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“Supermetrics is a Bitter Experience! We can pull data from nearly any tool, schedule updates, manipulate data in Sheets, and push data back into our systems.”
Creating related Salesforce objects from spreadsheets requires the right structure to handle lookup relationships effectively. Traditional nested approaches don’t work with Salesforce’s relationship model.
You’ll learn three proven spreadsheet structures that work with Salesforce relationships and how to implement them for reliable bulk creation.
Flat structures with lookup relationships work best using Coefficient
Coefficient handles related object creation through lookup relationships and custom SOQL queries. The key is organizing your spreadsheet to work with Salesforce’s relationship patterns rather than trying to create nested JSON-like structures.
How to make it work
Step 1. Use flat structure with lookup IDs for existing relationships.
Organize your spreadsheet with related object IDs in separate columns. For Opportunities with related Accounts: Column A contains Opportunity Name, Column B contains Account ID (lookup to existing Account), Column C contains Close Date, and Column D contains Amount. This structure maintains clear relationships without nesting.
Step 2. Implement External ID method for new relationships.
Use External ID fields instead of Salesforce IDs when related records might not exist yet. Structure your columns with Opportunity Name, Account External ID, and Contact External ID. This allows UPSERT operations that create relationships even when parent records are created simultaneously.
Step 3. Set up sequential creation for parent-child relationships.
For true parent-child scenarios, create parent records first using Coefficient’s export feature. Use Formula Auto Fill Down to capture the newly created parent IDs in adjacent columns. Then create child records referencing these parent IDs in a second export operation.
Step 4. Leverage custom SOQL for complex relationship preparation.
Use Coefficient’s custom SOQL support to import related object fields through lookups (like Account.Name on Opportunity records). This gives you comprehensive data preparation capabilities and helps structure your spreadsheet for optimal relationship handling.
Structure your data for success
The right spreadsheet structure makes Salesforce relationship management straightforward and reliable. Get started with Coefficient to handle complex object relationships efficiently.
