Can I mass import products?

[tom@dp]

Can I mass import products like I can with leads? I can't find a way of uploading them without entering them one by one.

Thanks

[JPSeabury]

I used the Data Loader to mass import products.

Setup --> Data Management --> Data Loader

[tom@dp]

Thanks for the reply,
Although I assume this is not available in the trial version? I can't seem to find it. That's not the sort of thing that makes me want to pay for this. I need to test every function I need

[Jakester]

Your sales rep probably gave you a trial of Professional Edition (or lower), and I think the Data Tools might require Enterprise Edition or higher. Either that or you don't have admin rights. Assuming that it's the former, then you can use the sforce connector to import just about anything, including Products. Note that while the sforce connector requirements state that it needs Enterprise Edition, apparently Pro Edition works just fine (I have EE, so I can't personally validate this). Also note that the install of this tool is not terribly intuitive, so be sure to read it carefully. Once it's installed, though, it works extremely well.

[tom@dp]

I just downloaded the free trial, thought there was only one version of it. We're only a small company of <10 employees at the moment but one of the main requirements is some sort of inventory management. I'll have a look at sforce connect. I've tried the excel add on before but couldn't find it anywhere on excel once it installed so I gave up.

[tom@dp]

Managed to get the sforce connector installed ok, but when I try to log into the excel add in it says API is not enabled. I troubleshooted on salesforce.com and it says API is only enabled in I think enterprise, unlimited and developer editions. Is there a way round this for me as I'm using the basic free trial? I am new to this and not an expert at all so these questions may be stupid to a lot of you. Thanks for helping so far guys.

[Jakester]

Your sales rep can give you a free trial of any version - there's not a "special" trial-only version. The price jumps considerably from Pro to Enterprise, but there are several add-ons you can have to Pro. I think one of them is the API being enabled, which is probably why some people say that the sforce connector works with Pro.

[tom@dp]

I just downloaded it from the site without consulting any 'sales rep', I think it was professional edition plus. Maybe I just have to buy the full version and get the add on then.

[Jakester]

Contact a sales rep. there is no "pro plus" and there is no "full version", but they'll get you sorted out.

[JPSeabury]

There are several different flavors of Salesforce licenses (Unlimited, Enterprise, Developer, Professional, Group, Personal).  I'm not sure which flavor the "Free Trial" is, but I'm guessing it's an enhanced Professional account, but not as robust as Enterprise.  Each of these packages have increased limitations / restrictions as you move down the list.  So that's why you may find things don't look the same on your platform as what we're describing here -- that's often the most difficult part about helping community members on this board.  Most of us are probably running Enterprise or Unlimited, and it's difficult for us to provide solutions / tips for folks running on the "lower tier" packages.

If you want to find out what Salesforce.com can "do", get a Developer account.  Whatever package your company picks, you'll probably want a Developer account anyway, so you can test changes, create applications in an environment that doesn't impact your company users, etc.  Just keep in mind that the features / functionality you'll get on developer far exceed what you'll have on Personal, Group or Professional edition.

I know the decision is constrained by an operating budget, but I would recommend that you select Enterprise.  While Professional supports small office environments (10 users or less), there's just so much functionality that unlocks between Professional and Enterprise editions, including the ability to create workflows, fuller functionality to create custom applications (like complex inventory tracking automation) with Apex, Visualforce, and the Force.com API.

10 Enterprise users = $15K (less if you "negotiate").  Compare that to the cost of buying a server, buying the software (OS, database, web front-end), setting up securities / firewall, and developing the web-based front-end.