Salesforce - Mass Update Picklist Values

Question

I would like to mass update picklist values in a custom object from picklist values in a standard object.

In the absence of universal picklists, i am having to manage a few picklists in different objects. These picklists have hundreds of options and keeping them in-sync is proving to be a challenge.

Does anyone know of a way that i can update en-masse a picklist on one object from another picklist on a separate object? Either via using excel, data loader, or the api?

Thanks.

Answer 1

You could use the MetaData API to create the Picklist values. See Picklist.

Depending on your needs you could use the Declarative Metadata syntax with the Force.com Migration Tool.