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How to Solve Common Import Problems on Shopify
Last modified: April 8, 2024
When it comes to uploading product CSV files to your Shopify plan, there can sometimes be a number of problems that appear. Here is a list of the most common problems and the solutions to fix them. If you’re still having some issues, you should contact Shopify support or a Shopify developer.
- Error Messages
- Fulfillment service can't be blank
- Ignored line #-## because handle example already exists
- Illegal quoting on line
- Incorrect header check
- Invalid CSV header: missing headers
- Inventory policy is not included in the list
- Inventory quantity can't be blank
- Inventory quantity is not a number
- Missing or stray quote on line
- Validation failed: An error occurred while trying to download the image
- Validation failed: getaddrinfo: nodename nor servname provided, or not known
- Validation failed: options are not unique
- Validation failed: price can't be blank
- Validation failed: The uploaded image exceeds the 20 megapixel limit
- Conclusion
- FAQs
| # | Name | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Order Printer Pro
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| 2 |
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Order Printer Templates
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| 3 |
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Order Printer
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| 4 |
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Ordersify: Easy Order Printer
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| 5 |
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Quick Order Printer
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| 6 |
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Zinevoice
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| 7 |
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Restaurant POS Order Printer
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| 8 |
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Sufio: Professional Invoices
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| 9 |
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Invoice Falcon
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| 10 |
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Vify PDF Invoice & Order Print
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Show More
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Error Messages
This is a list of error messages you might get.
Fulfillment service can't be blank
The fulfillment service you’re using should be entered in the right area. If you’ve not selected a fulfillment services, then you set this option to ‘Manual’.
Ignored line #-## because handle example already exists
This error will display when there is a product (or more than one) that has a handle but does not have a product title. You need to find that product and give it a title.
Illegal quoting on line
This will display when an illegal character has been used within the CSV file that you’re importing. To remedy this, encode your CSV file within UTF-8 encoded format. This error can sometimes be caused by a missing or stray quote.
Incorrect header check
This can happen when an image has an error. To solve this, try removing the image from the line and then try uploading again. If this has resolved the image, you might need to try hosting the image on another platform.
Invalid CSV header: missing headers
This is caused by the line of the CSV file being incorrect. To solve this, the first line of your CSV should be:
Handle,Title,Body (HTML),Vendor,Type,Tags,Published,Option1 Name,Option1 Value,Option2 Name,Option2 Value,Option3 Name,Option3 Value,Variant SKU,Variant Grams,Variant Inventory Tracker,Variant Inventory Qty,Variant Inventory Policy,Variant Fulfillment Service,Variant Price,Variant Compare At Price,Variant Requires Shipping,Variant Taxable,Variant Barcode,Image Src,Image Alt Text
Be sure that there are no extra white spaces at the end of the first line. This is a common mistake.
Inventory policy is not included in the list
This happens when the inventory policy is not set to either ‘deny’ or ‘continue’. Ensure the correct settings are in place.
Inventory quantity can't be blank
Within the numbers, you need to set an inventory quantity. If you’ve not been tracking inventory, then you need to check that Variant Inventory Tracker is also left blank.
Inventory quantity is not a number
When the inventory quantity has a letter or special character in it, you need to remove them otherwise you will get this error.
Missing or stray quote on line
This is the result when Excel or another spreadsheet program adds a curly quote or more than one. These need to be replaced within the document with straight quotes.
Another possible problem is when there is an extra quote that has been added to the file. Find the error and remove this.
Validation failed: An error occurred while trying to download the image
This means that there is an image file missing.
Validation failed: getaddrinfo: nodename nor servname provided, or not known
This is what happens when there’s a mistake in the image’s URL. The uploaded image would require to have the http:// at the beginning. You should also ensure that the image is publicly accessible.
Validation failed: options are not unique
When a product has numerous options, they should all be unique. If there are any duplications within the variants, you will see this. If there are only unique variants, then there could be a duplicate CSV.
Validation failed: price can't be blank
A product doesn’t have a price within the CSV.
Validation failed: The uploaded image exceeds the 20 megapixel limit
The image file size is too large. It needs to be reduced to 5760 x 5760 pixels or be less than 20 megapixels.
Conclusion: How to Solve Common Import Problems on Shopify
When importing products to Shopify, there can be some issues. For example, if you’re trying to import Amazon reviews for your products, you may face challenges due to differences in data structures and formatting.
Other problems you may encounter are some issues related to data mapping, formatting inconsistencies, or missing information when migrating data from a Squarespace website to Shopify.
Above are the most common problems you will have, check for your error message and what that means for you. To mitigate these issues, it’s important to thoroughly review the error messages and documentation provided by Shopify.
Additionally, you may need to seek assistance from Shopify experts, developers, or third-party services specializing in data migration and advanced customizations. By addressing the specific problem you’re facing, you can resolve import issues and ensure a smooth transition or implementation on your Shopify store.
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Can I import customer data into Shopify?
Yes, you can import customer data into your Shopify using a CSV file, following the platform’s data format requirements. And this feature can be valuable for businesses of all sizes.
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What should I do if my Shopify import is taking too long?
If an import takes too long, check your internet connection, ensure the CSV file isn’t too large or improperly formatted, and don’t hesitate to seek assistance from Shopify’s support team.
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What’s the best way to organize my CSV file for Shopify import?
Organize your CSV file with clear, consistent columns for product attributes, following Shopify’s CSV structure guidelines. By following these best practices, your import process will be more efficient.
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