platform-data-manage
forcedotcom/sf-skills
Create, update, delete, and bulk import/export Salesforce records via sf CLI and Apex.
What is platform-data-manage?
Manages Salesforce data operations including record CRUD, bulk import/export, test data generation, and cleanup scripts. Use this skill when you need to seed test data, perform bulk migrations, generate realistic datasets for Apex validation, or clean up org records—but delegate SOQL-only queries, Apex test execution, and metadata deployment to their respective skills.
- Execute sf data CLI commands for single and bulk record operations (create, update, delete, upsert, export, import)
- Generate realistic test data and data factory patterns for validating Apex, Flow, and integration behavior
- Perform bulk import/export operations and tree-based parent-child record seeding
- Create reusable anonymous Apex scripts for data seeding, rollback, and cleanup
- Validate schema prerequisites (required fields, picklist values, relationships) before data operations
How to install platform-data-manage
npx skills add https://github.com/forcedotcom/sf-skills --skill platform-data-manage- sf CLI version >=2.0.0 installed and authenticated to target org
- jq >=1.6.0 for JSON filtering and validation (optional but recommended)
- python3 >=3.8.0 for advanced data transformation scripts (optional)
- Target Salesforce objects and fields must already exist in the org
How to use platform-data-manage
- 1.Confirm the operation mode: script generation (local assets) or remote execution (live org changes)
- 2.Gather required context: target objects, org alias, operation type, volume, and any parent-child relationships
- 3.Run describe-first validation using sf sobject describe to inspect required fields, picklist values, and createable constraints
- 4.Choose the smallest correct mechanism: single-record CLI for one-offs, bulk API for large volumes, tree import for hierarchies, or Apex factories for reusable test data
- 5.Execute the operation or generate reusable assets (Apex, CSV, JSON) from built-in templates
- 6.Verify results by checking record counts, relationships, and IDs after creation or update
- 7.Provide exact cleanup commands or rollback scripts to remove test data
Use cases
- Seed 251+ test records to validate bulk automation behavior in Apex or Flow
- Export org records to CSV/JSON and re-import them to another environment
- Generate synthetic test data factories for repeatable Apex test scenarios
- Clean up accumulated test records by ID, pattern, or creation date window
- Create parent-child record hierarchies via tree import for complex data relationships
- Salesforce developers building and validating Apex tests
- QA engineers seeding test data for bulk automation scenarios
- Administrators performing data migrations or cleanup operations
- Integration engineers preparing realistic datasets for validation
platform-data-manage FAQ
Use platform-data-manage for record creation, updates, deletes, imports, exports, and test data generation. Use platform-soql-query only when you need to write SELECT queries to retrieve data without modifying records.
Yes, but the skill requires explicit org alias confirmation and recommends using synthetic, non-identifying data. Always plan cleanup before creating large datasets to avoid polluting org state.
The skill recommends 251+ records when bulk behavior matters for automation testing, as smaller volumes may not trigger bulk-specific code paths.
The skill will stop and hand off to platform-custom-object-generate, platform-custom-field-generate, or platform-metadata-deploy to create the missing schema before retrying the data operation.
The skill provides exact cleanup commands using delete-by-ID, delete-by-pattern, delete-by-created-date window, or rollback/savepoint patterns depending on the operation.
Full instructions (SKILL.md)
Source of truth, from forcedotcom/sf-skills.
name: platform-data-manage description: "Salesforce data operations with 130-point scoring. Use to create, update, delete, bulk import/export, generate test data, and clean up org records via sf CLI and anonymous Apex. TRIGGER on creating test data, bulk import/export, sf data CLI commands, data-factory patterns for Apex tests, or seeding/cleaning org records. DO NOT TRIGGER for SOQL query writing only (use platform-soql-query), Apex test execution (use platform-apex-test-run), or metadata deployment (use platform-metadata-deploy)." metadata: version: "1.1" domains: ["Platform"] relatedSkills: - "automation-flow-generate" - "platform-apex-generate" - "platform-apex-test-run" - "platform-custom-field-generate" - "platform-custom-object-generate" - "platform-metadata-deploy" - "platform-soql-query" cliTools: - tool: ["sf"] semver: ">=2.0.0" - tool: ["jq"] semver: ">=1.6.0" - tool: ["python3"] semver: ">=3.8.0"
Salesforce Data Operations Expert (platform-data-manage)
Use this skill when the user needs Salesforce data work: record CRUD, bulk import/export, test data generation, cleanup scripts, or data factory patterns for validating Apex, Flow, or integration behavior.
When This Skill Owns the Task
Use platform-data-manage when the work involves:
sf dataCLI commands- record creation, update, delete, upsert, export, or tree import/export
- realistic test data generation
- bulk data operations and cleanup
- Apex anonymous scripts for data seeding / rollback
Delegate elsewhere when the user is:
- writing SOQL only → platform-soql-query
- running or repairing Apex tests → platform-apex-test-run
- deploying metadata first → platform-metadata-deploy
- creating or modifying custom objects / fields → platform-custom-object-generate or platform-custom-field-generate
Important Mode Decision
Confirm which mode the user wants:
| Mode | Use when |
|---|---|
| Script generation | they want reusable .apex, CSV, or JSON assets without touching an org yet |
| Remote execution | they want records created / changed in a real org now |
Do not assume remote execution if the user may only want scripts.
Required Context to Gather First
Ask for or infer:
- target object(s)
- org alias, if remote execution is required
- operation type: query, create, update, delete, upsert, import, export, cleanup
- expected volume
- whether this is test data, migration data, or one-off troubleshooting data
- any parent-child relationships that must exist first
Core Operating Rules
platform-data-manageacts on remote org data unless the user explicitly wants local script generation.- Objects and fields must already exist before data creation.
- For automation testing, prefer 251+ records when bulk behavior matters.
- Plan cleanup before creating large or noisy datasets — untracked records accumulate across runs and pollute org state.
- Use synthetic, non-identifying data in test records — real PII creates compliance risk and cannot be safely removed after bulk import.
- Prefer CLI-first for straightforward CRUD; use anonymous Apex when the operation truly needs server-side orchestration.
If metadata is missing, stop and hand off to:
- platform-custom-object-generate or platform-custom-field-generate to create the missing schema, then platform-metadata-deploy to deploy it before retrying the data operation
Recommended Workflow
1. Verify prerequisites
Confirm object / field availability, org auth, and required parent records.
2. Run describe-first pre-flight validation when schema is uncertain
Before creating or updating records, use object describe data to validate:
- required fields
- createable vs non-createable fields
- picklist values
- relationship fields and parent requirements
See references/sf-cli-data-commands.md for the sf sobject describe command and jq filter patterns for inspecting fields, picklist values, and createable constraints.
3. Choose the smallest correct mechanism
| Need | Default approach |
|---|---|
| small one-off CRUD | sf data single-record commands |
| large import/export | Bulk API 2.0 via sf data ... bulk |
| parent-child seed set | tree import/export |
| reusable test dataset | factory / anonymous Apex script |
| reversible experiment | cleanup script or savepoint-based approach |
4. Execute or generate assets
Use the built-in templates under assets/ when they fit:
assets/factories/assets/bulk/assets/cleanup/assets/soql/assets/csv/assets/json/
5. Verify results
Check counts, relationships, and record IDs after creation or update.
6. Apply a bounded retry strategy
If creation fails:
- try the primary CLI shape once
- retry once with corrected parameters
- re-run describe / validate assumptions
- pivot to a different mechanism or provide a manual workaround
Do not repeat the same failing command indefinitely.
7. Leave cleanup guidance
Provide exact cleanup commands or rollback assets whenever data was created.
High-Signal Rules
Bulk safety
- use bulk operations for large volumes
- test automation-sensitive behavior with 251+ records where appropriate
- avoid one-record-at-a-time patterns for bulk scenarios
Data integrity
- include required fields
- validate picklist values before creation
- verify parent IDs and relationship integrity
- account for validation rules and duplicate constraints
- exclude non-createable fields from input payloads
Cleanup discipline
Prefer one of:
- delete-by-ID
- delete-by-pattern
- delete-by-created-date window
- rollback / savepoint patterns for script-based test runs
Common Failure Patterns
| Error | Likely cause | Default fix direction |
|---|---|---|
INVALID_FIELD | wrong field API name or FLS issue | verify schema and access |
REQUIRED_FIELD_MISSING | mandatory field omitted | include required values from describe data |
INVALID_CROSS_REFERENCE_KEY | bad parent ID | create / verify parent first |
FIELD_CUSTOM_VALIDATION_EXCEPTION | validation rule blocked the record | use valid test data or adjust setup |
| invalid picklist value | guessed value instead of describe-backed value | inspect picklist values first |
| non-writeable field error | field is not createable / updateable | remove it from the payload |
| bulk limits / timeouts | wrong tool for the volume | switch to bulk / staged import |
Output Format
When finishing, report in this order:
- Operation performed
- Objects and counts
- Target org or local artifact path
- Record IDs / output files
- Verification result
- Cleanup instructions
Suggested shape:
Data operation: <create / update / delete / export / seed>
Objects: <object + counts>
Target: <org alias or local path>
Artifacts: <record ids / csv / apex / json files>
Verification: <passed / partial / failed>
Cleanup: <exact delete or rollback guidance>
Cross-Skill Integration
| Need | Delegate to | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| create missing custom objects | platform-custom-object-generate | schema must exist before data operations |
| create missing custom fields | platform-custom-field-generate | field-level schema must exist before data creation |
| run bulk-sensitive Apex validation | platform-apex-test-run | test execution and coverage |
| deploy missing schema first | platform-metadata-deploy | metadata readiness |
| implement production Apex logic consuming the data | platform-apex-generate | Apex class / trigger authoring |
| implement Flow logic consuming the data | automation-flow-generate | Flow authoring and automation |
Reference Map
Start here
- references/sf-cli-data-commands.md
- references/test-data-best-practices.md
- references/orchestration.md
- references/test-data-patterns.md
- references/test-data-factory-usage.md
Query / bulk / cleanup
- references/soql-relationship-guide.md
- references/relationship-query-examples.md
- references/bulk-operations-guide.md
- references/cleanup-rollback-guide.md
- references/cleanup-rollback-example.md
Examples / limits
- references/crud-workflow-example.md
- references/bulk-testing-example.md
- references/anonymous-apex-guide.md
- references/governor-limits-reference.md
Validation scripts
- scripts/soql_validator.py — validate SOQL queries before execution
- scripts/validate_data_operation.py — pre-flight check for data operations (required fields, picklist values, createable fields)
Asset templates
assets/factories/— Apex test data factory scripts (account, contact, opportunity, lead, user, etc.)assets/bulk/— Bulk API 2.0 Apex templates (insert 200, 500, 10000 records; upsert by external ID)assets/cleanup/— Cleanup and rollback scripts (delete by name, date, pattern; transaction rollback)assets/soql/— SOQL query templates (aggregate, subquery, parent-to-child, child-to-parent, polymorphic)assets/csv/— CSV import templates for Account, Contact, Opportunity, custom objectsassets/json/— JSON tree import templates (account-contact, account-opportunity, full hierarchy)
Score Guide
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 117+ | strong production-safe data workflow |
| 104–116 | good operation with minor improvements possible |
| 91–103 | acceptable but review advised |
| 78–90 | partial / risky patterns present |
| < 78 | blocked until corrected |
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