[Scott Arena]

Hello, I uploaded a CSV file on 4-16 and then another one on 5-4. The two files contained completely different entries with zero redundant data. For the purpose of simplicity I will refer to these as Import 1 and Import 2. After Import 2 was completed several entries from import 1 disappeared and the photos associated with the disappeared entries where showing as photos associated with the new import 2. Neither import 1 nor import 2 had photos uploaded during the CSV import – the photos where uploaded manually.
I am now attempting to clean this up and possibly manually re-enter the individuals from import 1 that were lost during import 2. It seems that your import csv plugin does not work when uploading more than one csv. Please advise on possible corrective actions.

• This topic was modified 6 years, 11 months ago by Scott Arena.

[Steven Zahm]

@ Scott

The CSV Import extension does support importing more than one CSV file. I personally have dozens of real world CSV files which have 10’s of thousands of combined rows supplied by other users which I use for testing the extension.

I suspect on the second import the Entry ID column was mapped and those values in CSV files in that column matched the entry ID assigned by the WordPress database when inserting the first CSV file. When matching entry IDs are found, the existing in entry is updated rather than a new entry being inserted. If that is the case, that could explain why entries appears to have been lost and photos being associated to the second import entries. I say appears because the CSV Import can not delete entries and the CSV import process does not work with images at all. Unfortunately there is no automatic way to revert changes, unless, you happen to have a db backup that you can restore.

If you can attach both CSV files, I can take a look and confirm my guess.

[Scott Arena]

Hello,
Below are the attached CSV files used. They are not from connections-pro export and the entry IDs were not mapped. These spreadsheets came from a survey on 123contact form – the results were exported to Microsoft excel then exported as CSV sheets. We hope to resolve this multiple imports conflict because we may attempt to upload batches of new entries to our directory several times per year as more and more students graduate from the training at the institute.

Here is a link to our temporary development domain using the cmap template: http://www.development.zerostresszone.com/ayi-community-directory/

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[Steven Zahm]

@ Scott

Are you certain the Entry ID was not mapped on the second import? It would have mapped automatically. It is the only scenario I can think of which would explain the results you experience and reported. Regardless I would still like to do test imports. Could you send me a screenshot showing the field mapping your used so I can duplicate it?

[Scott Arena]

Hello Steven,
It looks like the Entry ID was imported – I was used to that field being located at the top of the mapping area/in a different spot. I must have not seen it when uploading import 2. I attached the screenshots anyway, but that is most likely the issue.

So going forward we should be able to import CSV files to the connections plugin as long as we don’t map the entry ID field? Thanks for you help

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[Steven Zahm]

@ Scott

Ok, I just test this using you mapping and it worked as it should.

Suggestion, remove all columns you are not importing. It’ll work if you leave them in, but it actually more resource intensive to have unused columns during import because it has to parse all that unused data.

Make sure not to import that Entry ID column unless you intent to update existing entries.

Lastly, I did notice the file encoding was “broken”. Excel is usually the source of this type of error. I very highly suggest opening your CSV files in LibreOffice Calc and saving out a copy making sure to select UTF8 file encoding. This will ensure the least trouble with imports.

Hope that helps!

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