What happens to empty cells when creating Salesforce objects from spreadsheet data

using Coefficient excel Add-in (500k+ users)

Learn how empty cells behave when creating Salesforce objects from spreadsheets. Configure skip or clear options for precise data control.

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Empty cells in spreadsheets can cause unexpected behavior when creating Salesforce objects, either leaving fields unchanged or clearing existing data. You need precise control over how blank cells affect your data integrity.

This guide shows you how to configure empty cell behavior for reliable bulk object creation and data maintenance operations.

Configurable empty cell handling gives you precise data control using Coefficient

Coefficient provides sophisticated empty cell handling through its “Export empty cells option for bulk clearing” feature. You can choose between skipping empty cells to preserve existing data or using empty cells to actively clear field values.

How to make it work

Step 1. Choose your empty cell behavior strategy.

Select “Skip Empty Cells” (default) to ignore empty cells during export, leaving existing field values unchanged. This works well for partial updates where you only want to modify specific fields. Choose “Clear Fields with Empty Cells” to actively clear corresponding Salesforce field values, useful for bulk data cleaning operations.

Step 2. Handle required fields and validation properly.

Empty cells in required field columns will trigger validation errors before export, preventing record creation failures. Lookup fields handle empty values gracefully without creating broken relationships. Salesforce default values still apply when fields are left empty and you’re using the “skip empty cells” option.

Step 3. Configure advanced scenarios with formulas and appends.

When using Formula Auto Fill Down, empty cells in the data range don’t break formula application to new rows. For append operations, empty cells in historical data don’t interfere with new row additions. Batch processing handles empty cells independently for each row without causing batch failures.

Step 4. Apply best practices for different use cases.

For new record creation, use the “skip empty cells” option to let Salesforce defaults populate missing values. For data cleanup operations, use the “clear fields” option to remove unwanted data systematically. This ensures your bulk object creation behaves predictably and maintains data quality standards.

Control your data precisely

Sophisticated empty cell handling ensures your bulk object creation behaves predictably while maintaining data quality standards. Start using Coefficient for reliable Salesforce data management.

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