Create CSV UTF-8 Files for Salesforce with Java 📄

Discover how to tackle the challenge of generating a `CSV UTF-8` file for Salesforce applications using Java and Apache Commons CSV to ensure smooth uploads.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63181759/ asked by the user 'Automator' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12394718/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63193339/ provided by the user 'Automator' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12394718/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Java Selenium - CSV UTF-8 format file creation is not working for Salesforce

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Create a CSV UTF-8 File for Salesforce Using Java and Apache Commons CSV

Introduction

If you've ever worked with Salesforce and tried to automate the process of generating and uploading CSV files, you might have faced a frustrating snag. This common challenge relates to creating a CSV UTF-8 format file that Salesforce can recognize and accept. In this post, we will delve into a scenario where an attempt to automate CSV creation using OpenCSV did not yield the desired results. We'll explore a new approach using Apache Commons CSV that successfully resolves this issue.

The Challenge

Our task was straightforward: generate a CSV file containing a list of names and email addresses to upload into a Salesforce application. The challenge emerged from the need to automate the creation of this file. The manual process was well-defined and worked perfectly:

Download the template provided in .xls format

Open the file using Microsoft Excel

Populate the necessary data

Save it as CSV UTF-8

The automation attempt aimed to mirror these manual steps but got stuck. Although the initial implementation used OpenCSV, the generated file was not recognized by Salesforce, leading to a significant roadblock.

The Initial Approach

The initial code used OpenCSV to create the CSV. Here is how the steps were laid out:

Copy the existing template file.

Populate the data programmatically.

Flush the writer to the file.

Copy the file to convert it to CSV format.

Initial Code (using OpenCSV)

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

While the code executed without any errors, Salesforce did not acknowledge the newly created file, leading to confusion and frustration.

The Solution: Using Apache Commons CSV

After some exploration, a different library, Apache Commons CSV, was chosen instead of OpenCSV. This switch significantly improved the functionality of the code, allowing for the successful creation of CSV files that Salesforce recognized.

Updated Code with Apache Commons CSV

Below is the revised code using Apache Commons CSV:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of Updated Approach

CSVPrinter: We switched from the CSVWriter to CSVPrinter, which is part of Apache Commons CSV. This change ensures better compatibility with Salesforce's requirements.

Automatic record creation: We generate records using random data and write each to the file sequentially.

Flush and close: Remember to flush the outputs before closing the file to ensure all data is written properly.

Conclusion

Switching from OpenCSV to Apache Commons CSV provided a straightforward and effective solution to the CSV creation issue for Salesforce. This transition not only streamlined the process but also guaranteed proper file format recognition by the Salesforce application.

If you find yourself facing similar challenges, consider using Apache Commons CSV for reliable CSV generation in your Java applications. Happy coding!