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TroubleshootingImport Problems

Import Problems

Troubleshoot issues with CSV and photo imports.

CSV Import Issues

”Name column not found”

Cause: CSV missing required column header.

Fix:

  1. Open CSV in spreadsheet app
  2. Ensure first row has column names
  3. Must have item_name or name column
  4. Save and re-upload

”Failed to parse CSV”

Cause: Invalid CSV format.

Common issues:

  • File isn’t actually CSV
  • Encoding problems
  • Malformed quotes

Fix:

  1. Open in Excel/Google Sheets
  2. Save As → CSV (UTF-8)
  3. Re-upload new file

”No items to import”

Cause: File parsed but no valid rows.

Possible issues:

  • Empty file (only headers)
  • All rows have errors
  • Wrong delimiter (semicolon vs comma)

Fix:

  1. Verify file has data rows
  2. Check delimiter matches format
  3. Review file in spreadsheet app

Import Succeeds But Items Missing

Cause: Some rows were skipped.

Check:

  • Import summary shows “X skipped”
  • Invalid rows silently skipped
  • Duplicates may be skipped

Fix:

  1. Review import summary
  2. Fix invalid rows in CSV
  3. Re-import just the problematic rows

Special Characters Corrupted

Cause: Encoding mismatch.

Symptoms:

  • Accents wrong (café → café)
  • Characters replaced with symbols
  • Asian characters broken

Fix:

  1. Save CSV with UTF-8 encoding
  2. In Excel: Save As → CSV UTF-8
  3. In Google Sheets: Download as CSV (default UTF-8)

Price Format Issues

Cause: Price not recognized.

Valid formats:

  • 12.99 ✓
  • $12.99 ✓
  • 12,99 ✗ (comma not decimal)
  • 12.99 USD ✗ (text mixed in)

Fix:

  • Use decimal point
  • Remove currency symbols
  • Ensure number only

Photo Import Issues

”No items extracted”

Cause: AI couldn’t read the menu.

Common causes:

  • Blurry image
  • Poor lighting
  • Decorative fonts
  • Non-menu image

Fix:

  1. Take clearer photo
  2. Ensure good lighting
  3. Capture straight-on
  4. Avoid glare

Poor Extraction Quality

Cause: Image quality issues.

Tips for better results:

  • Higher resolution photos
  • Even lighting
  • No shadows on text
  • Flat menu (not curved)
  • Full menu visible

”Image too large”

Cause: File exceeds 10MB limit.

Fix:

  1. Reduce image resolution
  2. Compress before upload
  3. Crop to menu only

Extraction Taking Too Long

Normal: Up to 45 seconds per image.

If stuck:

  1. Wait up to 2 minutes
  2. If no progress, refresh and retry
  3. Try with fewer images

Items Missing from Extraction

Cause: AI missed some items.

After extraction:

  1. Review preview carefully
  2. Add missing items manually
  3. Edit in preview before importing

Wrong Prices Extracted

Cause: AI misread price.

In preview:

  1. Find items with wrong prices
  2. Edit directly in preview table
  3. Import corrected version

Preview Issues

Preview Shows Errors

Cause: Invalid data detected.

Fix:

  1. Read error message
  2. Edit in preview table
  3. Fix issues before importing
  4. Delete invalid rows if needed

Can’t Edit Preview

Cause: Browser issue.

Fix:

  1. Try clicking directly in cell
  2. Refresh page and re-upload
  3. Try different browser

Import Stuck at “Importing…”

Progress Bar Not Moving

Wait: Imports can take time for large files.

If truly stuck:

  1. Wait up to 5 minutes
  2. Don’t close the page
  3. If no progress, refresh and retry

Import Seems Complete But Nothing Changed

Check:

  1. Did import report success?
  2. Check items page
  3. Items may be in Draft status
  4. Check the import count

Post-Import Issues

Items Created But Wrong

After import:

  1. Navigate to Items page
  2. Find imported items
  3. Edit as needed
  4. Fix any errors

Allergens Not Set

Expected: Imported items have Unconfirmed allergens.

Next step:

  1. Go to Verification Queue
  2. Review imported items
  3. Set allergen status

Ingredients Not Recognized

Cause: Format issue or unknown ingredients.

Fix:

  1. Open item
  2. Edit ingredients field
  3. Use comma-separated format
  4. Save to get allergen suggestions

Best Practices

Before Importing

  1. Use the template
  2. Test with small file first
  3. Verify CSV format
  4. Take clear photos

During Import

  1. Review preview carefully
  2. Edit before importing
  3. Don’t close page during import

After Import

  1. Check item count
  2. Review a few items
  3. Verify allergens
  4. Test on public menu

Getting Help

If problems persist:

  1. Export your CSV and share with support
  2. Include screenshot of error
  3. Describe what you expected
  4. Contact support@atlee.app
Last updated on
Allergen Sync Issues