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Posted by OPwebmaster at Jan 26, 2015, 12:48:51 AM

Import/Export from CSV
I find it is much quicker to add information for multiple events using an Excel spreadsheet than typing in the Localendar entry forms. I think I have read all the posts on CSV in this forum, as well as the tutorial.

For Importing to Localendar, would it be possible to add the other fields that can be set when entered directly on the Localendar screen? They are: Background color, Street Address & Category [Your sample EXPORT CSV shows street address entries under Location, but when I export data from My Calendar, all entries under "Location' are blank, even though some of the entries have valid Street Addresses].

Thanks,

Harry

Posted by support at Jan 27, 2015, 1:14:06 AM

Re: Import/Export from CSV
I've tested both import and export for location, and found both to be working normally.

Please note that with CSV files, the field on the localendar Event Editor that is used for location is the location "Information" field, not the street address.

On Import, it is impossible to verify any location inaccuracies (or ask the member to select from a list of possible choices) so the location is importation in the Information section.

CSV Export uses this same field to be consistent with the way CSV Imports are handled
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Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by OPwebmaster at Jan 27, 2015, 5:21:58 AM

Re: Import/Export from CSV
Marc:

I understand your point about Localendar not being able to verify the accuracy of the street address.

For Importing CSV to Localendar, would it be possible to add the two other fields that can be set when entered directly on the Localendar screen? They are: Background color & Category ?

Harry

Posted by esthouston01 at Feb 3, 2015, 9:08:27 PM

Re: Import/Export from CSV

Marc:

I understand your point about Localendar not being able to verify the accuracy of the street address.

For Importing CSV to Localendar, would it be possible to add the two other fields that can be set when entered directly on the Localendar screen? They are: Background color & Category ?

Harry

Good suggestion, I too was wanting to use the csv import, but the lack of color was a deal killer. I just had my team update it manually through the website. Wish it were included. And Category should be as well.

Posted by support at Feb 9, 2015, 1:52:33 AM

Re: Import/Export from CSV
Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be able to reliably add Category. The issue is that all categories have an underlying unique # (you can catch a glimpse of this if you publish a calendar with only particular categories)

In your CSV file, you would have no way of knowing all the unique category IDs.. you'd want to use a name. And we can assume people will make mistakes entering that name. I suppose we could push any mistakes to the General category, but we just don't like building something that we know will be error prone in the end.

Colors is a similar problem.. Are people going to enter valid HTML hex codes int he CSV? We have no way to tell. And if we default bad input to a certain color, the member may never know b/c if may be on a date in the future.

We'll think about it.. we could probably create an error report for the user, but it all feels a little un-user friendly.
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Marc Higgins
Support Associate, localendar.com
Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/localendar_news

Posted by OPwebmaster at Feb 9, 2015, 4:52:43 AM

Re: Import/Export from CSV
Marc:

I understand your concerns. It must be very hard to design something that no user can mess up.

But if a user was willing to go to the effort to manually modify the .CSV file, then I would think it would be worth the risk. The option is to enter all the color and category information manually again, which I would think is a bigger risk to the user. I have made hard copy pages of all this info so I don't make mistakes.

I really am trying to export out of one Localendar, and then import into ANOTHER Localendar. In this case, there would be no manual miscoding. See the thread 'Re: Basic questions-potential user' and my reply dated Feb 6, 2015 6:00:08 PM.

Harry