Install the Excel Connector for Force.com in Microsoft Excel 2010

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My department uses Salesforce quite a bit, which is great because it provides an excellent platform for managing data. However, a lot of the data we use comes from other departments in the form of Excel spreadsheets (sound familiar to anyone?). In an ideal situation all of this data would be automagically shared between Salesforce, PeopleSoft, SharePoint, etc., but our various business systems aren’t that integrated.

To help expedite importing spreadsheet data into Salesforce, we use an Excel Add-In tool called Excel Connector for Force.com (it’s a bit out of date, but it still works very well for importing data). The installation isn’t all that difficult, but the instructions for it are not very clear and I find myself having to hunt around for the proper procedure every time I install it. For my own sanity’s sake, here are clear instructions for installing it on Microsoft Excel 2010:

  1. Download the Salesforce Office Toolkit 4.0.
  2. Open the zip file and run the installer.
  3. Download the Excel Connector from http://code.google.com/p/excel-connector/downloads/list. Be sure to grab the latest version (as of today it is sforce_connector_ee_1603.zip).
  4. Open the zip file and copy the sforce_connect.xla file into the Microsoft Office Add-Ins folder (on Windows 7 this is located at C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\AddIns\).
  5. Open Excel 2010, go to File > Options > Add-Ins and click on the Go button near the bottom of the window.

    Screenshot of the Excel Options > Add-Ins screen
    Enable the Excel Connector for Force.com from the Options > Add-Ins screen.
  6. Check the box next to “Sforce_Connect” and click OK.

    Screenshot of the Excel Add-Ins Manager
    Check the box for “Sforce_Connect” to enable the Excel Connector for Force.com
  7. You should now have a Force.com Connector button in the Add-Instab.

    Screenshot of the Excel Connector for Force.com
    You can now use the Excel Connector from the Add-Ins tab.

The Excel Connector is now installed and can be used to import/export data from Salesforce.

Comments

  1. I tried the instructions for installing Excel connector and was able to get the add on to appear in the Add ins available list. But I can't see the Force.com riboon. When I installed the add in, I received the error about adding PtrSafe to the Declare statements. All I did was add "PtrSafe" right after every "Declare" statement in red when the Visual Basic windows appeared. I saved and it seemed to work but I'm not a programmer. Any help?
  3. When I follow these directions, I still get that Visual Basic error, stating the application has to be recompiled for 64-bit (the same one I get when I try to load it w/o using the suggested downloads with your instructions). Suggestions? This is a critical app for us ... would really love to see it work again. BTW, the instructions above say the download file is sforce_connect.xls, but file in the .zip archive is a .xla file extension.
    1. Hi Frank, Unfortunately I don't know what the problem is. Are you using the x64 version of Office? I installed on Windows 7 x64 but using the 32-bit version of Office. I'm not much of an Excel or Visual Basic guru; I just re-installed following my instructions above on a new system (a MacBook running WIndows 7 via Bootcamp) and it worked without any problems. Thanks for the tip about the .xla extension, I've updated the post to correct the error.
  4. I tried this on a 64 bit version of Excel 2010 and it does not work without modification. Is there a 64 bit version?
      1. Josh, Thanks for the quick reply. There does always seem to be issues when running 64 bit s/w. Perhaps someday, the industry will get on the 64 bit bandwagon. Thanks again.
  5. This worked perfectly; so much clearer than any other instructions I found online. Thank you!
  6. Is there a way to modify it to run on 64 bit systems? It's a great tool but i run 64 bit and........ Thanks
    1. Hi Bill, I'm not familiar with how it's coded. The only reason I wrote about it was because I couldn't find a concise and accurate description on how to install it. When I finally figured it out I wanted to share the process with others. I haven't even used it in almost a year because I rarely use Salesforce any more. If you do find a x64 version of this, please let me know and I'll update this post! This guy may be worth contacting: https://github.com/tresni/Salesforce-Excel-Connector
  7. Josh, Thanks, i tried downloading the updatetxt and pasted it into the code. The error went away byt access to SF from the toolbar never materialized. Evidently, another user experienced the same behavior. I do appreciate your follow-up and may have to wait a bit unless i get real ambitious and try to figure it out myself. Again, thanks for your directions and input on this.
  8. Hi Josh Thanks for this great guide .. Everything seems to work perfectly. After the installation, i get prompted for username and pass when i try to do something, but it fails to log me in. It uses this URL by default: https://www.salesforce.com/services/Soap/c/13.0 Is that correct, or should it be changed?
    1. Hi, If you has been all the procedure... is necesary make login and add inside your password yout token.
  9. Thanks! Easy to follow instructions and got it the 1st time! Thanks so much!
  11. Anyone try Excel 2013 yet? So far I have not been able to get the connector running.
  12. Thanks for the post. I can pull data from most tables except opportunities, the one I actually need! I am getting a exception 5103. Any help appreciated.
  13. @Paul Hello, I can't help you for your issue because I don't understand how to use this plug.. Can you provide me some information ? Thanks !
  14. Thank you so much! I haven't been able to use this tool since I upgraded from Office 2003 three years ago. I've been stuck using dataloader, which is good for some situations, but not when I want to make a quick edit to multiple records. I'm bookmarking this for sure! Keep up the good work!
  15. Hi Josh, and thanks for the guide. I get exception 5103 (no results for the query) for all query done on custom objects, am I the only one?
  16. Thanks very much Josh! You were god sent :)
  17. Thanks, that works perfect!!!!
  18. Hi Josh I am using a MAC OSX. Do you know if the excel connector will work on a MAC OSX? I am not able to locate the Office Toolkit for MAC either Thanks George
    1. George, Office for OS X does not support plugins the way Office for Windows does. I don't know of any solution for OS X.
  19. Hello, I have the same issue regarding the error "https://www.salesforce.com/services/Soap/c/13.0". I have followed the instructions for the installation, however whenever I click on "Table Query Wizard" and try to connect to Salesforce the same errors pops out. I have put the security Token after the password but still not resolving the issue. I would like ti use this tool as it seems interesting and useful. Thanks, Sam
  20. UPDATE: It is no longer required to insert the token as part of the pass, as long as your IP has been whitelisted for your Org
  21. I have the same issue regarding the error “https://www.salesforce.com/services/Soap/c/13.0″ win 7 32 bit ,excel 2010 Tried this on a number of Pcs in our company and everyone is getting above error. version 16.1 toolkit v4 for office PE version. Need help please...........
  22. Sorry full error An internal server error has occured while processing your request. Url:https://www.salesforce.com/services/Soap/c/13.0 ExceptionCode : 5103
    1. Hi Phil, I don't use Salesforce anymore so I'm not sure where the error might be. Try some of these: https://www.google.com/search?q=salesforce+excel+connector+exception+code+5301

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