Anyone who's worked with me for any length of time knows that one of my very most favorite Salesforce adjacent products is XL-Connector by Xappex LLC. They have several versions - the best of which are paid, some of which are free, but it at it's core, it's an interface that lets you interface directly with Salesforce from Excel (or Google Sheets). I literally cannot say enough good things about both the product, and their support.
Aside from making data maintenance WAY easier, their PC based Excel Admin version also has several tools that let you directly edit metadata like Validation Rules, Fields, etc. (I'm not actually sure how many of those features are available in their orther versions, tbh, so YMMV)
I just had an outstanding interaction with them, and I wanted to share it because it is illustrative of what an awesome product and company it is, and I feel like outstanding customer service should be rewarded & broadcast 🥰
So - yesterday, a colleague and I realized we're going to need to create a lot of nearly identical Restriction Rules on several different objects for a client. I was hoping XL-Connector might already have an interface to edit Restriction Rules. It would save HOURS of time to be able to create them simply by copying them into new excel rows, updating the object where neessary and uploading them. Alas, it isn't a feature in the product (yet!). So I sent in a Feature Request to ask if it would be possible to add it. Today, they let me know that their developer is already working on it ... 🤯
Now, I do need to put in a caveat that I have been using their product for 12+ years, and they know I'm an experienced power user, so I do get *some preferential treatment. That relationship definitely did help it get bumped up on their roadmap. But even if the request had come from someone else, it almost certainly would have made it into the product. They are constantly updating and upgrading the product and MOST of the requests don't come from me ;-) Other clients of mine have agreed that their support - generally - is outstanding.
Anyway - if you're looking for a tool that will make your life easier when it comes to updating and managing data or metadata in Salesforce, I highly recommend this product - they offer a 30 day free trial, so plenty of time to see if it really does make your life easier. It certainly helps me keep my sanity.
I don't get anything from it if you do decide to get it - just the satisfaction of helping you out AND supporting a product I love ;-)
We're excited to showcase the acknowledement of the hard work of one of our exceptional #SalesforceArchitects, Jacob Barnett. His skill in transforming complex data into an intuitive, user-friendly platform for Zen Payments highlights the expertise and commitment that make him truly stand out. A big thank you to Jacob for his dedication and to Zen Payments for recognizing his outstanding contributions! Dalton Huguley Tyler Thomas