How to resolve OLE DB or ODBC timeout error when pulling in a large object from Salesforce

Hi rharrison2641,

The OLE DB/ODBC timeout on Salesforce Objects is almost always a volume issue, not a configuration one - Power Query tries to pull the entire object (hundreds of thousands of rows + all columns by default) before any filtering applies, and the default command timeout (10 minutes) isn't long enough.

Two native paths worth trying first:

1. Increase command timeout in the M code (Power Query Editor → Advanced Editor): add [CommandTimeout=#duration(0, 0, 30, 0)] to your Salesforce.Data(...) call to bump it to 30 minutes. Doesn't help with the underlying volume, but buys you time.
2. Use the Select Query advanced option when connecting - supply a custom SOQL with only the fields you need (SELECT Id, Name, CreatedDate, ... FROM YourObject WHERE LastModifiedDate >= LAST_N_DAYS:90). Shorter query, much smaller payload, no timeout.

If hand-writing SOQL isn't ideal, Power BI Connector for Salesforce on AppExchange handles this through a UI inside Salesforce:

Why it might fit:

• Filter conditions and field selection configured on the Salesforce side - only the rows you need are pulled, no timeout
• No 2,000-row limit on reports
• Supports custom fields, custom objects, and joined reports
• 30-day free trial
• Setup docs: https://metricasoftware.com/docs/salesforce/
• Responsive support if you get stuck: https://metricasoftware.com/docs/salesforce/contact-support/

Happy to set up a quick demo on your specific object. Just reach out via the support link.

Cheers,

Metrica Team.