If you’ve ever tried importing data and gotten an error message you don’t understand, you’re not alone. Messy spreadsheets, weird formats, or just one tiny typo can throw everything off. This guide is for anyone who’s been tripped up trying to get their data into Qobra—whether you’re new to the tool or just tired of banging your head against the same problems. We’ll walk through the most common import errors step by step, explain what’s really going on, and—most importantly—how to fix them.
Step 1: Start With the Basics—File Format and Structure
Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way. Nine times out of ten, import errors in Qobra come down to a basic problem with your file format or its structure.
Checklist: - Is your file a CSV or Excel file? Qobra only accepts these formats for imports. No, a Google Sheet link won’t work unless you export it first. - Are you using the correct template? Qobra usually offers sample files or templates for each import type (users, deals, commissions, etc.). Download and use those—don’t just guess the column names. - Are there any weird characters, merged cells, or formulas in the file? Qobra wants plain, unformatted data. Formulas, merged cells, and special characters often break things.
Pro tip: Open your file in a plain text editor (like Notepad) to make sure it looks clean. If you see random symbols or extra commas, fix those before importing.
Step 2: Double-Check Your Column Headers
Qobra expects column headers to match its own field names exactly—spelling, punctuation, and even spaces. If they don’t, things can go sideways fast.
What to do: - Compare your headers to the Qobra template or documentation. “email” is not the same as “Email Address” or “E-mail.” - Watch out for extra spaces at the beginning or end of headers. They’re invisible but deadly. - Don’t add or remove columns. Stick to what Qobra expects. Extra columns can sometimes confuse the importer.
Common error messages you’ll see: - “Unknown column: …” - “Missing required column: …”
How to fix: Update your file so the headers match exactly. If you’re not sure, copy-paste from the template.
Step 3: Scrub Your Data for Formatting Issues
Even when your headers are perfect, bad data inside the columns can still trip things up.
Typical culprits:
- Dates: Qobra expects a specific date format (usually YYYY-MM-DD). “12/31/2023” or “31-12-2023” might not work.
- Numbers: No currency symbols, commas, or spaces. “1,000” should be “1000”. “$500” is a no-go.
- Emails: One typo or missing “@” will kick back the whole row.
- IDs: If you’re importing relationships (like user IDs or deal IDs), make sure they actually exist in Qobra. Otherwise, you’ll get “ID not found” errors.
How to fix: Use your spreadsheet program’s “find and replace” tools to clean up formats. For big imports, filter columns to quickly spot oddball entries.
Step 4: Watch Out for Duplicates
Qobra hates duplicates—especially for things like emails, user IDs, or any field that’s supposed to be unique.
What happens: Importing duplicates can create errors or, worse, overwrite existing records (if you’re doing an update).
How to check: - Use your spreadsheet’s “Remove duplicates” feature before importing. - Sort by the unique field (like email or ID) and scan for repeats.
Pro tip: If you’re unsure, do a test import with just a handful of records first. It’s faster to fix five errors than five hundred.
Step 5: Mind the Required Fields
Every import type in Qobra has certain required fields. If you leave them blank—even for one row—the import will fail for that row (or sometimes the whole file).
Typical required fields: - Name - Email - User ID - Date - Amount
Qobra’s error messages here are usually clear: “Missing required field: …” or “Row X: required value missing.”
How to fix: Double-check the template or the import screen in Qobra to see which fields are marked as required. Filter your data for blanks and fill them in—or, if you can’t, remove those rows.
Step 6: Slow Down and Read the Error Messages
This sounds obvious, but a lot of people skip straight to panic when an import fails. Qobra’s error messages are usually more helpful than they first look.
How to use them: - Look for row numbers. The error might only affect one or two rows. - Pay attention to the exact field mentioned. “Invalid date format in row 17, column ‘start_date’” is telling you exactly where to look. - If the error is vague or generic, check if your file is too big or if you’re importing the wrong type of data (like trying to load deals into a user import).
What NOT to do: Don’t keep retrying the same file without making changes. That just wastes time.
Step 7: Split Large Imports Into Smaller Chunks
If you’re trying to import a huge file (think thousands of rows), you’re more likely to hit timeouts or mysterious failures.
Why this helps: - Smaller imports are easier to troubleshoot—if something breaks, it’s easier to find the bad row. - Qobra (like most platforms) sometimes chokes on big files or runs into browser/upload limits.
How to do it: - Split your spreadsheet into batches of 500–1000 rows. - Import each batch separately. - If one batch fails, you’ll know exactly where the problem is.
Step 8: Ignore the Hype—Manual Checks Beat Fancy Scripts
There are plenty of tools that promise to “auto-clean” your data or “seamlessly map fields.” In reality, nothing beats a careful manual review, especially if it’s your first time with Qobra.
What actually works: - Download and use Qobra’s sample templates. - Manually check a handful of rows for each field. - Do a dry run with a tiny file to make sure everything works before you commit.
What to skip: Don’t bother with expensive “data cleansing” tools unless you’re importing tens of thousands of records regularly. For most people, a spreadsheet and some attention to detail are all you need.
Step 9: When All Else Fails—Contact Support (the Smart Way)
Sometimes you’ve done everything right and Qobra still throws an error you can’t figure out. Before you reach out to support, make their job (and yours) easier:
What to include in your support request: - The exact error message(s) you’re seeing - A screenshot of your import settings - A sample of the file you’re trying to import (with sensitive info removed, if needed) - Which import type you’re using (users, deals, etc.)
Why this matters: Support can’t help much without specifics. “My import failed” isn’t enough. The more details you share up front, the faster you’ll get a real fix.
Quick Reference: Common Qobra Import Errors and Fixes
| Error Message | What It Means | How to Fix |
|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Unknown column: X | Header doesn’t match | Update to match template |
| Missing required field: X | Blank in a required column | Fill in or remove the row |
| Invalid date format | Date isn’t in YYYY-MM-DD format | Reformat dates |
| Duplicate entry | Same value in a unique field | Remove duplicates |
| ID not found | Referenced ID doesn’t exist | Double-check ID values |
| File type not supported | Wrong file type (not CSV/XLS/XLSX) | Save as CSV or Excel |
Summary: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Getting your data into Qobra doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Most import errors boil down to file format, column headers, or bad data in a few rows. Stick to the provided templates, clean your data before importing, and—when in doubt—start small. Don’t fall for “magic” cleanup tools or overcomplicate things. The fastest path is usually the most direct: fix the obvious, read the error, and try again.
If you run into something weird, don’t be shy about reaching out to support—but arm yourself with details. And remember: even the pros get tripped up by a stray comma or a hidden space now and then.