Import from CSV

  • Resolved bodypainter

    (@bodypainter)


    8 years, 11 months ago

    Hi,

    Thanks for creating this extensive guestbook plugin!
    I have a guestbook on an old website that I’m trying to import into WordPress. I’ve cleaned up all the data and turned it into an Excel and CSV file, so that all fields are nicely separated as columns.
    However, when I export the file as a CSV it uses semi-colons ; which I suspect is what interferes with the import function. I’ve tried to conform exactly with the format that I believe you’re using to import/export (id,author_name,author_email,author_origin,author_website,author_ip,author_host,content,datetime,isspam,ischecked,istrash,admin_reply), but nevertheless am getting an error that the CSV file cannot be imported.

    I imagine that I could replace all my semi-colons in my guestbook by commas, which might do the trick, but given that many of the commenters have used commas in the content of their message, this will result in a messy outcome.
    Is there anyway to adjust the import function for it to recognize semi-colons as delimiters in the CSV file?

    Many thanks!

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Plugin Author Marcel Pol

    (@mpol)

    8 years, 11 months ago

    I assume you are using Excell. In my experience Libreoffice Calc has better support for CSV files. You might try your luck there.
    You can set to export with a comma. It should also put quotes around the fields, so the commas inside the content should not interfere.

    Also make sure the file is in UTF-8 without BOM, and you have UNIX line endings. Yes, the importer is picky 🙂

    Thread Starter bodypainter

    (@bodypainter)

    8 years, 11 months ago

    Thank you for your prompt response!

    I indeed was able to export with the right settings using LibreOffice Calc, using commas and quotation marks, and then import it into the guestbook. Thanks for the tip!

    tryffon

    (@tryffon)

    8 years, 10 months ago

    Hi,

    I don’t manage to import à .csv file from Excel ?
    It’s an exportation from gwolle Guestbook but I can’t import it after ?
    Could you help me ?

    Plugin Author Marcel Pol

    (@mpol)

    8 years, 10 months ago

    If you edited it with Excel, it might give problems. I don’t think Excel is really good software for CSV files. You might be better off with LibreOffice Calc.

    What error do you get?

    Make sure the CSV uses real commas for separating the fields, and double quotes for encapsulation. Depending on your locale, Excel might do funky things.
    Also make sure to have the file encoding in UTF-8 without BOM.
    And use Unix line-endings to finish it off. 🙂 A decent text editor like Notepad++ will have options for that.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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