Import file not accepted

Every import in Forensik (orders, SKUs, markup files, rate cards, fuel levies and carrier invoices) reads the file the same way. These messages mean the file itself was refused, before any row was looked at, so nothing was imported. Fix the file and upload it again.

File type not accepted

Only .csv, .xlsx or .xls files can be uploaded. Save the sheet as CSV (UTF-8) or Excel Workbook (.xlsx) and try again.

Cause. The file is not a CSV or Excel workbook, judging by its name and content. Numbers, Google Sheets and OpenDocument files, PDFs (outside the rate card reader) and text exports with other endings are refused. You may also see "Files of type (type) cannot be uploaded" or "The file is not an Excel workbook".

Fix. Open the file in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets and save or download it as CSV UTF-8 or Excel Workbook (.xlsx). Upload that copy.

When to contact support. If a file saved as .xlsx or .csv straight from Excel is refused.

Workbook has macros or is a binary workbook

The workbook contains macros, which are not accepted. Save it as Excel Workbook (.xlsx, no macros) and upload that.

Cause. For security, Forensik does not accept macro-enabled workbooks (.xlsm) or Excel binary workbooks (.xlsb), even if the macros are never run.

Fix. In Excel choose File, Save As, and pick Excel Workbook (.xlsx). Excel warns that macros will be removed; that is fine. Upload the new .xlsx file.

When to contact support. If the saved .xlsx is still reported as containing macros.

Workbook is password-protected

The workbook is password-protected. Open it in Excel, remove the password (File, Info, Protect Workbook), save it and upload it again.

Cause. An encrypted workbook cannot be read without its password, and Forensik never asks for it.

Fix. Open the workbook in Excel, go to File, Info, Protect Workbook, remove the password, save and upload again. Carrier portals sometimes protect downloads; save a copy without protection.

When to contact support. If you have removed the password and it is still refused.

Workbook cannot be read

The file is not a readable Excel workbook. Open it in Excel, save it as .xlsx and try again.

Cause. The file looks like a workbook but is damaged, cut short during download, or written by a tool that does not follow the Excel format closely. For old .xls files the message is "The .xls workbook could not be read; it may be damaged".

Fix. Open the file in Excel and save it as Excel Workbook (.xlsx), then upload the new copy. If Excel cannot open it either, download the file again from where it came from.

When to contact support. If Excel opens the file without trouble but Forensik still cannot read the saved .xlsx.

File is not UTF-8

The file is not UTF-8 text. Save it as CSV (UTF-8) and try again.

Cause. CSV files must use UTF-8 text encoding. Older "CSV (Comma delimited)" saves from Excel use a different encoding, which breaks on characters such as accented names or special dashes.

Fix. In Excel choose File, Save As, and pick CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited). Or upload the workbook as .xlsx instead, which avoids encoding problems altogether.

When to contact support. If a file saved as CSV UTF-8 is still refused.

File is empty

The file is empty

Cause. The file has no heading row, or headings but no rows of data underneath ("The file has no data rows"). In a workbook, the sheet may have nothing below its headings, or no sheet has both headings and data.

Fix. Check you exported the right report and that it covers a period with data. In a workbook, make sure the data is on a visible sheet and directly under one row of column headings.

When to contact support. If the file clearly has data rows and is still reported empty.

File is too large

The file is larger than (size) MB

Cause. Each import has limits. Orders, SKUs and markup files take up to 5 MB and 10,000 rows. Rate cards, fuel levies and carrier invoices take up to 10 MB and 50,000 rows. Files for the rate card reader take up to 20 MB. Every file is limited to 100 columns, and a workbook to 100 MB once unpacked. You may instead see "The file has (number) rows; the limit is (number)" or a similar message about columns.

Fix. Split the file into smaller files, for example by month, and import each one. Delete unused columns and empty formatted rows at the bottom of a sheet. Saving as CSV often makes a file much smaller.

When to contact support. If you regularly need to import more than the limits allow.

Choose a sheet or heading row

The workbook has (number) sheets with data. Choose the sheet to import.

Cause. Your workbook has more than one sheet with data, and Forensik will not guess which one to import. A related message, "choose the row with the column headings", means the row picked as the headings is blank.

Fix. Forensik shows a Choose the sheet to import box: pick the sheet and select Import this sheet. Where an import shows Sheet and Column headings on row boxes, set the row number that holds your column names. Rows above the headings and blank rows are skipped.

When to contact support. If the sheet you want is not offered. Hidden sheets are not listed, so unhide it in Excel first.