What is Workbench in Salesforce?

Workbench is a collection of powerful web-based tools created for developers and administrators to interact with Salesforce.com organizations via Force.com APIs.

It includes faster support for the Force.com partner, Streaming, Bulk Rest, Metadata, and Apex APIs, allowing users to explain, manipulate, query, and transfer metadata and data from Salesforce.com organizations directly in their web browser. 

It is a cloud-based tool that benefits Salesforce developers and Admin to perform Salesforce Object Query Language and SOSL.

The developers and Admins can view their company’s data, perform other functions like testing data and loading, and troubleshoot and deploy their applications with the help of Workbench in Salesforce. 

Data Management is a crucial part of the Salesforce ecosystem, so before getting into the details of Salesforce Workbench, explore the Salesforce Data Sharing Model. 

You can use Salesforce Workbench in many exciting ways. In this guide, you will learn how to use Workbench in Salesforce and what are the benefits of using it.

Steps to Login to Workbench in Salesforce

1. Enter your account credentials to log in to your Salesforce Workbox and choose the required API versions and environments. Tick on the terms and conditions box to complete the login.

2. On logging into the Workbox account, you will see a menu where you would be able to switch between various options like Apex Page, Apex Class, Workflow, Update, Insert, Delete, Approval, Undo, etc. From the list, select the task you need to perform. 

3. You will see dropdown items in the menu bar at the top. There will be three parts:- Standard & Custom Objects:- This option is for selecting an Object here. Metadata Types & Components:- Select any Metadata component mentioned in the list (Apex Class, Approval, Workflow, and Apex Page). Choose Queries by going back to the second step. You will see two types of queries:-SOQL and SOSL. You can choose multiple fields and objects from the Query section and add conditions to create a SOQL query. 

4. Now go to the Data option, choose a particular object, and perform functions like Update, Insert, Delete, Undo, etc. You will also have the option to upload records from CSV and ZIP files.

5. Go to the Migration option. You can use package.xml to retrieve the package and deploy it in the Salesforce organization.

6. Explore Utilities. The menu will have options like REST Explorer, Apex Execute, and Password Management. With the help of Rest Explorer, you can perform the Rest API service by choosing the HTTP method. You can create, update, and delete a record using Apex Execute. And passwords can be reset by using Password Management.

You can use the Salesforce Workbench in the following ways:-

• Bulk record update, mass deletion, and mass creation
• Perform SOSL and SOQL queries
• Debug and deploy applications

Valuable Features of Workbench in Salesforce

1. It increases the overall worth and performance of the Salesforce product.
2. It gives you many options to manage data—for example, Edit, Smart Lookup, Delete and Purge, and ZIP file. The Smart Lookup feature is used to find relevant Salesforce IDs. You can delete records you don’t need using the Delete and Purge feature. And you can upload ZIP files using the ZIP file option.
3. Workbench provides options that help in protecting your data. Using the CSRF Protection features protects data from hackers, and it is an integrated feature of Salesforce. 
4. Using OAuth, you can log in to Salesforce Workbench without entering the credentials. 
5. To establish the connection between Workbench and Salesforce, Salesforce uses the SSL method.

Why Use Salesforce Workbench?

1. The tool lets the organisation see the core applications’ data and metadata. 
2. It is a helping hand with features of troubleshooting every bug in the application.
3. Salesforce workbench allows communication between Force.com APIs.
4. By using this tool, the developer can control the application’s operation that does not exist in other API clients.
5. You can easily edit the records just by clicking on the Unique ID.
6. It also provides very convenient data extraction. You can easily update, insert, delete, export data, and more. 
7. Users can easily read the table in the browser because Workbench provides simplified result information. 
8. Building SOSL function and SOQL query are effortless.
9. You can maintain your current session in Workbench without logging in again.

To Sum Up

Workbench is an excellent web tool that makes the life of Salesforce developers and admins easier and faster. Using it, you can perform multiple activities not offered in other APIs. It is easy to utilize and takes the Salesforce platform to another level. Now you have a good understanding of Workbench in Salesforce. 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the use of Workbench in Salesforce?

Workbench is a web-based tool for administrators and developers to interact with Salesforce org via API. Its main functions are:

• Querying data using SOQL and SOSL.
• Viewing metadata, such as objects and fields.
• Testing and exploring API calls.
• Performing data operations like insert, update, upsert, and delete.
• Managing data and metadata.
• Exploring session info, org limits, and system details.

2. Is Workbench an API tool?

Yes, Workbench is an API tool. It is a front-end interface for Salesforce APIs, allowing users to interact with the platform without having to write code. You can access Salesforce’s REST, SOAP, Bulk, and Streaming APIs through Workbench.

3. How to open Workbench in Salesforce?

Workbench is not installed in Salesforce; instead, it’s a separate tool you can access online. Here’s how you can open Workbench:

• Go to the Workbench site.
• You’ll be asked to select the environment: Production/Developer or Sandbox. Choose the appropriate one.
• Click “Login with Salesforce.” You’ll be redirected to Salesforce’s login page.
• Enter your Salesforce credentials and allow permissions if prompted.
• Once logged in, you can start using the various features of Workbench.

4. What is the difference between Dataloader and Workbench in Salesforce?

Dataloader is a client-based application for bulk data import/export in Salesforce, with a user-friendly interface and authentication via username/password or OAuth. It’s best for large-scale data tasks. 

Workbench, on the other hand, is a web-based tool for developers and admins, offering a technical interface for a wider range of operations, including SOQL queries, metadata exploration, and bulk data tasks, primarily using OAuth for authentication. While Dataloader focuses on bulk data operations, Workbench provides more extensive functionalities for various admin and developer tasks.