Title: Import does not include any data
Last modified: January 23, 2021

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# Import does not include any data

 *  Resolved [JessAskin](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jessaskin/)
 * (@jessaskin)
 * [5 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-does-not-include-any-data/)
 * In the last couple of days, I have been unable to reliably import data. If I 
   import 5 records, PDB creates 5 empty records, except for assigning IDs.
 * Eg: name, aka, gender, location, age, id. All fields are assigned to signup and
   CSV.
 * Only the ID field is populated. I have even tried manually creating new record,
   export the data and then import that same file, and it fails. In the image link,
   you will see one record with information that was created manually and one without
   that was imported). It is set up as tab delimited, with the option to create 
   new records with submission.
 * I have deleted and added the plugin, created a fresh WordPress installation and
   installed the plugin, but it still fails. I am using the latest PDB zip file.
 * Any assistance? The “real” CSV file I want to upload is 175 fields, 3700 records(
   it is what it is, the number of fields can’t change)
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fimport-does-not-include-any-data%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [5 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-does-not-include-any-data/#post-13947843)
 * A dataset like that is going to take some work to import.
 * From a user interface perspective, it would be worthwhile to look at how that
   data ia structured and find ways to collapse it into fewer feields. You would
   need to do this before importing anything…use your spreadsheet app to collapse
   the data into fewer fields. Then define your Participants Database fields to 
   match the new set of fields. I know you said it can’t be changed, but it’s worth
   looking in to since it will make everything else a lot easier to do.
 * For starters, the story of what’s happening will be in your php error log, so
   take a look at that after performing the test import to see what happened. If
   you don’t have your php error log set up, I recommend you do so, it will be a
   great help.
 * Second, you must define all your Participants Database fields in small groups.
   How large the groups can be depends on your server, but something like 30-50 
   maximum per group. Smaller groups are more efficient, and it will make such a
   large number of fields easier to manage once you get the data imported.
 * Third, the header for the CSV must exactly match the field names (not the titles)
   of the fields you’re importing, so the plugin knows where to place the data. 
   From your description, I would guess that your CSV header does not match any 
   fields, so no data was imported.
 * You will also need to break the import up into batches, you’ll never be able 
   to import all of that in one go. Because of the number of fields, that will probably
   be 1-2 thousand per batch.
 *  Thread Starter [JessAskin](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jessaskin/)
 * (@jessaskin)
 * [5 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-does-not-include-any-data/#post-13948050)
 * Thanks for the response, but I guess I wasn’t clear.
 * My test data has 5 fields and 1 record entered manually. I have tried exporting
   a blank CVS of field names and entering data, then importing new data, does not
   work. I have tried exporting existing dataset of 1 record with 5 fields and then
   importing without change,does not work. I had tried splitting the “real” data
   into 300 records per dataset, failed.
 * I’ll keep trying things, hopefully I’ll get it to work and then implement the
   two add-ons I purchased.
 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [5 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-does-not-include-any-data/#post-13948082)
 * Sounds like you need to look at the php error log to see why your import isn’t
   working. Get the test import working before trying anything else.
 *  Thread Starter [JessAskin](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jessaskin/)
 * (@jessaskin)
 * [5 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-does-not-include-any-data/#post-13961989)
 * I figured it out. My Excel file has double-quotes around text fields and tabs
   between records. If I import using double-quotes for “enclosure character”, and
   tab for “delimiter character”, it fails every time. I thought it should work 
   since double-quotes and tabs are common delimiters in CSV files.
 * When I selected Auto for the delimiters, it works every time. Same data with 
   double-quotes and tabs, and Auto works.
 * FYI for anyone reading this, foreign characters in a record also caused some 
   records not to be imported. Eg, if you have the name Ramírez, you have to Anglicize
   it to Ramirez. This includes characters like ñ, î, â, ê and so on.
 *  Plugin Author [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [5 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-does-not-include-any-data/#post-13966395)
 * The Participants Database import page includes the ability to select which characters
   to use for the enclosure and delimiter characters:
 * ![](https://i0.wp.com/xnau.com/proto/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Screenshot-2021-
   01-27-at-8.17.12-AM.png?ssl=1)
 * Als, it is **not true that you must anglicize the data**, if you configure your
   spreadsheet to export with UTF-8 encoding, all characters will import correctly.
   Excel and some other spreadsheet apps do not do this by default.
 * I wanted to clarify that because it’s important for people to know that the plugin
   is designed to work with all international characters.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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## Tags

 * [empty](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/empty/)
 * [Import](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/import/)

 * 5 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [xnau webdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * Last activity: [5 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-does-not-include-any-data/#post-13966395)
 * Status: resolved