Import Troubleshooting Guide

❌ "File format not supported"

Problem: Your file format isn't recognized by StockCraft.

Solutions:

• Save as CSV (UTF-8) or Excel (.xlsx) format
• Avoid .xls (older Excel format) - use .xlsx instead
• Don't use .txt files - convert to .csv
• Ensure file extension matches the actual format

❌ "File appears to be corrupted"

Problem: File is damaged or has encoding issues.

Solutions:

• Re-save the file in Excel or Google Sheets
• For CSV: Save with UTF-8 encoding
• Remove any special characters or symbols in headers
• Check for hidden characters or extra spaces
• Try opening the file in a text editor to check for corruption

⚠️ "Required field not mapped"

Problem: Required fields (marked with *) aren't mapped to columns.

Solutions:

• Ensure your file has columns for all required fields (SKU, Name, etc.)
• Map each required field to a column in your file
• If you don't have data for a required field, add a column with placeholder values
• Download our template to see the required column structure

⚠️ "Column contains mixed data types"

Problem: A column has both numbers and text where only numbers are expected.

Solutions:

• Check price columns for text like "N/A" or "$25.00" - use numbers only
• Remove currency symbols ($, €, £) from price columns
• Use decimal numbers (25.50) not fractions (25 1/2)
• Replace empty cells with 0 for numeric fields

❌ "Duplicate SKU found"

Problem: Multiple rows have the same SKU, or SKU already exists in StockCraft.

Solutions:

• Make each SKU unique in your file
• Choose duplicate handling option: Skip, Update, or Create New
• Add suffixes to make SKUs unique (e.g., WIDGET-001, WIDGET-002)
• Check existing materials/products to avoid conflicts

❌ "Invalid unit type"

Problem: Unit type not recognized by StockCraft.

Valid Unit Types:

• Weight: kg, g, lb, oz
• Volume: L, mL, gal, qt, pt
• Length: m, cm, mm, ft, in
• Count: piece, each, item
• Area: sqm, sqft, sqin

❌ "Referenced material not found"

Problem: Component references a material that doesn't exist in StockCraft.

Solutions:

• Import materials before importing components that use them
• Check material SKUs for typos or extra spaces
• Ensure material SKUs match exactly (case-sensitive)
• Create missing materials manually or add them to your import file

⚠️ "Import taking too long"

Problem: Large files processing slowly or timing out.

Solutions:

• Files over 1000 rows automatically process in background
• Break large files into smaller chunks (500-1000 rows each)
• Remove unnecessary columns to reduce processing time
• Check your email for completion notification
• Monitor progress on the Import Status page

⚠️ "Import failed with timeout"

Problem: Import process exceeded time limits.

Solutions:

• Reduce file size by splitting into multiple imports
• Remove complex formulas from Excel files - use values only
• Simplify component structures (fewer nested materials)
• Try importing during off-peak hours
• Contact support for files over 10,000 rows

❌ "Special characters not displaying correctly"

Problem: Accented characters, symbols, or non-English text appears as question marks or boxes.

Solutions:

• Excel: Save as "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)" not regular CSV
• Google Sheets: Download as CSV automatically uses UTF-8
• Text Editor: Save with UTF-8 encoding explicitly
• Notepad++: Encoding → Convert to UTF-8

⚠️ "Cost calculation failed"

Problem: System couldn't calculate component or product costs during import.

Solutions:

• Ensure all referenced materials have valid prices
• Check that material quantities are positive numbers
• Verify wastage percentages are between 0-100
• Import materials with prices before importing components
• Use override costs if automatic calculation isn't working

⚠️ "Order categorized as Shopify instead of Amazon/eBay"

Problem: A marketplace order (e.g., from Amazon) is showing up under the general "Shopify" channel.

Solutions:

• Ensure the "Amazon" or "eBay" sales channel is active in your Settings
• Check if the order was imported via a third-party app (e.g., Marketplace Connect) - our system now automatically detects these sources
• For existing orders, uncheck "Skip Existing" during a manual Shopify import to refresh the channel categorization
• Verify your marketplace credentials in the source app (e.g. Marketplace Connect settings)

🔧 Solution: Re-link Products Tool

StockCraft now includes a tool to fix these unlinked items automatically.

How to use it:

1. Open the order with unlinked items
2. Click the "Re-link Products" button (next to 'Recalculate Costs')
3. The system will attempt to find matching products by:
   • SKU: Exact match on Stock Keeping Unit
   • Name: Exact match on Product Name
   • Alternative Titles: Checks aliases defined in your product settings
4. If a match is found, the product is linked and costs are recalculated automatically

✓ Self-Help Resources

• Download Templates: Use our pre-formatted templates for best results
• Error Reports: Download detailed error reports with row numbers
• Preview Mode: Test with first 10 rows before full import
• Import History: Review past imports and their results

💡 Pro Tips for Successful Imports

• Start Small: Test with 5-10 rows first
• Clean Data: Remove empty rows and extra spaces
• Consistent Format: Use the same date format throughout
• Backup First: Export existing data before large imports
• Document Changes: Keep notes on what you imported when

Still Need Help?

If you're still having trouble with your import, we're here to help!

• Contact Support: Send us a message with your error details
• Include Details: Attach your file and error report if possible
• Response Time: We typically respond within 24 hours
• Screen Sharing: We can schedule a call to help with complex imports