Troubleshooting CSV imports

This guide will help you understand errors and address common issues with CSV imports.

Understanding error messages

If your CSV import fails to create or update records or list entries, you’ll see error messages at the end of the import process. If you’ve closed the importer, you can still view past imports under Import history in settings. Learn how to find past imports.

After completing an import, you will see the number of failed records or list entries next to the red warning icon. To view the error message, scroll to any failed rows and hover over the icon:

Common error messages

• “A required value was not provided”: This error occurs when an import is missing a value for a required attribute. For example, when importing Deals, you must include values for Deal name, Deal owner, and Deal stage for all records because these are required attributes.

• “Multiple matches found”: This error occurs when you try to update list entries using unique attributes (like Email addresses or Domains), and more than one entry exists for the same parent record. To update multiple entries with the same parent record, you must use Entry IDs.

• “No records found”: This error occurs when you map to Record ID, but either don’t provide an ID value, or the provided ID doesn’t exist. Keep in mind, Record IDs are generated by Attio and should only be mapped when you are updating existing records (not creating new records) with IDs attained by first exporting the records from Attio.

• “The linked record was not found”: This error occurs when you have mapped a Record ID for a linked record, but Attio was not able to find an existing record with the ID provided. Keep in mind, Record IDs are generated by Attio and should only be mapped when you are updating existing records (not creating new records) with IDs attained by first exporting the records from Attio.

Learn more about required and unique attributes, Record IDs and Entry IDs, and how to use them in your imports.

Missing data after import

If you have confirmed there are no error messages but still notice missing data, consider the following:

• Missing attributes: Add any hidden attributes to your view. Learn how to display attributes in table views or add attributes to cards in kanban views. Attio doesn’t display all imported attributes by default, but the data may have still been imported.

• Missing rows: Ensure that no filters are applied to your view, which might be hiding some records or entries. Remove any filters to show all records or entries.

Formatting issues during import

If Attio is not recognizing some values from your file during the Review values step, reference the CSV import formatting guide to update your file’s values to a supported format, then re-upload the file.

Duplicates created by import

CSV imports can create two types of duplicates:

1. Duplicate records: If you're importing into objects like Companies or People without including a unique attribute (like Email addresses or Domains), you might end up with duplicate records (multiple records with the same name).

2. Duplicate list entries: If you're importing into a list, the same record (such as a company or person) could be added more than once.

Cleaning up duplicate records

Duplicate records usually happen when a unique attribute wasn't mapped. Email and domain are the most common unique attributes, but you can also use other unique attributes in your import to prevent duplicates.

Attio uses unique attributes to check for existing records, and will update existing records if they already exist rather than creating duplicates.

If duplicates have already been created, you can either bulk delete them or merge records two at a time. Depending on the number of duplicates, it may make sense to navigate to the all records page (such as People or Companies), bulk select the records created by the import, delete them, and then redo the import with a unique attribute to prevent duplicates. Use the Created at attribute in filter and sort settings to help isolate the records created by the import for deletion.

Cleaning up duplicate list entries

Adding the same record to a list multiple times can make sense for some use cases. For example, a person might apply for two different jobs in a Recruiting list, or you might be working on two different opportunities with the same company in a Sales list.

During the mapping step of importing into a list, you can choose whether to add existing records to the list again or update the existing entries instead of duplicating them.

Remember to include a unique attribute so Attio can check for existing list entries.

If you have accidentally created duplicate list entries during an import, the easiest way to clean them up is to sort the list alphabetically by name, bulk select the duplicates, and remove them.