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Salesforce Data Loader Stuck at 'Initializing Records' When Using a CSV File with Blank Columns or Rows

Fecha de publicación: Jun 15, 2026
Descripción

When using Salesforce Data Loader to import records via a CSV file, the process may get stuck at the 'initializing records' stage if the CSV file contains blank columns or rows beyond the data range.

Data Loader takes a long time to read the CSV file because some cells beyond the designated columns for import might have content. Deleting all columns (although appearing to be blank) after the last column intended for import will result in the file being read without any issue. This applies to rows as well.

You may also be prompted with a warning pop up, "An empty column is found. Would you like to continue?"

Deleting rows won't necessarily prevent the error as the issue is primarily caused by an empty column without column header. Data Loader recognizes this empty column as data but could not find a header (which should be mapped to the Salesforce field).

Solución

To resolve this issue, open the CSV file and remove all blank columns and rows beyond the last data column and row before re-running the Data Loader.

Steps to follow when Data Loader is stuck on the initializing state

 

  1. Close the wizard and open the CSV file.
  2. Highlight the column next to the last field or column in the CSV.
  3. Hold SHIFT button down and select next few columns (i.e Column Y - AC, {five columns in this example}).
  4. Delete those columns.
  5. Similarly, delete few rows below the last record (i.e. Rows 12541 - 12550, {ten rows in this example}).
  6. Save the CSV.
  7. Run the Data Loader wizard again and it would go through without any issue.
Número del artículo de conocimiento

000387707

 
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Salesforce Help | Article