Templates connect your Excel worksheet to a Salesforce object and determine which fields you can download or manage.
This guide explains how to build, insert, and save your first Salesforce template.
What Are Templates?
An ExtendInsights template maps an Excel table to a Salesforce object, such as:
Accounts
Contacts
Leads
Opportunities
Campaigns
Tasks
Each column in the Excel table represents a Salesforce field. After inserting a template, you can use it to:
Download existing Salesforce data.
Create new Salesforce records.
Update existing records.
Refresh worksheet rows with the latest Salesforce values.
Delete supported Salesforce records.
Templates can be saved and reused in other workbooks, helping your team follow consistent data-management processes.
✅ Before You Begin
Confirm that:
The ExtendInsights Excel Data Connector is installed.
You are signed in to ExtendInsights.
You have connected ExtendInsights to Salesforce.
Your Salesforce user can access the required object and fields.
You know which Salesforce object and fields you need.
Your active worksheet is blank.
⚠️ Important: Inserting a template replaces the existing contents of the active worksheet. Always open a blank worksheet before continuing.
Step 1: Select Salesforce
Open Microsoft Excel.
Launch ExtendInsights from the Data tab.
Select Salesforce from the available data sources.
Step 2: Create a New Template
Select Create a Template to begin building your Salesforce template.
Step 3: Select a Connection and Salesforce Object
Select the appropriate Salesforce connection under Active Connection.
Select the Salesforce object you want to work with.
In this example, the Lead object is selected.
If the connection you need is unavailable, create and authorize a new Salesforce connection.
Step 4: Select the Salesforce Fields
ExtendInsights displays the fields available for the selected Salesforce object.
Search for a field by entering part of its name.
Select each field you want to include.
Include all fields required by Salesforce for the operation you plan to perform.
Select Apply.
If you plan to update, refresh, or delete existing records, include the Salesforce record ID.
Step 5: Review the Template Fields
Before inserting the template, you can:
Drag and drop fields to change their order.
Add additional fields.
Remove fields you do not need.
Change how Excel handles a field’s data type.
Select Done after reviewing the configuration.
Step 6: Insert the Template
Select Insert Template to add the configured Salesforce table to the active worksheet.
After insertion:
Configure collapses.
Actions expands automatically.
The selected Salesforce fields appear as Excel columns.
The template becomes available for downloading or managing records.
⚠️ Inserting the template replaces the existing contents of the active worksheet.
Step 7: Save the Template for Reuse
Saving a template allows you to reuse the same object and field mappings in another workbook.
Go to Save Template at the bottom of the connector panel.
Enter a descriptive Template Name.
Optional: Enter a description explaining the template’s purpose.
Select Save.
The saved template appears in the Template Repository.
💡 Tip: Use names that identify the object and business process, such as:
Lead Qualification
Opportunity Updates
Contact Data Cleanup
Campaign Member Upload
Step 8: Choose Your Next Action
After inserting the template, expand Actions and choose what you want to do.
Action | What It Does |
Preview | Returns the first 50 records that match the configured filters or SOQL query. |
Download | Downloads matching Salesforce records into Excel. |
Upload Rows | Creates records when the record ID is blank or updates records when it is populated. |
Refresh Rows | Retrieves the latest Salesforce values for selected rows. |
Delete Rows | Sends a request to delete the selected Salesforce records. |
💡 Tips when Building Templates
Choose the Correct Object
Identify the Salesforce object that supports your business process.
Examples include:
Lead for prospect qualification.
Contact for individual customer information.
Account for company information.
Opportunity for sales pipeline management.
Campaign Member for managing campaign participation.
A single template is connected to one primary Salesforce object.
Include Only the Fields You Need
Adding unnecessary fields can make templates harder to maintain and may increase processing time.
Include:
Fields required by Salesforce.
Fields required for your business process.
The Salesforce record ID when updating, refreshing, or deleting records.
Understand Field Labels and API Names
A field’s label in Salesforce may be different from the field or API name shown in ExtendInsights.
For example:
Field Label: Lead Status
Field Name: Status
To review the fields for an object in Salesforce:
Go to Setup.
Select Object Manager.
Select the Salesforce object.
Open Fields & Relationships.
Review the field label, field name, and data type.
Confirm Field Compatibility
Verify that Excel values match the field requirements in Salesforce, including:
Date formats
Number and currency formats
Checkbox values
Required fields
Picklist values
Reference or relationship fields
Save Frequently Used Templates
Save templates used for recurring uploads, downloads, or data-cleanup processes. Descriptive names and explanations help other users understand the template’s purpose.
Verification
Your template is ready when:
The correct Salesforce connection and object are selected.
All required fields appear as columns in Excel.
The template is inserted into a blank worksheet.
Actions displays the available Salesforce operations.
The template appears in the Template Repository if you saved it.
Next Steps
💬 Need Help?
If you need assistance:
Use the in-app messenger inside ExtendInsights.
Start a chat from the bottom-right corner of the support site.
Include the Salesforce object, connection, fields selected, and any error messages or screenshots.