This guide helps you identify and resolve common errors that occur during bulk subscriber imports in Taguchi. Understanding these errors will help you clean your data and successfully import your subscriber lists.

Common Import Error Types

Missing Unique Identifying Field

Error Message: "MissingKeyError: This row does not have a value in the unique identifying field (either email, phone or external ID)."

Cause: A row in your import file is missing or having misformatted values in unique identifying fields (email, phone, and external ID).

Solution:

• Ensure each row has at least one unique identifying field populated
• Check for empty cells in email, phone, and external ID columns
• Remove rows that cannot be uniquely identified
• Fill in missing email addresses where possible, as this is the most common identifier

Duplicate Rows in Import File

Error Message: "DuplicateKeyError: This row is a duplicate of a previous row in this file, as it contains the same unique identifying field(s)."

Cause: Your import file contains multiple rows with identical unique identifying fields.

Solution:

• Remove duplicate rows from your import file
• Use Excel or spreadsheet software to identify duplicates:
  • Sort by unique identifying columns (email, phone, external ID)
  • Use conditional formatting to highlight duplicates
  • Use Excel's "Remove Duplicates" feature
• Decide which record to keep for each duplicate
• Consider merging information from duplicate records before removing them

File Too Large or Timeouts

Error Message: Import timing out

Cause: Your import file is too large for processing.

Solution:

• Split large files into smaller batches (recommended: under 500,000 records per file)
• Remove unnecessary columns to reduce file size
• Import in multiple sessions rather than one large batch

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Process

Before You Import

1. Validate your data:

   • Check email formats
   • Remove duplicates
   • Verify phone number formats
   • Ensure required fields are populated

2. Prepare your file:

   • Use supported file formats (CSV, TSV, XLSX)
   • Include clear column headers
   • Save with UTF-8 encoding for CSV files

3. Create custom fields first:

   • Set up any custom fields in Taguchi before importing
   • Follow naming conventions

During Import

1. Review field mapping carefully:

   • Ensure email field is correctly identified
   • Map custom fields to existing Taguchi fields
   • Verify all important columns are mapped

2. Start with a test batch:

   • Import a small sample (1,000-10,000 records) first
   • Verify the import works correctly
   • Check subscriber profiles to ensure data imported properly

After Import Issues

1. Review error messages:

   • Note specific error types and affected records
   • Download error reports if available

2. Clean your data:

   • Fix identified issues in your source file
   • Remove or correct problematic records

3. Re-import:

   • Use the corrected file
   • Monitor for any remaining errors

Prevention Best Practices

• Regular data maintenance: Clean your subscriber lists regularly
• Standardize formats: Use consistent email and phone number formats
• Test imports: Always test with small batches first
• Document custom fields: Keep track of your custom field names and purposes
• Backup data: Keep copies of your original import files

Need Additional Help?

If you continue to experience import issues after following this guide:

1. Check our related articles:

   • Import Logic via Taguchi UI
   • Which file formats can I upload?
   • Custom Field Best Practices

2. Contact Support:

   • Include your error messages
   • Provide a sample of your import file (with sensitive data removed)
   • Describe the steps you've already taken to resolve the issue

Remember: Most import errors are data quality issues that can be resolved by cleaning and properly formatting your import file before uploading.

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