Import problems

When an import stops, the study is left exactly as it was. Beside its main button, the Import a file dialog says in one sentence what is still missing, and Validation messages lists the messages you might see.

What you see. Importing into a study stops with The file writes decimals with a comma; this study uses a decimal point. Change the number format in Set up first., or the reverse.

Why. The study's Numeric convention doesn't match the file. With a decimal point, 1,234 is 1234; with a decimal comma, it is 1.234. A new study made from a file takes the file's convention. See How values are read.

Recover.

1. On Set up, open Calculation settings, set Numeric convention to match the file and choose Save changes. In Change the number format?, choose Change number format.
2. Import the file again.

What you see. Values are a thousand times too large or too small, or rows are flagged as written in the other decimal convention.

Recover.

1. Set Numeric convention as above.
2. In Data, check that the flagged rows are clear and a few values read correctly.
3. Choose Calculate results again.

The new calculation names the rows that may have been misread; check them against the original file. Changing the convention keeps your corrections and exclusions, and replacing the rows from the file would drop them. If only a few values are wrong, edit those rows.

What you see. Rows to import shows values in the wrong columns, the whole line in one column, or a message such as Line 7 has more values than the 4 column headings.

Why. A value contains the separator without quotes, for example 1,234.5 in a comma-separated file.

Recover. Re-export the file with quoted values or another separator. Semicolon or tab suit decimal-comma laboratories. Then choose the file again.

What you see. In Columns in your file, a column's Use as box is marked red until you choose its use, or its use is wrong, for example a sample number read as a result.

Recover. In Columns in your file, pick the right use from the column's Use as list, or Leave out. The summary, the studies that can use the file and the first rows update at once. To reuse the choices for the next file from the same export, choose Save these column choices for next time. See importing a file.

What you see. Under Choose a study for these results, the study has no ✓ ready mark and can't be selected. The line under it names what is missing, such as an open question or a missing column.

Recover. Answer the open question, or give the missing column its use under Columns in your file. A column of run dates can be Day. If the file lacks the column, add it, for example Day, Run and Replicate for multi-day precision. See the column reference and Templates and downloads.

What you see. When you create a study, the review asks which test goes into this study. When you import into a study, Split this import lists groups with a different analyte, matrix, instrument or unit.

Why. One study holds one analyte, matrix, instrument and unit.

Recover. For a new study, choose the test; the other tests' rows are left out. To leave a code such as HIL out of every later file from that export, list it under Ignored test codes in an import format. For Split this import:

1. If groups differ only in spelling, such as Potassium and potassium, choose Cancel, fix the file and import again.
2. Otherwise tick Create a study for each group and choose Import the chosen groups. New studies get their rows and this study's design. Set their acceptance limits on Set up in each.
3. Groups you leave unticked are not imported.

An empty study can take another group with Use this study. Its analyte-specific settings and limits are then cleared. See Files that mix analytes, matrices, instruments or units.

What you see. The dialog lists rows already in this study, or says This file is already imported into this study.

Why. Incoming rows match saved rows on identifiers, design fields and original values, or the same file was imported before. Most often this is an accidental second import.

Recover.

• Accidental: choose Cancel. If the file also has new rows, remove the repeated ones and import again.
• Genuine identical repeat measurements: choose Import an intentional repeat.

What you see. The dialog lists rows that match more than one row in this study, and offers no import button.

Why. In method or lot comparison, an incoming specimen ID, with its lot in lot comparison, matches more than one saved row. Other study types accept more readings for an existing material or pool ID.

Recover.

• Wrong IDs: correct them in the file or the saved rows, then import again. Keep each specimen's true ID.
• Genuine replicates in method or lot comparison: use Add row in Data, keeping the specimen ID and entering the new replicate label. Each method-comparison row needs both results.
• More measurements in repeatability, interference, stability or another study type: import only the new rows, with Replace the current rows unticked.

Appending keeps your corrections and exclusions. Replacing the rows drops them. See Append or replace.

What you see. In method comparison, after you append the missing results, both the old and the new rows ask for a result.

Why. Appending adds new rows. Each row must hold both results.

Recover. Exclude the appended half row with a reason, for example "Imported in error: second half of specimen P2 entered on row 3". Then type the missing result into the original row.

What you see. Results such as =B2*1.05, flagged as a spreadsheet formula.

Why. The column holds formulas, and formulas are read as text.

Recover. In your spreadsheet, copy the column and paste it as values, check the values and save. Import again with Replace the current rows ticked, or correct a few rows in Data.

What you see. The summary or the imported rows show another sheet's data.

Why. A workbook opens on the sheet that was open when it was last saved.

Recover. Choose another sheet under Worksheet in the dialog before you import. If the rows are already in the study, import the right sheet with Replace the current rows ticked.

What you see. The dialog says the file was read as Western European (cp1252) text, and the words it shows look wrong.

Recover. Export the file again as a UTF-8 CSV and choose it again.

What you see. Choose a CSV or TSV file of at most 2 MB., Choose a workbook of at most 2.9 MB., Paste at most 2 MB of text, or choose the file instead., This workbook holds more than 40 MB of worksheet data… or An import can have up to 2,000 results and 40 columns.

Recover. Copy only the results table, one header row and the data rows, into a new workbook or a UTF-8 CSV, and remove unused columns. A study holds at most 2,000 observations. Split larger sets into studies by level, instrument or another design factor.

What you see. Specimen 00012 appears as 12.

Why. The spreadsheet stored the IDs as numbers. CSV files and text cells keep leading zeros.

Recover. Format the ID column as Text and re-enter the IDs, or export to CSV. Then import again with Replace the current rows. 12 and 00012 are different specimens, so use one form throughout.

What you see. A message says … saved data version 5 while this page had data version 4 open. Nothing was overwritten., or that the study changed after the import was prepared.

Why. The study was saved in the meantime, by a colleague or from another tab. Nothing was imported.

Recover. Reload the study, reopen Import a file and repeat the import. See Someone else saved the study.