CSV import errors
Updated
After an import, "Import complete" shows how many rows were Imported, Skipped (duplicates), Over plan limit and Errors. Rows with errors are listed under "Rows not imported" as "Row N: message". Here's what each problem means and how to fix it. For the full import steps, see Import contacts from a CSV file.
Rows listed under "Rows not imported"
Row numbers count data rows, not the header row. "Row 1" is the first row under your column headers, which is row 2 in a spreadsheet. Up to 50 rows are listed.
| Message | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| No name | The row has nothing in the column you mapped to Full name, First name or Last name. | Add a name to the row. |
| email: Invalid email address | The email isn't a valid address. | Correct the email, or clear the cell. |
| phone: Invalid phone number | The phone has letters or other symbols, or is too short or too long. | Use 7 to 20 characters: digits, spaces, dashes, dots or parentheses, with an optional + in front. |
| name: Name must be 200 characters or fewer | The name is too long. | Shorten it. |
| Could not save this contact | Ostira couldn't save that row. | Import the row again. |
| Import request failed | A group of up to 500 rows didn't reach Ostira. | Import those rows again. |
| Could not read the file | The file couldn't be opened as a CSV. | Save it as a .csv file from your spreadsheet app and try again. |
To retry, import a file with only the fixed rows. Rows you already imported are skipped if they have an email or phone, but a row with only a name would be added a second time.
Skipped (duplicates)
A row is skipped when its email or phone number matches a contact you already have, or an earlier row in the same file. Skipped rows aren't listed. Nothing needs fixing unless you expected a new contact. In that case, search Contacts for the email or phone.
Over plan limit
The free plan holds up to 25 contacts. Rows past the limit aren't imported, and the results say so. To import them, delete contacts you don't need or upgrade on Billing, then import the remaining rows. See Plans and limits.
You can't select Next: Preview
You'll see "Map a column to Full name, or to First name and Last name, to continue." Every contact needs a name. In the Maps to list, choose Full name, First name or Last name for your name columns.
Import contacts stays greyed out
Check the box "I have permission to text and email the people in this file". You can't import without it.
Your file won't upload
Ostira reads only .csv files, and the first row must be column headers, such as Name, Email and Phone. Export or save your list as CSV first.
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