Overview
Are you seeing something like this?
If you are having trouble importing locations with Google Sheets or importing a CSV, then it's usually one of two things:
- The CSV/Sheet formatting does not match the Closeby requirements
- OR the import simply timed out for large numbers of locations (usually 5,000+)
CSV/Sheet formatting does not match requirements
This may be caused by a mistake when entering data or simply overlooking the import requirements, but here's a few best practices to check when importing your locations:
To limit the likelihood of making mistakes when importing locations into Closeby, try to use the template set by Closeby from the start. If you use Google Sheets, this is the structure of the Sheet columns/rows when you first connect your account. If importing via CSV, this can be seen by simply downloading your CSV template from the CSV import page.
Try not to touch Column A in the file, leaving it blank for new locations and making sure it's cleared out when removing rows from your account. This is the unique identifier that Closeby uses for each locations, so it should not be duplicated when adding new locations.
Beyond that, one common mistake is entering values when columns should be left empty. For example, if you are trying to leave the Sunday hours blank for a location, don't enter anything such as dashes or spaces like this:
This will undoubtedly cause an error when importing it. Instead just leave it blank and it won't cause issues.
Troubleshooting Tip - Google Sheets Version History
If you are still having trouble what "broke" your importing at a certain point in the past, you can try viewing your file's version history. By navigating back in time to the point where your importing stopped working, you can sometimes see exactly which location or file change broke the process.
Import Timed Out
If you are importing thousands of locations, occasionally this can "time out" and need to be retried. It's an unfortunate side effect of importing so many locations but hopefully works without issue in the next attempt. If this happens, please just give it another shot.