Bulk Upload Not Working

If you're encountering issues when trying to bulk upload recipients or desktops into RedFlag, there are some common formatting issues that can prevent a successful upload. Please review the checklist below to ensure your spreadsheet is properly prepared.

Pre-Upload Checklist

• Sheet Order
  • Make sure the tab with your data is the first sheet in the file.

🛡️ Note: RedFlag will only read the first tab in the spreadsheet.

• Header Placement
  • Your column headers must begin in cell A1.
  • There should be no blank rows above the headers and no blank columns to the left of your data.
• One Profile Per Row
  • Each row must represent one recipient or device only.
• Avoid Blank Columns
  • Delete any blank columns in the middle of your data columns to prevent upload errors.
  • Ensure your data flows continuously from left to right without interruptions.
• Clear Formatting
  • Highlight the entire spreadsheet and click Clear Formats to remove any hidden or incompatible formatting.
• Phone Number Columns
  • Make sure only one phone number is listed per cell.
  • Do not include extensions (e.g., no "x123" or "ext.456").
  • Use international format with a plus sign (“+”) before the country code for international numbers (e.g., +441234567890).
  • Format the column as Text to preserve leading characters like “+” and prevent Excel from converting numbers to scientific notation.
• Email Address Columns
  • Ensure each email column contains only one email address.
  • Remove any separators like commas or semicolons, which indicate multiple emails.
• Avoid Merged Cells
  • Unmerge any cells before uploading. Merged cells can disrupt the file structure.
• No Formulas
  • Convert all formulas to plain text values to avoid upload interpretation issues.
• Consistent Field Formatting
  • Use standardized field values (e.g., "Yes"/"No" instead of mixed entries like "Y", "True", or N/A).

Additional Tips

If the issue persists after following the checklist, please try the following:

• Try Saving as a Different File Type
  • If your file is currently saved as .xlsx, try saving it as a .csv.
  • If it's a .csv, try saving it as an .xlsx.
  • If your file is in the older .xls format, save it as either .xlsx or .csv.

🛡️ Note: These changes can help eliminate hidden formatting or legacy issues that may be preventing a successful upload.

• Try copying and pasting your data into a new spreadsheet.
  • Sometimes hidden formatting or metadata in the original file can interfere with uploading. To start fresh:
    • Open a new blank Excel workbook.
    • Copy and paste only the data (not the entire sheet) from your original file.
    • Click Clear Formats after pasting to remove any lingering styles.
    • Save the new file as a new .xlsx or .csv and try uploading again.
• Open the file in a text editor such as Notepad. This allows you to easily scan for:
  • Extra commas or line breaks
  • Misplaced quotation marks
  • Unintended blank rows or trailing columns

🛡️ Note: This can help reveal hidden formatting issues not visible in Excel.

Still Not Working?

If you’ve checked all of the above and the upload is still failing:

• Try uploading a simplified version of your file with only a few rows of clean data.
• Review any error provided by RedFlag in the confirmation email after the upload attempt—they will usually point to the specific row or column causing issues.
• Contact our Support team and include:
  • A copy of the spreadsheet you're experiencing issues with.
  • Whether you're bulk uploading under:
    • Recipients
    • Desktops
    • Static Group
  • If you're uploading to Recipients or Desktops, indicate the upload type:
    • Add Only
    • Add and Update
    • Add, Update, and Delete
  • Any screenshots of error messages or system feedback during the upload attempt, including the error file from the bulk upload confirmation email.