---
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id: 0413ec2eb845090b9db74367622c8e0c7f99d6a6d7e5b37dbe7a3ebdfebe4d0c
title: Ways to Get Data from Data Sources Into Datasets
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/analytics/264-0-0/bi_integrate_get_data_into_datasets.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_integrate_get_data_into_datasets.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: fbfdc9f99596dacb4845fa890abc295e09b871334f8b7e8350e9f11a409b2624
description: To populate datasets with data from data sources, you can import the data directly from the source. Or, you can extract the data from the source and prepare it before loading it into a dataset.
products:
  - CRM Analytics
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Ways to Get Data from Data Sources Into Datasets

To populate datasets with data from data sources, you can import the data directly from the source. Or, you can extract the data from the source and prepare it before loading it into a dataset.

## Import Data

You can import data from Excel spreadsheets (via a connector) and CSV files directly into a dataset. This approach populates the dataset without modifying the data.

![The data from each spreadsheet is loaded directly into a dataset, without any data transformations.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/bi/images/bi/bi_integration_LoadOnly.png)

## Prepare and Load Data

If you want to make any changes to the data, you can use recipes and dataflows. Recipes and dataflows are powerful features that you can use to cleanse, prepare, and optimize your data for analysis. You can use these tools to extract data from different data sources, both inside and outside of Salesforce.

![The recipe and dataflow both extract data from the source, transform it, and then load the results into a dataset.](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-analytics-bi-264-0-0-production-enus/ec791473-f5b4-4f64-a656-9104f455d966/bi/images/bi/bi_integration_prepareAndLoad.png)

#### See Also

- [Get Started with Data Integration](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_integrate_get_started.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "In CRM Analytics, data integration involves gathering and preparing the Salesforce and external data you want to analyze. External data is data that resides outside of the Salesforce org that you use for Analytics, such as data from another Salesforce org, outside applications, spreadsheets, and databases. After integrating the data, you prepare it into datasets. Data preparation is the process of transforming your data into a form that’s meaningful and valuable to the people consuming it. For example, you can define data preparation logic that combines data from two data sources and cleans up inconsistencies, such as differently formatted dates and codes. Users then explore and visualize datasets through CRM Analytics lenses and dashboards.")
- [Other Ways to Integrate Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_integrate_other_ways_create_datasets.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Dataflows and recipes can integrate most data from internal to external data sources. However, CRM Analytics provides additional ways to integrate data that are more effective for specific use cases. For example, if you don’t have to transform data before loading it into a dataset, you can import data directly from CSV or Excel files. If you need to transform it, you can upload the file to create an intermediate dataset, and then use a recipe or dataflow to change that data before loading the results into another dataset. Or, to analyze Salesforce report data over time, you can create a dataset and dashboard that trends the report with just a few clicks. With trending, CRM Analytics creates a dataset based on snapshots of your Salesforce report data.")