If you want to generate pixel-perfect rich documents in Salesforce like quotes, invoices, contracts etc. then using Conga Composer in Salesforce is the way to go. Conga is a 3rd party and one of the best selling apps on Salesforce marketplace AppExchange. Generating documents using Conga will be a breeze and this step-by-step guide will get you up and running in less than 45 minutes.
To understand Conga a little more in detail, let’s watch the following video (runtime 1:57 minutes) and we’ll then talk more about it.
The other option that you have for generating documents from Salesforce is to use Visualforce pages, rendered as PDF. And this is not a bad option if your requirements are fairly simple. Like
- You just want to generate documents in 2 or 3 different formats
- The document format is not too complex and
- The format does not change often. It is fairly static
The main problem in going with the Visualforce approach is that you will need to engage a developer to build this for you (which is going to take time and money), there is going to be maintenance overheads when you want to make changes to the format and the approach will not be scalable if you have multiple documents in multiple formats that you want to generate.
The other approach will be to use a 3rd Party Apps like Conga Composer. Once installed and setup, all you will need to do is to define the document template using Microsoft Word, Excel or Powerpoint and marry it with the data in Salesforce. How, I hear you ask? Here is a step-by-step guide on how to install Conga from AppExchange, configure it, customize it and use it – all in less than 45 minutes.
NOTE: Certain sections of the guide will appear as locked in the free preview. You can download the unlocked version of the guide in PDF format by subscribing to our “All Access” Pass through the link below.
References & Useful URLs
- Conga on AppExchange – https://appexchange.salesforce.com/appxListingDetail?listingId=a0N300000016b7FEAQ
- Conga Website – https://getconga.com/
- Conga YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/user/CongaMerge
Hi
Can we get details of available conga licenses through Report? If yes then we have to use which object?
I am not sure about this Anant. Better to check with Conga Support.
I don’t see the Conga Quick Start tab at the top or any way to add it? I have been trying to create a template by trial-and-error messing with the merge field syntax on a word document, uploading it and testing it out and have gotten a couple things to work but I am stuck at this point and could really use the template builder. Is there any other way to access the template builder or to make the quick start tab appear?
Hi Orion, the UI (user interface) might have changed since this guide was published. I am not sure if there is any other way to access the template builder. Your best option will be to reach out to Conga support get their help.
Hi Agarwal,
We have a question related to conga Queries. Is there a way to use Nested Queries in conga solution?
Scenario: We have 3 objects. 1 parent( Program Report), 2nd one the Child(Requirement) and 3rd object(Education History) Grand Child.
We need to build Query connecting these three objects. We are able to build Query with Parent and Child but we are not able to get data/Query of 3rd object(Grand child) in conga Query builder.
Thanks, Chitra.
Hi Chitra, I think it is possible but I don’t know how to do it. Your best bet will be to reach out to Conga. They will be more than happy to help.
Try something like: Select Id, all the other fields you want, (Select Id, all other fields FROM Education History__r) FROM Requirement__c where program_report__c = ‘{pv0}’
This will get the child record with the grandchild and the main parent will be under master (In template builder)
Hi,
I am getting below error once i click on the merge fields .
Failed to get the merge fields from the template: a0F5j000000kYqHEAU. The document appears to be corrupted and cannot be loaded.
Hello
I have changed my query but now I want to retrieve the old one. So is it possible to do and if yes, could you please share the tip how i could do it.
Thanks
Hi Priyanka, I have never tried that and don’t know if it’s possible or not. Your best bet will be to reach out to Conga and check with them. Sorry, I am not of much help here.
Hi How to get trial org with conga composer ? or How to get Conga Free trail in salesforce org?
Hi Aniket, the first section of the step-by-step guide “Install Conga Composer from AppExchange” shows how you can install Conga from AppExchange. That is how you get the free trial. You can then decide whether to buy or not after the free trial expires.
Excellent guide ! Thanks a lot.
Thanks Sébastien
Ashish
I’m using a trial version of conga composer on my professional version of Salesforce. I’m getting the following error when trying to create a solution:
SObject row was retrieved via SOQL without querying the requested field: APXTConga4__Conga_Solution__c.APXTConga4__Composer_Parameters__c
Error is in expression ‘{!createFullButtonString}’ in component in page apxtconga4:composersolution: (APXTConga4)
Can you help me with this?
Grant
Hi Grant, there seem to be some errors in the Conga VF page for creating the solution. Please refer to the below Help Article for reference. You can either remove the line breaks in the VF page (if you are able to) as per the instructions or contact Conga support directly. https://help.salesforce.com/articleView?id=000337699&type=1&mode=1
Hi Grant,
I am getting the same error. Were you able to resolve it?
Hi! This error is in full sandbox right? It’s because remote sites have not been successfully created (maybe a fresh sandbox, or just first time in a sandbox).
You will need to create remote sites manually. The easiest way is to go to the Edit (User Guided) button. They will prompt you to click auto create remote sites – instead of auto creating it – click on the more prompt and to reveal the steps to create them manually. The prompts will take you to a new page to “Save” a new remote site record and at least one of them will error out because another site record with the same API name exists. Rename your remote site record and save that.
Hi Ashish,
I am having this error.
Oops, there was an error rendering Canvas application [Conga_Composer].
Your browsing session has ended or is invalid. Please re-login to Salesforce.com again.
Can you please help me with this.
Kind Regards,
Yusra
Thanks for writing this response! It helped me fix the same problem in production after an SF upgrade broke something. Searching on the cryptic error message returned _only_ this thread! I just deleted the old and re-created all of he Conga site settings using their little tool, and problem was solved. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing Aleksis.
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This guide is quite useful. Thanks for Sharing