Title: Import problems Last modified: December 30, 2016 --- # Import problems * Resolved [andrifranklin](https://wordpress.org/support/users/andrifranklin/) * (@andrifranklin) * [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-problems-10/) * I just purchased the data editor addon to use the import feature and am having many problems. * 1. When I upload I need to replace the delimeters in my file from ; to , I assumed since I can export the data with any delimeter, I could also import the data that way. * 2. When I upload I first need to convert to UTF8-BOM or some of the characters show up as question marks. Same assumption, export has multiple charsets so I assumed import had the same. * 3. For some reason the first column of my import creates a new column, even if the column name already exists. I bypass this bug my naming the first column x and having all values in that column as 0 and the problem goes away. * 4. I saw somewhere that I could submit the unix timestamp to change the submit time. I tried, but it didnt work. * Are there any solutions to these problems? Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total) * Plugin Author [Michael Simpson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/msimpson/) * (@msimpson) * [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-problems-10/#post-8603413) * 1&2. Yes, the import format must be the standard CSV format with a comma delimiter. It can’t guess the encoding of the file, so use standard UTF-8 (no BOM) so that all characters can be correctly interpreted. * 3. Use UTF-8, not UTF8-BOM. I think the invisible BOM character at the start of the file is being added to your first column name, which makes it a different column. * 4. Make your first column named “submit_time” (again, no BOM) and give unix timestamp values like “1481198486.0000”. To see an example, on the **Import** page, **Backup Form to CSV File**, export one of your forms and then look at the file with a text editor. This exports the data in a format that is re-importable. * Please direct questions about purchased upgrades to [info@cfdbplugin.com](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-problems-10/info@cfdbplugin.com?output_format=md) and not this forum (only allowed for free plugins). * Thread Starter [andrifranklin](https://wordpress.org/support/users/andrifranklin/) * (@andrifranklin) * [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-problems-10/#post-8603864) * Hi Michael, * I sent the following to [info@cfdplugin.com](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-problems-10/info@cfdplugin.com?output_format=md), but decided to post it here as well in case it is helpful to someone else: * Thanks for the response on the wordpress.org thread (see below). Some follow up comments and questions: * 1&2: Can I easily change the delimeter and the coding in the plugin’s code myself? I am using the plugin to save time on a daily task and having to do all those edits is taking too much time for me. * 3: You were right. Using UTF8 instead of UTF8BOM did the trick. * 4: Using submit_time worked but unfortunately the plugin seems to not allow for any data to have the same time. If all rows have for example 1483056012 as submit_time, I can only import one row (only one appears on the imported list) and that line has data from two or more lines in the csv. But if have the submit_time as 1483056012, 1483056013, 1483056014, etc., everything works fine. If I was doing this every once in a while that would be perfectly fine and easy to do in Excel. But when this needs to be done every day and not by myself, this does not work for me. * Regards, * Plugin Author [Michael Simpson](https://wordpress.org/support/users/msimpson/) * (@msimpson) * [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-problems-10/#post-8604097) * Fixes to address the two remaining issues are being pushed out in CFDB 2.10.28 and CFDB Editor 1.5 * Thread Starter [andrifranklin](https://wordpress.org/support/users/andrifranklin/) * (@andrifranklin) * [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-problems-10/#post-8604165) * Wow, that was fast. Didn’t expect to get an updated plugin the same day. Tried it and everything worked like a charm. 🙂 * Thanks! Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total) The topic ‘Import problems’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/contact-form-7-to-database-extension_ffffff. svg) * [Contact Form DB](https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7-to-database-extension/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7-to-database-extension/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contact-form-7-to-database-extension/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contact-form-7-to-database-extension/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contact-form-7-to-database-extension/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/contact-form-7-to-database-extension/reviews/) * 4 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [andrifranklin](https://wordpress.org/support/users/andrifranklin/) * Last activity: [9 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-problems-10/#post-8604165) * Status: resolved