ExtendInsights Salesforce allows you to retrieve existing Salesforce records and submit deletion requests directly from Excel.
Deleting records can affect related data and business processes. Review every selected row carefully before continuing.
⚠️ Before You Delete Records
Deleting Salesforce records is a destructive operation. Before continuing:
Confirm that you are connected to the correct Salesforce environment.
Verify that your Salesforce user has permission to delete the selected object.
Confirm that every row contains the correct Salesforce record ID.
Review related records, lookups, automations, and dependencies.
Export or save a backup of the records.
Start with a small number of records.
Confirm that the records are no longer required.
Deleting a parent record may also affect related child records. Salesforce may prevent a deletion when dependencies or business rules do not allow it.
Deleted records may be sent to the Salesforce Recycle Bin and could be restored while they remain available. However, some records or relationships may not be recoverable. Do not rely on the Recycle Bin as your backup.
Step 1: Plan Your Template
Identify the Salesforce object and fields needed to verify the records before deleting them.
This example uses the Opportunity object with the following fields:
Opportunity ID
Opportunity Name
Close Date
Stage
Amount
Lead Source
Opportunity Type
The template must include the Salesforce record ID. ExtendInsights uses this value to identify the record to delete.
💡 Tip: Include recognizable fields, such as the record name, owner, status, or date, so you can verify each record before deletion.
Step 2: Create or Load a Template
Templates map Excel columns to Salesforce fields.
To build a new template, select Create a New Template.
To reuse an existing configuration, load a saved template from the Template Repository.
When creating a template:
Select the appropriate Salesforce connection.
Select the Salesforce object.
Add the Salesforce record ID and the fields needed to verify each record.
Select Apply.
Review the field configuration.
Select Insert Template.
⚠️ Important: Inserting a template replaces the existing contents of the active worksheet. Always begin with a blank worksheet.
Step 3: Download the Records
Use filters or a SOQL query to retrieve only the records you intend to review for deletion.
Configure the appropriate filters or SOQL query.
Select Insert Template if the template has not already been inserted.
Expand Actions.
Select Preview to review the first 50 matching records.
Confirm that the preview contains the expected records.
Select Download to retrieve the matching records into Excel.
Step 4: Review the Records
Before deleting anything:
Confirm that every row contains a Salesforce record ID.
Review the record name and other identifying information.
Remove any rows that should not be deleted from your selection.
Confirm that the correct Salesforce production or sandbox connection is active.
Save a backup copy of the downloaded data.
Review related records and potential downstream effects.
💡 Tip: If the records were downloaded previously, use Refresh Rows before deleting them to retrieve their latest Salesforce values.
Step 5: Delete the Selected Records
Select the complete worksheet rows you want to delete.
Expand Actions.
Select Delete.
Review the selected rows carefully.
Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Wait for the process to finish before editing the worksheet or starting another operation.
ExtendInsights uses the Salesforce record ID in each selected row to identify the corresponding record.
Step 6: Validate the Results
After the deletion finishes:
Review the status or error information in Column A.
Confirm that the intended records are no longer available in Salesforce.
Review any failed rows and the corresponding error messages.
Confirm that related records and business processes were not unintentionally affected.
Retain the backup until the deletion has been fully validated.
A deletion may fail when:
The record ID is missing or invalid.
Your Salesforce user does not have delete permission.
The record is already deleted.
Salesforce validation, automation, or dependencies prevent deletion.
The record is locked.
The active connection points to a different Salesforce environment.
♻️ Restore a Deleted Record
If a record was deleted accidentally:
Contact your Salesforce administrator immediately.
Open the Salesforce Recycle Bin.
Search for the deleted record.
Restore the record if it is available.
Review any related records or relationships that may also require restoration.
Recovery depends on the record type, related records, Salesforce retention, and whether the record has been permanently removed.
💡 Best Practices
Restrict delete permissions to authorized users.
Apply precise filters before downloading records.
Preview results before downloading or deleting.
Refresh previously downloaded records before deletion.
Include the record ID and recognizable fields in the template.
Save a backup before deleting records.
Test with a small number of records first.
Review related records and automations.
Select only the rows you intend to delete.
Verify the results directly in Salesforce.
➡️ 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, template name, active connection, affected record IDs, and any error messages or screenshots.