Validation and duplicate rules on import
Key Takeaway
Imports don't bypass validation rules or duplicate rules. Records that fail validation aren't imported. Imports also override a duplicate rule's settings, so its usual allow or alert behavior doesn't apply.
When you import records into Salesforce, your data quality rules still check them. Validation rules and duplicate rules both still apply, but duplicate rules behave differently than when a user saves a record by hand. Knowing these behaviors lets you plan an import so that needed records aren't rejected and duplicates are handled the way you expect.
Validation rules on import
If the formula returns True, the data is invalid, so the record isn't saved and the rule's error message appears.
Importing doesn't bypass validation rules. Salesforce runs them on each record before it is imported. Records that fail validation aren't imported. If active validation rules affect the records you're importing, consider deactivating those rules before you run the import.
The Data Import Wizard asks whether imported records should trigger workflow rules and processes. Validation rules aren't part of that choice, because Salesforce runs them on records before they are imported.
Validation rules are also the first rules Salesforce processes, ahead of these rules:
- Assignment rules
- Auto-response rules
- Workflow rules
- Escalation rules