Import Troubleshooting

Solutions for common import problems

Running into issues? Here are solutions to the most common import problems.

File Upload Issues

"File too large"

Files must be under 5 MB each.

Solutions:

  • Remove unnecessary columns or rows
  • Split into multiple smaller files
  • Convert images to lower resolution
  • Save Excel files in .xlsx format (smaller than .xls)

"Unsupported file format"

Supported formats: Excel (.xlsx, .xls), CSV, vCard (.vcf), PDF, Images (.jpg, .png)

Solutions:

  • Export your data to Excel or CSV from the source application
  • Convert PDFs containing scanned images to actual image files
  • Make sure file extensions match the actual format

File won't upload

Check:

  • Internet connection is stable
  • File isn't open in another program
  • File isn't corrupted (try opening it locally first)

Data Extraction Issues

Columns not recognized

The AI maps columns based on header names.

Solutions:

  1. Rename columns to match common names (see Preparing Data)
  2. Use the downloadable template
  3. Remove special characters from headers
  4. Make sure headers are in the first row

Missing data

Some records show empty fields that should have data.

Check:

  • Data is in the correct columns
  • No merged cells in Excel
  • Data starts right after the header row
  • No hidden rows or columns

Wrong data in fields

Data appears in the wrong fields.

Solutions:

  • Verify column headers match the expected field
  • Check for shifted columns in your source file
  • Make sure there are no extra empty columns

Validation Errors

"Required field missing"

Essential fields need values to import.

Import TypeRequired Fields
ContactsFirst Name, Last Name
CompaniesCompany Name
ProductsProduct Name
ItemsItem Name, Category

Solutions:

  • Fill in missing data in the review screen
  • Add the data to your source file and re-upload
  • Skip incomplete records

"Invalid value"

The value doesn't match expected formats.

Common causes:

  • Text in number fields
  • Invalid email format
  • Category value not matching available options

Solutions:

  • Edit the value directly in the review table
  • For dropdown fields, select a valid option from the list

"Duplicate detected"

A similar record already exists in blinkpilot.

Duplicates are detected by:

  • Contacts: Email address, phone number, or name + phone combination
  • Companies: Company name (fuzzy matching)
  • Products: Article number or product name
  • Items: Article number or name + category

Options:

  • Skip - Don't import the duplicate
  • Import anyway - Create a new record (will have a different number)

Import Completion Issues

Some records failed

After import, you may see "X records failed."

Common reasons:

  • Database constraint violations
  • Invalid foreign key references
  • Server timeout for very large imports

Solutions:

  • Note which records failed
  • Check and correct the data
  • Import failed records separately

Companies weren't created

When importing contacts with company names, companies should be auto-created.

Check:

  • Company name field has values
  • Company names are spelled consistently
  • You have permission to create companies

Data looks different than expected

After import, data may be formatted differently.

Normal behaviors:

  • Phone numbers may be normalized
  • Addresses are geocoded for mapping
  • Sequential numbers are auto-assigned

Getting Help

If you're still stuck:

  1. Try a smaller test - Import just 2-3 records to isolate the issue
  2. Check your source data - Open the file and verify the data looks correct
  3. Use the template - The downloadable template ensures proper formatting
  4. Contact support - Reach out with details about your file and the error message