# Exporting data: Data Export Service and bulk queries

*Platform Data Architect Study Guide · Data Migration · Last updated October 26, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-data-architect/data-migration/exporting-data-data-export-service-and-bulk-queries*

Choose and tune the right export: Data Export Service backups (edition frequency, active-user schedules, 512 MB zips, 48-hour downloads, excluded fields), Bulk API 2.0 query jobs versus Bulk API PK chunking, Data Loader Export and Export All, report export views, and the sharing that limits what an export user sees.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Data Architect
- Exam section: Data Migration
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-data-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> Compare and contrast various techniques and considerations for exporting data from Salesforce.

## What the exam expects

- Plan Data Export Service backups: frequency by edition, who can schedule and view them, file sizes, download window and what the files leave out.
- Choose Bulk API 2.0 query jobs or Bulk API with PK chunking for a large extract, and fix queries the job rejects or that time out.
- Pick Data Loader Export or Export All, and a report's Formatted Report or Details Only view.
- Explain why an export returns fewer records than exist and grant the narrowest fix.

Key terms: **Data Export Service** (Setup's scheduled or on-demand CSV backup of org data); **PK chunking** (splitting a bulk query into record-ID ranges); **query job** (a Bulk API 2.0 asynchronous SOQL extract); **locator** (the token that fetches the next set of query results); **Export All** (Data Loader's export that also returns archived activity records and soft-deleted records).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly export editions | Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited; Professional and Developer every 29 days | [Export Backup Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.admin_exportdata.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Scheduled by inactive user | Error emails; export doesn't run | [Export Backup Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.admin_exportdata.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Zip size and lifespan | About 512 MB each; deleted 48 hours after the email | [Export Backup Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.admin_exportdata.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Unsupported in Bulk API 2.0 queries | GROUP BY, OFFSET, TYPEOF, aggregates, compound fields, parent-to-child | [Understanding Bulk API 2.0 Query](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/queries.html) |
| Disable PK chunking | ORDER BY, LIMIT (and ID-field filters for Bulk API) | [PK Chunking](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/async-api-headers-enable-pk-chunking.html) |
| Results API version | Must match the create call, else 409 | [Get Results for a Query Job](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/query-get-job-results.html) |
| PK chunk size | Default 100,000; maximum 250,000 | [PK Chunking](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/async-api-headers-enable-pk-chunking.html) |
| Export All | Adds archived activities and soft-deleted records | [Data Loader Export](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/data-loader-impl/guide/exporting-data.html) |

## Check yourself

- Why does an unfiltered Data Loader export under a private sharing model omit records?
- When do you set `startRow` in the PK chunking header?
- Why should a downstream load map export columns by header?
- Which report export view suits pivot tables and formulas?

## Sources

- [Export Backup Data from Salesforce](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.admin_exportdata.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Understanding Bulk API 2.0 Query](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/queries.html)
- [PK Chunking](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/async-api-headers-enable-pk-chunking.html)
- [Export Data from Salesforce (Data Loader)](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/data-loader-impl/guide/exporting-data.html)
- [Get Results for a Query Job](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/query-get-job-results.html)
- [Create a Query Job](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/query-create-job.html)
- [What's the Difference Between Bulk API 2.0 and Bulk API?](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/api-asynch/guide/bulk-common-diff-two-versions.html)
- [Bulk API and Bulk API 2.0 Limits and Allocations](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.salesforce_app_limits_cheatsheet.meta/salesforce_app_limits_cheatsheet/salesforce_app_limits_platform_bulkapi.htm)
- [Export a Report](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.reports_export.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Object Permissions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.users_profiles_object_perms.htm&language=en_US&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 15 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Data Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams