The Official Salesforce Blog

Force.com is a finalist at The Crunchies - cast your vote!

The Crunchies, a competition and award ceremony co-hosted by TechCrunch, GigaOm, VentureBeat, and Silicon Alley Insider, has Force.com as a finalist in the Best Enterprise category (together with Amazon, Google, Yammer and Zoho). It's fantastic to see the Force.com cloud computing platform recognized in the enterprise category - the speed with which everyone is moving applications to the cloud is phenomenal!

Please visit the Crunchies website to vote daily by January 5th!

And if you're a Salesforce admin interested in Force.com, don't forget to join the Admin to App Builder Challenge - you'll get free resources to build a Force.com app and then enter to win great prizes including a free trip to Dreamforce Europe 2009 in London!

Happy New Year!

Announcing Force.com Checkout: Buy AppExchange Apps in Clicks

(From The AppExchange Blog)

Exciting news! Starting this week, customers and partners can buy and sell AppExchange apps online anytime, anywhere, from a browser.

On Monday, we officially launched Force.com Checkout to a standing-room only audience at our Cloudforce Event in New York. With Checkout, it is easier than ever for customers to do business with salesforce.com and our partners. Customers now have a "one stop shop" where you can trial, pay for, start using, and manage subscriptions of Salesforce CRM and some of your favorite AppExchange partner apps.

Here is what CRM Buyer had to say:

“On Monday, Salesforce.com announced some of the remaining pieces of the grand puzzle when it introduced Checkout…a necessary component that, though its focus is financial rather than technical, enables the technology to fully function. It appears to me that with Checkout, Salesforce now has deployed a new closed-loop business process for cloud computing that starts with development, moves through distribution and sales, and culminates in the transaction and payment….This is cool stuff.”

All Checkout partner applications are natively built and run on Force.com, which means you can rest assured they have the same security, reliability, and performance of applications from salesforce.com. And it's not just CRM applications. The majority of Checkout apps and new AppExchange apps are extending the SaaS model beyond just your sales, marketing, and customer service functions to other important areas in your company: human resources, IT, finance, operations, you name it. Here is the full list:

Financials and accounting ERP from CODA
Non-profit constituent relationship management from Convio
Fleet management solutions from Datasul
Order management ERP solutions from Glovia, a subsidiary of Fujitsu
Staffing solutions from Jobscience
Mobile expense reporting from Model Metrics
Recruiting from Riptide
Real estate management from Riptide
Customer reference tracking from Riptide
Risk management from StakeWare
Financial relationship management from StraightThrough
Productivity tools from Appirio
Compensation management from Callidus
Salesforce CRM administrator tools from DrivEnable

Existing customers, you can start using Checkout today from your dropdown menu inside the app. Everyone else, learn more here.

Calling all Salesforce Admins: Take the App Builder Challenge

With the holiday season in full swing, I'm sure every Salesforce Admin has a wish-list of ways to extend their CRM and build new applications for their company. Whatever’s on yours—maybe a survey app, a recruitment portal, or maybe a project management tool—why not build it yourself? The Force.com platform makes it quick and easy: you can do it with skills you already have, inside of 60 days—and win great rewards for your innovation, including an all-expenses paid trip to Dreamforce Europe 2009 in London! Our Admin-to-Appbuilder Challenge Kit shows you how, with:

:: Quick-Start App Builder Tools: How-to books and tutorials, a step-by-step Webinar, and more—exactly what you need to build with Force.com using clicks, not code
:: Challenge Entry Guide: Full details on sharing your new app with the community on the AppExchange, entering it in the Challenge, and winning terrific prizes

Your company wins, too: Your apps deploy at no extra cost, because they’re built and run on Force.com—just like Salesforce CRM. So take your career skills, achievements, and hero-status to a whole new next level in the new year: Get your Admin-to-Appbuilder Challenge Kit today!

Looking in the rear view mirror

I started my recruiting programs gig at salesforce.com in Summer 2005. Five years prior I had ridden a similar wave at Clarify where we were always looking in the rear view mirror at Siebel. In Fall 2005, Oracle acquired Siebel and in typical salesforce.com fashion, it was "game on". We launched a “Siebel Survivor” recruitment campaign targeting Siebel employees and hired more than 30 employees worldwide. 2 weeks ago, after we all drank more of the Dreamforce user community kool-aid, one of our Technology leaders sent me an email asking about doing it again. With all the gloom in today’s media and tech in general, it’s clear that we are in a unique position as a growing company and hiring “A-players”—in Technology, Sales, and more. What better way to let the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Tech Community know?

Starting Monday 11/17, we launched a mobile billboard campaign from San Francisco to San Jose Download RouteOverviewmap.pdf promoting “life changing careers; game-changing technology” and on Friday, November 21 we’ll have it in downtown San Francisco at our 1 Market Street headquarters during the lunch hour passing out recruiting swag and ice cream. I feel very fortunate to be a part of a company that sees this economic time as a tipping point in our favor (much like in 2001) and recruiting top talent as a competitive advantage.

A Sneak Peek at Winter '09

At salesforce.com, we have been working very hard on developing Salesforce Winter '09 for its release in October. Winter '09 will be salesforce.com's third release this year and also marks our 27th release in less than 10 years, something we are very proud of. There will be more than 50 new features included in this release spanning all of our application product lines and the Force.com platform. However, none of this would have been possible without our customers. To date, salesforce.com customers have submitted more than 8,500 ideas and made more than 180,000 promotions on the Salesforce IdeaExchange, demonstrating that our customers are just as committed as we are to delivering the best SaaS and PaaS solution on the market today.

I wanted to highlight just a few features that were some of the most popular on the Salesforce IdeaExchange. In addition to some feature descriptions, I have also included short demos we filmed here at salesforce.com headquarters. Hope this sneak peak will get you as excited as we are about the upcoming innovations from salesforce.com. And don't forget, if you have ideas about new features you would like to see in future releases, submit them to the Salesforce IdeaExchange.

Salesforce CRM Features
1. Opportunity Splitting
The Opportunity Splitting feature addresses some of the shifts going on in sales organizations today. Deals are no longer closed by one person, many times it takes a team of people, and the Opportunity Splitting feature will enable companies to properly recognize and assign a percentage to each of the team members that participated in a sale.

In addition, companies will now have clear insight into their pipeline by eliminating duplicate records and having reports that accurately reflect where the sales reps are spending their time.

The demo below really demonstrates why this is such a popular feature for salesforce.com customers.

Note - Pilot Only. Please contact Salesforce Customer Support to have this feature enabled. To enable Opportunity Splits, Team Selling must also be enabled

Opportunity Splitting Demo from Salesforce.com on Vimeo.

2. Campaign Influence
One of the most exciting features to come out with Winter 09 is a feature of Salesforce Marketing. Campaign Influence allows Salesforce CRM users to instantly see what campaigns influenced individual deals. This insight can help companies eliminate the most common challenge when it comes to marketing spend - "I know I am wasting half of my marketing budget, I am just not sure which half." Salesforce CRM users will be able to measure each marketing campaign on an opportunity by opportunity basis and understand what is working and what's not.

Check out the demo below to see how easy this feature is to use.

Campaign Influence Demo from Salesforce.com on Vimeo.

Force.com Platform-as-a-Service Features
1. Visualforce Email Templates
This feature will enable customers to take the power of Visualforce, the world's first user interface as a service, and use it to create any type of email template. Visualforce Email Templates will allow salesforce.com users to pull information from anywhere within their application and build dynamic email templates that can help improve response and open rates. In addition, salesforce.com users will be able to build and attach documents to email templates quickly and easily.

2. Schedule and Email Reports
The Force.com platform has really opened the door to technologies and features that were previously not possible in a Software-as-a-Service environment. And with more than 15,000 votes on the Salesforce IdeaExchange, the Schedule and Email Reports feature of Winter 09 is a popular example. This feature will enable salesforce.com customers to set up a schedule and email reports to the appropriate people at a specific time. For example, instead of having to manually run a report and send it out to the same people every week, the Schedule and Email Reports feature enables you to make that a completely automated process that you don't even have to think about.

The demo below really illustrate the convenience of this feature.

Schedule and Email Reports Demo from Salesforce.com on Vimeo.

Unreleased services or features referenced in this blog or other public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase salesforce.com applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available.

How to Participate in Force.com Winter '09 Sandbox Preview

The salesforce.com Winter '09 release is quickly approaching and soon you'll be able to take advantage of great new features! In preparation for the release, a Sandbox Upgrade Window is scheduled for 12:01 AM PST September 16th, 2008, through October 11th, 2008. You can continue to use your Sandbox throughout the Sandbox Upgrade Window to test new customizations or features before rolling them out to users.

As a Force.com Sandbox customer, we want to make you aware of the options available to you during this time.To determine whether there is any additional action you need to take to prepare for the Sandbox Upgrade Window please review the choices below and click on the associated link to understand the action you need to take for each:

1. If you would you like to participate in the Winter '09 Preview on your Sandbox instance during the Sandbox Upgrade Window please click here.

2. If you would like your Sandbox instance to retain the existing Summer '08 functionality until October 11th, 2008 please click here.

3. If you have multiple Sandboxes please click here.

4. If you plan to upload and/or install any AppExchange packages to or from your Sandbox instance during the Sandbox Upgrade Window please click here.

5. If you plan to take no action with your Sandbox instance during the upgrade window please click here.

Please click through the links to access the information you need depending on your answers to the above questions. If you have additional questions about your Sandbox options in conjunction with the Winter '09 release, please contact the salesforce.com Customer Support team.

YES - I want to participate in the Winter ‘09 Sandbox Preview and access all the great new features of Winter ‘09 beginning September 19th, prior to the upgrade of my production instance in October.

The specific server your Sandbox is stored on will determine your Sandbox experience during the Sandbox Upgrade Window, including whether your Sandbox instance will participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview. The Sandbox Upgrade Window is scheduled for 12:01 AM PST September 16^th, 2008 through October 11th, 2008.

There are two quick steps to ensure your participation in the Winter ‘09 Preview on your Sandbox instance:

1. Determine which Sandbox server you are on. Log into your Sandbox at test.salesforce.com; then examine the URL in your browser address bar.

If you see: tapp0.salesforce.com OR cs2.salesforce.com you do not need to take any further action. Your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Winter ‘09 Preview on September 19th, 2008.
If you see: cs1.salesforce.com, in order to receive the Winter ‘09 Preview version you will need to refresh your Sandbox one time prior to the start of the Sandbox Maintenance Window at 12:01AM PST September 16th, 2008.

2. Repeat Step 1 for any additional Sandbox instances you may have.

FAQs About Force.com Sandbox and the Winter ‘09 Release

Question: What happens to my Winter ‘09 Preview if I submit a sandbox refresh during the Sandbox Upgrade Window (after 12:01 AM PST, September 16th, 2008?)
Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh between 12:01 AM PST September 16th and the upgrade of your production instance, your Sandbox instance will retain the existing Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008.

Question: I have multiple sandboxes and I don't want all of them to participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview. What should I do?
Answer: If you have multiple Sandboxes and don't want all of them to participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview, then follow the instructions here.

Question: I've changed my mind, and do not want my Sandbox to participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview after all. What should I do?
Answer: If you decide you would like your Sandbox instance to retain the existing Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008, go here.

NO - I do not want to participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview. I want my Sandbox instance to retain Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008.

If you do not want to take advantage of the Winter ‘09 Preview in one or more of your Sandbox instances, there are two quick steps to ensure your Sandbox instance retains the existing Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008.

1. Determine which Sandbox server you are on. Log into your Sandbox at test.salesforce.com, then examine the URL in your browser address bar.

If you see: tapp0.salesforce.com OR cs2.salesforce.com To ensure your Sandbox remains at the existing Summer ‘08 release you will need to refresh your Sandbox one time after the start of the Sandbox Update Window at 12:01 AM PST September 16th, 2008.

If you see: cs1.salesforce.com you do not need to take any further action. Your Sandbox instance will retain existing Summer ‘08 functionality until the upgrade of your production instance in October.

2. Repeat Step 1 for any additional Sandbox instances you may have.

FAQs About Force.com Sandbox and the Winter ‘09 Release

Question: I’ve changed my mind, and do not want my Sandbox instance to retain Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008. What do I do?
Answer: If you decide you would like to participate in the Summer' 08 Preview in one or more of your Sandbox instances go here.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh before the Sandbox Upgrade Window begins (12:01 AM PST, September 16th, 2008)?
Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh prior to 12:01 AM PST September 16th, your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Summer ‘08 Preview on September 19th.

Question: I have multiple sandboxes and I don't want all of them to retain existing Winter ‘09 functionality. What should I do?
Answer: If you have multiple Sandboxes and don't want all of them to retain the existing Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008 follow the instructions here.

If you have multiple Sandbox instances, you may take advantage of the Winter ‘09 Preview OR retain the existing Summer ‘08 functionality on each instance.

If you would like one or more of your Sandbox instances to participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview on September 19th, click here.

If you would like one or more of your Sandbox instances to retain existing Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008, click here.

FAQs About Force.com Sandbox and the Winter '09 Release

Question: I do not want one or more of my Sandbox instances to participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview. What should I do?
Answer: If you decide you would like one or more of your Sandbox instances to retain the existing Summer '08 functionality until October 11th, 2008, go here.

Question: I want my one or more of my Sandbox instances to participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview prior to the upgrade of my production instance. What should I do?
Answer: If you decide to take advantage of the Winter ‘09 Preview in one or more of your Sandbox instances go here.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh before the Sandbox Upgrade Window begins (12:01 AM PST September 16th , 2008)?
Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh prior to 12:01 AM PST September 16th, 2008, your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Winter ‘09 Preview on September 19th.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh during the Sandbox Upgrade Window (after 12:01 AM PST, September 16th, 2008)?
Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh between 12:01 AM PST September 16th and the upgrade of your production instance, your Sandbox instance will retain the existing Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008.

YES - I plan to upload and/or install one or more AppExchange packages using one or more of my Sandbox instances during the Sandbox Upgrade Window.

Special attention must be paid to the upgrade schedule for both your Force.com Sandbox instance(s) and your Production instance if you use packaging. In most cases, both the source instance and the destination instance must be at the same release level in order to complete a full upload and install. See the table below for details.

AppExchange Packages and the Winter '09 Release: Upload and Installation Options

AppExchange Packages FAQ

Question: I plan to upload an AppExchange package from my Sandbox instance in the next few days, and immediately install to my Production instance. Are there any limitations I should be aware of?
Answer: As long as you will complete this install prior to the Sandbox Upgrade Window there are no limitations. Just upgrade and install as usual; both instances will be on the Summer ‘08 release at that time.

Question: I need to upload a package from my Sandbox instance after the Sandbox Upgrade Window begins, and immediately install to my Production instance. Are there any limitations I should be aware of?
Answer: You will need to ensure that both your Sandbox instance and Production instance are the same release level in order to complete this action.

If your Sandbox instance and Production instance both reflect Summer '08 functionality you may upload and install your package as usual.
If your Sandbox instance and Production instance both reflect Winter ‘09 functionality you may upload and install your package as usual.
If your Production instance will reflect the current Summer ‘08 functionality at time of install, you will need to ensure your Sandbox instance also reflects Summer ‘08 functionality at time of upgrade. To ensure your sandbox does not participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview, follow the instructions here.
If your Production instance reflects the Winter ‘09 functionality at time of install, you need to either: a) ensure your sandbox participates in the Winter ‘09 Preview by following the instruction here; or b) wait until your current Sandbox instance upgrades to Winter ‘09 before installing to your Winter ‘09 Production instance.

Question: My Sandbox already reflects the Winter ‘09 Preview, but I need to make changes and install to my Summer ‘08 Production instance using packaging. I don't have any current configuration or data changes in my Sandbox that I want to keep. What should I do?
Answer: You will need to refresh your Sandbox one time after 12:01AM PST September 19th, 2008 to ensure that your Sandbox instance reverts to Summer ‘08 functionality. Note: this refresh will delete the contents of your existing Sandbox copy. Once the refresh is complete and activated, make your changes, and upload and install your package as usual.

Question: I'm already developing in my Sandbox instance and plan to upload a package as soon as Winter ‘09 is available. When can I install to my Production instance?
Answer: You will need to ensure that both your Sandbox instance and Production instance are the same release level in order to complete this action.

If your Sandbox instance reflects the Winter ‘09 Preview at this time, you may install your AppExchange package as soon as your Production instance has been upgraded to Winter ‘09. Your production instance will be upgraded during the first two weeks in October and you will be receiving notification about the specific date and time.
If your Sandbox instance is not participating in the Winter ‘09 Preview and reflects Summer ‘08 functionality, you'll need to wait until October 11th, 2008 to complete your install. After this date, your Sandbox instance will also reflect Winter ‘09 functionality and you may upload and install your package as usual.

Question: How can I tell which server my Sandbox is on?
Answer: Log into your Sandbox at test.salesforce.com, then examine the URL in your browser address bar.

If you see tapp0.salesforce.com your Sandbox is on tapp0, and your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Winter ‘09 Preview on September 19th, 2008.
If you see cs2.salesforce.com your Sandbox is on CS2, and your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Winter ‘09 Preview on September 19th, 2008.
If you see cs1.salesforce.com your Sandbox is on CS1 and your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Winter ‘09 Release on October 11th, 2008.

If you have additional questions about your options for using packages with your Sandbox in conjunction with the Winter ‘09 release, please contact the salesforce.com Customer Support team.

If you take no action with your Sandbox instance(s) you may continue to use your Sandbox throughout the Sandbox Upgrade Window to test new customizations or features before rolling them out to users.

Please note: Without verifying which Sandbox server you are on, you may be surprised to see a Winter ‘09 Preview version after September 19th, 2008. To plan ahead you will want to verify your Sandbox server.

Determine which Sandbox server you are on. Log into your Sandbox at test.salesforce.com, then examine the URL in your browser address bar.

If you see: tapp0.salesforce.com OR cs2.salesforce.com, your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Winter ‘09 Preview on September 19th, 2008.

If you see: cs1.salesforce.com your Sandbox will remain at the Summer ‘08 release until October 11th, 2008.

FAQs About Force.com Sandbox and the Winter ‘09 Release

Question: I do not want my Sandbox to participate in the Summer '08 Preview. What should I do?
Answer: If you decide you would like one or more of your Sandbox instances to retain the existing Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008, go here.

Question: I want my Sandbox instance to participate in the Winter ‘09 Preview prior to the upgrade of my production instance. What should I do?
Answer: If you decide to take advantage of the Winter ‘09 Preview in one or more of your Sandbox instances go here.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh before the Sandbox Upgrade Window begins (12:01 AM PST, September 16th, 2008)?
Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh prior to 12:01 AM PST September 16th, 2008, your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Winter ‘09 Preview on September 19th.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh during the Sandbox Upgrade Window (after 12:01 AM PST, September 16th, 2008)?
Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh between 12:01 AM PST September 16th, 2008 and the upgrade of your production account, your Sandbox will retain the existing Summer ‘08 functionality until October 11th, 2008.

Now Your Other Computer is a Data Center

Marc Benioff's guest blog post on what Web 3.0 is was just published on TechCrunch IT. Marc expands on the idea that while Web 1.0 was about distributed transactions, and Web 2.0 is about distributed participation, Web 3.0 will be about democratizing the power to innovate. It's a very important and insightful essay, so I highly recommend that you check it out.

Summer '08 Feature Showcase: Enhanced Lists

Hello! It's your friendly Salesforce product manager here, with some great news to share about an awesome feature being delivered in the Summer '08 release - Enhanced Lists!

Last year, we gave you inline editing on record detail pages. While I knew it would be a hit (or, at least, I certainly hoped it would be), I also knew that it would only be a matter of time before the requests would start pouring in for inline editing from list views. Sure enough, Tannic didn't waste any time, and 6 days after the Winter '08 release, an idea was logged. :-)

I'm happy to announce that the new Enhanced List feature in the Summer '08 release offers you powerful, easy-to-use tools to quickly display, customize (and even edit!) lists of records imperative for your day-to-day work routine.

The sensational new editing capabilities we've included allow you to edit a single record, or multiple - up to 200 - records, directly from a list, never leaving the page. And with a wide range of new navigation options - for example, displaying the record count (up to 2000), specifying number of records displayed per page, jump to a specific page, and first & last page links - you can find the information you’re looking for in no time.

We also included drag-and-drop support for moving columns around, as well as changing a column's width by dragging the right side of the column header.

For those of you who have created custom mass action buttons to act on multiple records in a list view, we also now remember selections across multiple pages. Gone are the days of selecting records on a single page, then clicking the action button, then going to the next page, selecting more records, etc.

In order to realize the full benefit of this feature, administrators must turn on both the "Enable Inline Editing" and "Enable Enhanced Lists" preferences from the Setup | Customize | User Interface page.

Full Disclosure: There are also some things about this new feature that we want to improve upon in the near future. For one, the fields excluded from inline editing on list views are the same ones excluded on detail pages (Opportunity Stage, Opportunity Forecast Category, Contract Status, most Task and Event fields) with the addition of Opportunity Amount, Opportunity Quantity, Lead Status, and Case Status. The good news is that we're working closely with other teams internally to get these fields enabled for you as soon as we can. (Note that some of these fields already have mass action buttons on list views so you still have a way to edit them.) Also, for companies using record types, the list view has to have filter criteria specified that restricts the result set to one record type in order for editing to be available. There are similar filter restrictions for tasks and events as well, but you can read all about it in both the Summer '08 release notes, as well as the online help. Just navigate to any list view, and click the "Help for this Page" link in the upper right.

We know we still have some work to do, but hopefully you'll find these new enhancements to be both time-saving and fun to use. Everyone have a great summer, and keep those ideas coming!

-- Eric

How can I prepare for the Summer '08 Release?

Need the tools to be prepared for the Summer '08 release? Look no further than this one-stop shop for everything Summer '08 related!

Find links for everything Summer '08 related:

Ideas Coming in Summer '08
Summer '08 Admin Preview
Summer '08 Release notes
Summer '08 Pre-Release

We've heard what you have to say and now we're delivering on your ideas. So, did your Idea make it into the Summer '08 Release? Check out the Ideas Coming in Summer '08 to see what features made it into our latest release!

Want a sneak peek at exciting features coming with the new release? Posted earlier this week, don't forget to check out the Summer '08 Admin Preview page! Once you've found features you are interested in, take a deeper dive with the Release Notes for more in-depth information.

Sign up for the Summer '08 Pre-Release Program, a program that gives you full access to all the upcoming release features and capabilities prior to general availability. This Summer '08 trial account will not contain any of your Salesforce account data, but will give you preview access to new features such as Customizable User Object and the new Converted Lead page!

Summer '08 Release Readiness

Summer '08 Release Update

The latest release is just around the corner, and we know everyone is eager to know more about upcoming Summer '08 release features!

We wanted to highlight some of the exciting new features you can expect from our force.com platform and SaaS applications. If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out the Summer '08 Admin Preview for an overview of upcoming features.

Some highlights from the Summer '08 release:

Visualforce -With Visualforce now generally available in every edition, it's easy to build custom user interfaces using Visualforce and new custom components from the Force.com developer community.
Salesforce for Google Apps is transforming businesses by providing the most commonly used business applications as a service. Salesforce for Google Apps is a simple, yet powerful combination of your applications that work together and make it incredibly easy for users to communicate, collaborate, and share business information.

Want to know when you'll see these changes in your Salesforce instance? Check trust.salesforce.com for the latest release schedule!

Join the Salesforce Professional Network on LinkedIn

Salesforce.com now has a LinkedIn group with nearly 1,000 members! Join the Salesforce Professional Network today by visiting this web page.

The Salesforce.com Professional Network connects former and present salesforce.com users, administrators and employees, allowing them to expand their professional development, exchange ideas, network and continue to be a part of the Salesforce.com community.

As a group member, you'll have the option to make your profile available to other group members. You'll also have a Salesforce Professional Network badge on your LinkedIn profile.

How to participate in the Force.com Summer '08 Sandbox Preview

The salesforce.com Summer '08 release is just around the corner and soon you'll be able to take advantage of great new features!

In preparation for the release, a Sandbox Upgrade Window is scheduled for 12:01 AM PST May 13th 2008, through June 14th, 2008. You can continue to use your Sandbox throughout the Sandbox Upgrade Window to test new customizations or features before rolling them out to users.

As a Force.com Sandbox customer we want to make you aware of the options available to you during this time.To determine whether there is any additional action you need to take to prepare for the Sandbox Upgrade Window please review the choices below and click on the associated link to understand the action you need to take for each:

If you would you like to participate in the Summer '08 Preview on your Sandbox instance during the Sandbox Upgrade Window please click here.
If you would like your Sandbox instance to retain the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008 please click here.
If you have multiple Sandboxes please click here.
If you plan to upload and/or install any AppExchange packages to or from your Sandbox instance during the Sandbox Upgrade Window please click here.
If you plan to take no action with your Sandbox instance during the upgrade window please click here.

Please click through the links to access the information you need depending on your answers to the above questions.

If you have additional questions about your Sandbox options in conjunction with the Summer 08 release, please contact the salesforce.com Customer Support team.

YES - I want to participate in the Summer '08 Sandbox Preview and access all the great new features of Summer '08 beginning May 16th, prior to the upgrade of my production instance in June.

The specific server your Sandbox is stored on will determine your Sandbox experience during the Sandbox Upgrade Window, including whether your Sandbox instance will participate in the Summer '08 Preview. The Sandbox Upgrade Window is scheduled for 12:01 AM PST May 13th through June 14th, 2008.

There are two quick steps to ensure your participation in the Summer'08 Preview on your Sandbox instance:

1. Determine which Sandbox server you are on. Log into your Sandbox at test.salesforce.com, then examine the URL in your browser address bar.

If you see: tapp0.salesforce.com OR cs2.salesforce.com you do not need to take any further action. Your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Summer '08 Preview on May 16th, 2008.
If you see: cs1.salesforce.com, in order to receive the Summer '08 Preview version you will need to refresh your Sandbox one time prior to the start of the Sandbox Maintenance Window at 12:01AM PST May 13th, 2008.

2. Repeat Step 1 for any additional Sandbox instances you may have.

FAQs About Force.com Sandbox and the Summer '08 Release

Question: What happens to my Summer '08 Preview if I submit a sandbox refresh during the Sandbox Upgrade Window (after 12:01 AM PST, May 13th , 2008?)

Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh between 12:01 AM PST May 13th and the upgrade of your production instance, your Sandbox instance will retain the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008.

Question: I have multiple sandboxes and I don't want all of them to participate in the Summer '08 Preview. What should I do?

Answer: If you have multiple Sandboxes and don't want all of them to participate in the Summer '08 Preview, then follow the instructions here.

Question: I've changed my mind, and do not want my Sandbox to participate in the Summer '08 Preview after all. What should I do?

Answer: If you decide you would like your Sandbox instance to retain the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008, go here.

NO - I do not want to participate in the Summer '08 Preview. I want my Sandbox instance to retain Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008.

The specific server your Sandbox is stored on will determine your Sandbox experience during the Sandbox Upgrade Window, including whether your Sandbox instance will participate in Summer '08 Preview.

If you do not want to take advantage of the Summer '08 Preview in one or more of your Sandbox instances, there are two quick steps to ensure your Sandbox instance retains the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008.

1. Determine which Sandbox server you are on. Log into your Sandbox at test.salesforce.com, then examine the URL in your browser address bar.

If you see: tapp0.salesforce.com OR cs2.salesforce.com To ensure your Sandbox remains at the existing Spring '08 release you will need to refresh your Sandbox one time after the start of the Sandbox Update Window at 12:01 AM PST May 13th, 2008.
If you see: cs1.salesforce.com you do not need to take any further action. Your Sandbox instance will retain existing Spring '08 functionality until the upgrade of your production instance in June.

2. Repeat Step 1 for any additional Sandbox instances you may have.

FAQs About Force.com Sandbox and the Summer '08 Release

Question: I’ve changed my mind, and do not want my Sandbox instance to retain Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008. What do I do?

Answer: If you decide you would like to participate in the Summer' 08 Preview in one or more of your Sandbox instances go here.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh before the Sandbox Upgrade Window begins (12:01 AM PST, May 13th, 2008)?

Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh prior to 12:01 AM PST May 13th, your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Spring '08 Preview on May 17th.

Question: I have multiple sandboxes and I don't want all of them to retain existing Summer '08 functionality. What should I do?

Answer: If you have multiple Sandboxes and don't want all of them to retain the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008 follow the instructions here.

If you have multiple Sandbox instances, you may take advantage of the Summer '08 Preview OR retain the existing Spring '08 functionality on each instance.

If you would like one or more of your Sandbox instances to participate in the Summer '08 Preview on May 17th, click here.

If you would like one or more of your Sandbox instances to retain existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008, click here.

FAQs About Force.com Sandbox and the Spring '08 Release

Question: I do not want one or more of my Sandbox instances to participate in the Summer '08 Preview. What should I do?

Answer: If you decide you would like one or more of your Sandbox instances to retain the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008, go here.

Question: I want my one or more of my Sandbox instances to participate in the Summer '08 Preview prior to the upgrade of my production instance. What should I do?

Answer: If you decide to take advantage of the Summer '08 Preview in one or more of your Sandbox instances go here.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh before the Sandbox Upgrade Window begins (12:01 AM PST May 13th , 2008)?

Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh prior to 12:01 AM PST May 13th, 2008, your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Summer '08 Preview on May 16th.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh during the Sandbox Upgrade Window (after 12:01 AM PST, May 13th, 2008)?

Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh between 12:01 AM PST May 13th and the upgrade of your production instance, your Sandbox instance will retain the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008.

YES - I plan to upload and/or install one or more AppExchange packages using one or more of my Sandbox instances during the Sandbox Upgrade Window.

AppExchange Packages and the Summer'08 Release: Upload and Installation Options

AppExchange Packages FAQ

Question: I plan to upload an AppExchange package from my Sandbox instance in the next few days, and immediately install to my Production instance. Are there any limitations I should be aware of?

Answer: As long as you will complete this install prior to the Sandbox Upgrade Window there are no limitations. Just upgrade and install as usual; both instances will be on the Spring '08 release at that time.

Answer: You will need to ensure that both your Sandbox instance and Production instance are the same release level in order to complete this action.

If your Sandbox instance and Production instance both reflect Spring '08 functionality you may upload and install your package as usual.
If your Sandbox instance and Production instance both reflect Summer '08 functionality you may upload and install your package as usual.
If your Production instance will reflect the current Spring '08 functionality at time of install, you will need to ensure your Sandbox instance also reflects Spring '08 functionality at time of upgrade. To ensure your sandbox does not participate in the Summer '08 Preview, follow the instructions here.
If your Production instance reflects the Summer '08 functionality at time of install, you need to either: a) ensure your sandbox participates in the Summer '08 Preview by following the instruction here; or b) wait until your current Sandbox instance upgrades to Summer '08 before installing to your Summer '08 Production instance.

Question: My Sandbox already reflects the Summer '08 Preview, but I need to make changes and install to my Spring '08 Production Instance using packaging. I don't have any current configuration or data changes in my Sandbox that I want to keep. What should I do?

Answer: You will need to refresh your Sandbox one time after 12:01AM PST May 17th, 2008 to ensure that your Sandbox instance reverts to Spring '08 functionality. Note this refresh will delete the contents of your existing Sandbox copy. Once the refresh is complete and activated, make your changes, and upload and install your package as usual.

Question: I'm already developing in my Sandbox instance and plan to upload a package as soon as Summer '08 is available. When can I install to my Production instance?

Answer: You will need to ensure that both your Sandbox instance and Production instance are the same release level in order to complete this action.

If your Sandbox instance reflects the Summer '08 Preview at this time, you may install your AppExchange package as soon as your Production instance has been upgraded to Summer '08. Your Production instance will be upgraded during the first two weeks in June and you will be receiving notification about the specific date and time.
If your Sandbox instance is not participating in the Summer '08 Preview and reflects Spring '08 functionality, you'll need to wait until June 14th, 2008 to complete your install. After this date, your Sandbox instance will also reflect Summer '08 functionality and you may upload and install your package as usual.

Question: How can I tell which server my Sandbox is on?

Answer: Log into your Sandbox at test.salesforce.com, then examine the URL in your browser address bar.

If you see tapp0.salesforce.com your Sandbox is on tapp0, and your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Summer '08 Preview on May 16th, 2008.
If you see cs2.salesforce.com your Sandbox is on CS2, and your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Summer '08 Preview on May 16th, 2008.
If you see cs1.salesforce.com your Sandbox is on CS1 and your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Summer '08 Release on June 14th, 2008.

If you have additional questions about your options for using packages with your Sandbox in conjunction with the Summer '08 release, please contact the salesforce.com Customer Support team.

If you take no action with your Sandbox instance(s) you may continue to use your Sandbox throughout the Sandbox Upgrade Window to test new customizations or features before rolling them out to users.

Please note: Without verifying which Sandbox server you are on, you may be surprised to see a Summer '08 Preview version after May 16th, 2008. To plan ahead you will want to verify your Sandbox server.

Determine which Sandbox server you are on. Log into your Sandbox at test.salesforce.com, then examine the URL in your browser address bar.

If you see: tapp0.salesforce.com OR cs2.salesforec.com, your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Summer '08 Preview on April 16th, 2008.
If you see: cs1.salesforce.com your Sandbox will remain at the Spring '08 release until June 14th, 2008.

FAQs About Force.com Sandbox and the Summer '08 Release

Question: I do not want my Sandbox to participate in the Summer '08 Preview. What should I do?

Answer: If you decide you would like one or more of your Sandbox instances to retain the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008, go here.

Question: I want my Sandbox instance to participate in the Summer '08 Preview prior to the upgrade of my production instance. What should I do?

Answer: If you decide to take advantage of the Summer '08 Preview in one or more of your Sandbox instances go here.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh before the Sandbox Upgrade Window begins (12:01 AM PST, May 13th, 2008)?

Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh prior to 12:01 AM PST May 13th, 2008, your Sandbox instance will be upgraded to the Summer '08 Preview on May 17th.

Question: What happens to my Sandbox instance if I submit a refresh during the Sandbox Upgrade Window (after 12:01 AM PST, May 13th, 2008)?

Answer: Please note, if you submit a Sandbox refresh between 12:01 AM PST May 13th, 2008 and the upgrade of your production account, your Sandbox will retain the existing Spring '08 functionality until June 14th, 2008.

Introducing Salesforce for Google Apps

Today we are excited to announce that we have expanded our partnership with Google and together have delivered an industry-changing new product called Salesforce for Google Apps. It went live last night at 11pm PST to all salesforce.com customers. Salesforce for Google Apps is a simple, yet powerful combination of Web-based business applications that streamline communication and collaboration and have the power to change the way you work.

With Salesforce for Google Apps, you can now run your favorite desktop applications and your Salesforce applications side by side by accessing Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, and Google Docs all seamlessly from within Salesforce. Watch the product tour or if you’re already a Salesforce customer, you can get started now.

Salesforce for Google Apps can help you run your business in the following new ways:

Salesforce and Gmail - Send Gmail to contacts from inside Salesforce or log emails in Salesforce from Gmail

Salesforce and Google Talk - Chat with colleagues right from within Salesforce

Salesforce and Google Docs - Create and attach Google Docs to records inside Salesforce for real time collaboration

Salesforce and Google Calendar - Synchronize your Salesforce meetings, campaigns, and events with Google Calendar

Salesforce and Google Start Page - Access your most important business information, including Salesforce dashboards, and search the Web from a single page.

6 WizKid Award Winners Are AppExchange Partners

Industry analyst Beagle Research Group has announced its 2008 WizKid Award winners - and six of them are AppExchange partners, including Firepond, InsideView, LucidEra, Marketo, TerrAlign, and Verticals onDemand.

From the report, available here, “This year’s class of WizKids represents a diverse group and one thing that holds the group together, beyond leverage of the on-demand model, is their orientation to helping companies to present to their customers a face that is easier to do business with.”

More than 40,000 customer installs and 285,000 test drives have taken place on the AppExchange, as customers find and deploy partner applications to extend the benefits of SaaS throughout their enterprises.

Additional coverage can be found at CRM Buyer.

Congrats to the WizKid Award winners on their business success via the AppExchange and this great industry recognition from Beagle Research!

Salesforce.com - Webware 100 Finalist

Salesforce.com was nominated for the 2008 Webware 100 in the Productivity category! The Webware 100 is an annual awards program where users vote for their favorite Web 2.0 apps. Finalists were chosen by the editors of CNET Webware.com, and winners are then determined by online votes. Winners will be announced on April 21^st, the day before the Web 2.0 Expo opens, and there will be a party to celebrate the winners during the Web 2.0 Expo booth crawl, on April 24.

Voting is done online by the community and is open now until March 31^st. Cast your vote for salesforce.com now!