Troubleshooting Common Guest List Import Errors

If you experience issues while importing a guest list using a CSV file, review the common errors below and follow the recommended solutions.

1. Invalid or Missing Column Headers

Issue:
The CSV file contains column headers that do not match the required field names, or required headers are missing.

Solution:
Ensure your CSV file includes the following headers exactly as shown (all lowercase, no spaces):

• firstname
• lastname
• email
• quantity
• country (required only if phone is included)
• phone (optional)

Header names must match exactly. Any extra spaces, capitalization changes, or alternative spellings will cause the import to fail.

2. Incorrect File Format

Issue:
The file cannot be uploaded because it is not in the supported format.

Solution:

• Only .csv files are supported.
• Files in .xlsx, .xls, or other spreadsheet formats must be saved as .csv before uploading.

3. File Size or Guest Limit Exceeded

Issue:
The import fails due to system limits.

Solution:

• Maximum file size: 10 MB
• Maximum guests per upload: 500
• Split large guest lists into multiple CSV files if necessary.

4. Invalid Email Addresses

Issue:
One or more rows fail due to invalid email formatting.

Solution:

• Confirm all values in the email column use a valid format (e.g., name@example.com).
• Remove spaces or invalid characters from email entries.

5. Phone and Country Column Mismatch

Issue:
Phone numbers are included without a corresponding country code.

Solution:

• If the phone column is present, the country column is required.
• The country value must be a valid two-letter country code (e.g., US, JM, GB).

6. Quantity Column Errors

Issue:
The import fails due to invalid quantity values.

Solution:

• The quantity column must contain whole numbers only.
• Do not leave the field blank.
• Do not use decimals or text values.

7. Custom Field Name Mismatch

Issue:
Additional columns do not match configured product fields.

Solution:

• Ensure any additional CSV columns match the exact names of custom fields configured for the event or product.
• Remove unused or outdated columns from the file.

8. Event Is Not Live

Issue:
The system does not allow the guest list to be imported.

Solution:

• Guest list imports are only available when the event status is LIVE.
• Publish the event before attempting the import.

Best Practices for Successful Imports

• Use the official CSV template provided in the guest list import article.
• Test with a small file before uploading large guest lists.
• Review your CSV file in a plain text editor to detect hidden formatting issues

If problems persist, contact SpurrOpen Support and include:

• The CSV file used for import
• A screenshot or copy of the error message displayed