) with 15-characters and one (case-insensitive) with 18-characters.

Excel

gammone.com describes the algorithm to convert a 15-character ID into its 18-character equivalent. It also provides code implementations for different languages - a.o. Visual Basic for Applications (VBA): 

Function FixID(InID As String) As String
    If Len(InID) = 18 Then
        FixID = InID
        Exit Function
    End If
    Dim InChars As String, InI As Integer, InUpper As String
    Dim InCnt As Integer
    InChars = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ012345"
    InUpper = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"

    InCnt = 0
    For InI = 15 To 1 Step -1
        InCnt = 2 * InCnt + Sgn(InStr(1, InUpper, Mid(InID, InI, 1), vbBinaryCompare))
        If InI Mod 5 = 1 Then
            FixID = Mid(InChars, InCnt + 1, 1) + FixID
            InCnt = 0
        End If
    Next InI
    FixID = InID + FixID
End Function

This code allows you to get an Excel-function (in your current workbook) to do the conversion.

Excel formula

The page also provides an Excel formula - but at least for me it did not work.

Add VBA code to Excel

  1. Press Alt+F11 to open the VBA Editor
  2. Right click on VBAProject (left side of the screen) ➡️ Insert ➡️ Module
  3. Copy & Paste the VBA code
  4. Now you have a new Excel function (=FixID()) available to perform the conversion

Browser

The bookmarklet described on Salesforce Help converts a single ID. Add a bookmark in your browser and enter the following code as URL: 

javascript:(function(){
var input=prompt('Enter 15-character ID');
var output;
    if(input.length == 15){
        var addon="";
        for(var block=0;block<3; block++)
        {
            var loop=0;
            for(var position=0;position<5;position++){
                var current=input.charAt(block*5+position);
                if(current>="A" && current<="Z")
                    loop+=1<<position;
            }
            addon+="ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ012345".charAt(loop);
        }
        output=(input+addon);
    }
    else{
        alert("Error : "+input+" isn't 15 characters ("+input.length+")");
        return;
    }
prompt('18-character ID:',output);
})();

Mass-upload attachments

To attach a lot of files to a lot of records, you need to clarify whether they should be uploaded as attachments or files. The difference is described on dataimporter.io (tl;dr: Files are the modern solution). The easiest way is to check which related list is on the record page layout.

  • Attachments are uploaded into the Attachment object
  • Files are uploaded into the ContentVersion object and related through the ContentDocumentLink object

Tools

URL Hacks

Functionality and tricks based on opening a specific URL in the browser. Keep in mind to replace the <YourDomain> part.

Reset security token

If the option to reset your security token is not available in your settings (e.g. in a Sandbox).

https://<YourDomain>.lightning.force.com/_ui/system/security/ResetApiTokenEdit?retURL=%2Fui%2Fsetup%2FSetup%3Fsetupid%3DPersonalInfo&setupid=ResetApiToken

Bypass New-button override

If the "New" button of a specific object (e. g. Accounts) is overridden (e.g. with a Visualforce Page) and you want to use the standard record creation screen. More URL Hacks on record creation can be found in Shivam Vishwakarma's article.

https://<YourDomain>.lightning.force.com/lightning/o/Account/new?nooverride=1