When the import looks wrong
A column arrives empty, numbers become text, the header ends up as a row, the row count does not match. Eight symptoms, each with the cause and the fix.
A whole column is empty after appending
The column names did not match. Appending maps columns by name, so a file calling it "Sales amount" against a table calling it "Amount" matches nothing and the column stays empty. Rename one side to match and import again. In future, hand whoever fills the file the empty Excel from Template so the headers are right by construction.
Numbers became text (the header shows a T icon)
The source carried a currency symbol, thousands separators, a unit, or full-width digits, so the type guess said text. Two ways out:
- The content really is numeric, only the type is wrong: header dropdown → Field Type → Numeric.
- The content genuinely has symbols mixed in: do not edit the raw column — add a formula column that cleans it, for example stripping the thousands commas before converting:
replaceall(AA6, ",", ""). The raw column stays for reconciliation, and next month's import is cleaned automatically.
If a sum comes out as 0 or obviously too small, check this first.
Dates became text
Same reasoning. 2026/9/3, 3 Sep 2026 and 9-3 mixed in one column cannot be read as dates. Keep the raw column and derive a clean one with dateformat, or normalise the source to 2026-09-03 before importing.
The header became the first data row and every column is "Untitled"
The file's first row was a merged banner. Import again and use Cut in the preview to remove the title rows, or accept Auto merge and import when it offers Empty headers detected. For a table already imported, replace it wholesale with Import → Replace Existing Data.
Lots of empty rows appeared
The source file has rows carrying formatting but no content — common in Excel. Use Cut in the preview to frame only the region with data. For an already-imported table, filter the empty rows and use Delete selected rows.
Fewer rows than the file has
- Merged cells were split, and what occupied several rows visually is one record. This is correct behaviour.
- A primary key is set and duplicate keys were collapsed into one row.
- The workbook has several worksheets and only one was imported.
More rows than the file has
The same file was imported twice with no primary key. Either set a primary key so it converges, or start over with Import → Replace Existing Data.
Formula columns stay empty
Just after importing tens of thousands of rows the formulas are still calculating in the background — wait a few seconds. If they stay empty, the usual cause is a field type the formula cannot use (summing a text column). See a formula stays empty.
Nothing happened at all
The file is open in Excel and locked — close it and import again. Or the file is over the upload size limit for the current plan.