Other Ways to Integrate Data

Dataflows and recipes can integrate most data from internal to external data sources. However, CRM Analytics provides additional ways to integrate data that are more effective for specific use cases. For example, if you don’t have to transform data before loading it into a dataset, you can import data directly from CSV or Excel files. If you need to transform it, you can upload the file to create an intermediate dataset, and then use a recipe or dataflow to change that data before loading the results into another dataset. Or, to analyze Salesforce report data over time, you can create a dataset and dashboard that trends the report with just a few clicks. With trending, CRM Analytics creates a dataset based on snapshots of your Salesforce report data.

• Design Datasets with Dataflows and the Dataset Builder
  Use a dataflow to create one or more datasets based on source data from existing datasets or synced data. A dataflow is a set of instructions that specifies what input data to include, how to transform that data, and which datasets to load the transformed data into.
• Clean, Transform, and Load Data with Data Prep Classic
  Use a recipe to clean and combine data from multiple datasets or connected objects. Add bucket and formula fields, filter rows, transform field values, convert field types, and standardize date formats. You can then output the results to a new target dataset.
• Create Datasets from Uploaded CSV Files
  Use the upload user interface to create a single dataset based on external .csv data. To refresh the data, you can overwrite the data in the dataset by uploading a new .csv file.
• Create Datasets Programmatically from CSV Files Using the External Data API
  You can use the External Data API to create a single dataset based on external data in a .csv file. You can also use the API to edit the dataset by uploading a new .csv file. When you edit the dataset, you can choose to overwrite all records, append records, update records, or delete records.
• Create Datasets Directly from Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets
  The Salesforce CRM Analytics Connector for Excel makes it easy to import data from Microsoft Excel 2013 to CRM Analytics.
• Creating Datasets and Trending Dashboards from Salesforce Reports
  By creating trending CRM Analytics dashboards that track key metrics over time, you can make sense of your growing, ever-changing datasets. Trending data in CRM Analytics helps you discover hidden insights and allows you to share them with colleagues. When you create a trending dashboard based on a Salesforce report, CRM Analytics generates a dataset and a dashboard based on the underlying Salesforce data.