CSV Format Issues
The CSV must be properly formatted:
Correct Format
First row must be column headers
One location per row
Comma-separated values
Text with commas should be quoted
Example of Correct Format
name,address_line1,city,state "Joe's Coffee, Inc.",123 Main St,New York,NY Downtown Store,456 Oak Ave,Chicago,IL
Common Mistakes
Using semicolons instead of commas
Missing header row
Extra blank rows at the end
Inconsistent quoting
Missing Required Fields
Every location needs at minimum:
name - A name for the location
address_line1 - The street address
Check your CSV has these columns and every row has values.
Invalid Data Formats
Ensure data is in the correct format:
Coordinates
Latitude: decimal number between -90 and 90 (e.g., 40.7128)
Longitude: decimal number between -180 and 180 (e.g., -74.0060)
Don’t include degree symbols or N/S/E/W
Visibility
Use: true, false, yes, no, 1, or 0
Don’t use: “Active”, “Visible”, or other text
Phone Numbers
Any format is accepted
Include country code if international
Encoding Problems
CSV files must use UTF-8 encoding for special characters:
Symptoms
Accented characters appear garbled (é becomes é)
Import fails with encoding errors
Some rows import incorrectly
Solutions
Open the CSV in a text editor (not Excel)
Save As with UTF-8 encoding
Or in Excel: Save As > CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)
Large File Issues
Very large files might timeout:
Split into smaller files (500-1000 locations each)
Import in batches
Ensure stable internet connection during import
Re-importing Updated Data
To update existing locations:
Use the same location name to match existing entries
Changed data will overwrite the existing location
New names create new locations
If you’re seeing duplicates, check that names match exactly (including spacing and capitalization).