# CSV upload troubleshooting tips

### 1. File Too Large

**Symptom:** You receive an error indicating that the file exceeds the size limit.

**Cause:** Graphite Note enforces a maximum 50 MB limit for CSV uploads.

**Solution:**

* Split the dataset into multiple smaller CSV files.
* Remove unnecessary columns or rows to reduce file size.
* Connect directly to a database (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery) for larger datasets.

***

### 2. Incorrect Delimiters or Quoting

**Symptom:** Data is misaligned, or you see parsing errors.

**Cause:** Inconsistent delimiter usage (e.g., commas in some rows, semicolons in others) or unescaped quotes.

**Solution:**

* Ensure a single, consistent delimiter throughout (commas or semicolons).
* Escape or quote fields that contain the delimiter (e.g., "123, Main Street").

***

### 3. Encoding / Special Character Issues

**Symptom:** Special characters (e.g., accented letters, non-Latin scripts) appear as garbled text or question marks.

**Cause:** The CSV file is not saved in UTF-8 format.

**• Solution:**

* Save or export the file in UTF-8.
* Convert the file encoding using a text editor (e.g., VSCode, Notepad++) if CSV UTF-8 is not available in your spreadsheet software.

***

### 4. Missing or Inconsistent Headers

**Symptom:** Your upload fails, or certain columns are not recognized.

**Cause:** The first row does not contain meaningful column names, or column names differ between rows.

**Solution:**

* Always include a header row with consistent, clear column names.
* Avoid special characters or spaces in headers; use underscores or camelCase instead.

***

### 5. Date/Time Format Confusion

**Symptom:** Dates appear as 0000-00-00 or fail to parse entirely.

**Cause:** Inconsistent date/time formats (e.g., mixing MM/DD/YYYY with YYYY-MM-DD).

**Solution:**

* Standardize all date fields to a single format (e.g., ISO 8601: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS).
* Confirm your spreadsheet application doesn’t convert date formats automatically.

***

### 6. Empty or Corrupted Rows

**Symptom:** You see blank rows or the upload process halts unexpectedly.

**Cause:** Hidden rows, line breaks, or a corrupted export process.

**Solution:**

* Remove any hidden or blank rows in your spreadsheet before exporting.
* Open the CSV in a plain text editor to confirm each row is valid and properly delimited.

***

### 7. Network or Timeout Errors

**Symptom:** The file upload keeps failing or timing out.

**Cause:** Unstable internet connection or very large file size near the 50 MB limit.

**Solution:**

* Split the file if it’s too large.
* Retry on a stronger or wired internet connection.

***

### Additional Resources

[**CSV File creating and formatting**](/graphite-note-documentation/datasets/prepare-your-data/csv-file-creating-and-formatting.md)\
Learn how to format and encode your CSV files for best results.

[**Creating a CSV from Excel**](/graphite-note-documentation/datasets/prepare-your-data/csv-file-creating-and-formatting.md#how-to-create-a-csv-file-from-excel)\
Step-by-step instructions on exporting your data to CSV format.

[**Dataset API**](/graphite-note-documentation/rest-api/api-introduction.md)\
Explore a code-free approach to sending data directly to Graphite Note without manual file uploads.

***

### Still Need Help?

If you’ve tried these suggestions and still experience issues, contact our support team by emailing <hello@graphite-note.com>. We’re here to help you resolve any CSV upload problems and ensure your data is correctly imported.


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