The Excel file cannot be read: wrong format, missing columns or no rows

Question 1

Why do I see "That file could not be read as an Excel workbook (<detail>)"?

Accepted Answer

Every import works from a template the app hands out: an .xlsx workbook with a Data sheet whose
first row holds fixed column names, and a Lists sheet that feeds the dropdowns. The app reads
the Data sheet (or the first sheet, if there is no sheet called Data), takes the first row as the
headers and every row below it as a record. It stops before checking anything when:

- The file is not an .xlsx workbook. An older .xls file, a password-protected workbook, a PDF or
  a Word file is not something it can open; depending on the file you see "could not be read as an
  Excel workbook", "The file is not readable" or "missing the column(s)". A CSV saved from an older
  template is still accepted, but one in an unusual text encoding gives "The file is not readable".
- A required column is missing. Column names are matched ignoring upper and lower case and
  spaces around them, but not spelling. A header that was renamed, translated or deleted, or a sheet
  whose first row is a title rather than the headers, leaves required columns missing. (Sheets
  exported before a column was renamed, such as the old parking slot headers, are still read.)
- There is nothing under the header, or the file is empty (0 bytes) or has no header row.

Checking the file as a whole first means a half-understood sheet can never write half its rows. 1. Start from the app's own file. In the dialog click Download template, or use Export
   on the same tab to get the current list, which has the same columns. Download template and
   Export need the View permission on the tab's module.
2. Keep the layout. Fill in rows under the header on the Data sheet. Do not rename, move out of
   the first row or delete the column headers, and leave the Lists sheet in place.
3. Save as .xlsx. In Excel use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (.xlsx), without a
   password. If the data came from another system, paste it into the downloaded template rather
   than uploading that system's file.
4. Remove extra rows above the header (titles, notes, blank lines), so the first row is the
   header row.
5. Make sure at least one row under the header has data (the template's example row is ignored on
   import, so replace it with real rows).
6. Click Choose another file and pick the corrected file. The check runs again; then follow
   "Import is greyed out or nothing was written" if any rows fail.

Importing needs the Create and Edit permissions on the tab's module: Towers, Floors &
Units for units, Parking for parking slots, Construction Stages for stages, Pricing
Plans for unit pricing, and Tenants for members, landowners and PAP tenants. Without both, the
Import button is not shown.

Question 2

Why do I see "The file is not readable: save it as .xlsx from Excel"?

Accepted Answer

Every import works from a template the app hands out: an .xlsx workbook with a Data sheet whose
first row holds fixed column names, and a Lists sheet that feeds the dropdowns. The app reads
the Data sheet (or the first sheet, if there is no sheet called Data), takes the first row as the
headers and every row below it as a record. It stops before checking anything when:

- The file is not an .xlsx workbook. An older .xls file, a password-protected workbook, a PDF or
  a Word file is not something it can open; depending on the file you see "could not be read as an
  Excel workbook", "The file is not readable" or "missing the column(s)". A CSV saved from an older
  template is still accepted, but one in an unusual text encoding gives "The file is not readable".
- A required column is missing. Column names are matched ignoring upper and lower case and
  spaces around them, but not spelling. A header that was renamed, translated or deleted, or a sheet
  whose first row is a title rather than the headers, leaves required columns missing. (Sheets
  exported before a column was renamed, such as the old parking slot headers, are still read.)
- There is nothing under the header, or the file is empty (0 bytes) or has no header row.

Checking the file as a whole first means a half-understood sheet can never write half its rows. 1. Start from the app's own file. In the dialog click Download template, or use Export
   on the same tab to get the current list, which has the same columns. Download template and
   Export need the View permission on the tab's module.
2. Keep the layout. Fill in rows under the header on the Data sheet. Do not rename, move out of
   the first row or delete the column headers, and leave the Lists sheet in place.
3. Save as .xlsx. In Excel use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (.xlsx), without a
   password. If the data came from another system, paste it into the downloaded template rather
   than uploading that system's file.
4. Remove extra rows above the header (titles, notes, blank lines), so the first row is the
   header row.
5. Make sure at least one row under the header has data (the template's example row is ignored on
   import, so replace it with real rows).
6. Click Choose another file and pick the corrected file. The check runs again; then follow
   "Import is greyed out or nothing was written" if any rows fail.

Importing needs the Create and Edit permissions on the tab's module: Towers, Floors &
Units for units, Parking for parking slots, Construction Stages for stages, Pricing
Plans for unit pricing, and Tenants for members, landowners and PAP tenants. Without both, the
Import button is not shown.

Question 3

Why do I see "The sheet is missing the column(s): <cols>. Download the template and fill that in."?

Accepted Answer

Every import works from a template the app hands out: an .xlsx workbook with a Data sheet whose
first row holds fixed column names, and a Lists sheet that feeds the dropdowns. The app reads
the Data sheet (or the first sheet, if there is no sheet called Data), takes the first row as the
headers and every row below it as a record. It stops before checking anything when:

- The file is not an .xlsx workbook. An older .xls file, a password-protected workbook, a PDF or
  a Word file is not something it can open; depending on the file you see "could not be read as an
  Excel workbook", "The file is not readable" or "missing the column(s)". A CSV saved from an older
  template is still accepted, but one in an unusual text encoding gives "The file is not readable".
- A required column is missing. Column names are matched ignoring upper and lower case and
  spaces around them, but not spelling. A header that was renamed, translated or deleted, or a sheet
  whose first row is a title rather than the headers, leaves required columns missing. (Sheets
  exported before a column was renamed, such as the old parking slot headers, are still read.)
- There is nothing under the header, or the file is empty (0 bytes) or has no header row.

Checking the file as a whole first means a half-understood sheet can never write half its rows. 1. Start from the app's own file. In the dialog click Download template, or use Export
   on the same tab to get the current list, which has the same columns. Download template and
   Export need the View permission on the tab's module.
2. Keep the layout. Fill in rows under the header on the Data sheet. Do not rename, move out of
   the first row or delete the column headers, and leave the Lists sheet in place.
3. Save as .xlsx. In Excel use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (.xlsx), without a
   password. If the data came from another system, paste it into the downloaded template rather
   than uploading that system's file.
4. Remove extra rows above the header (titles, notes, blank lines), so the first row is the
   header row.
5. Make sure at least one row under the header has data (the template's example row is ignored on
   import, so replace it with real rows).
6. Click Choose another file and pick the corrected file. The check runs again; then follow
   "Import is greyed out or nothing was written" if any rows fail.

Importing needs the Create and Edit permissions on the tab's module: Towers, Floors &
Units for units, Parking for parking slots, Construction Stages for stages, Pricing
Plans for unit pricing, and Tenants for members, landowners and PAP tenants. Without both, the
Import button is not shown.

Question 4

Why do I see "The workbook has no rows"?

Accepted Answer

Every import works from a template the app hands out: an .xlsx workbook with a Data sheet whose
first row holds fixed column names, and a Lists sheet that feeds the dropdowns. The app reads
the Data sheet (or the first sheet, if there is no sheet called Data), takes the first row as the
headers and every row below it as a record. It stops before checking anything when:

- The file is not an .xlsx workbook. An older .xls file, a password-protected workbook, a PDF or
  a Word file is not something it can open; depending on the file you see "could not be read as an
  Excel workbook", "The file is not readable" or "missing the column(s)". A CSV saved from an older
  template is still accepted, but one in an unusual text encoding gives "The file is not readable".
- A required column is missing. Column names are matched ignoring upper and lower case and
  spaces around them, but not spelling. A header that was renamed, translated or deleted, or a sheet
  whose first row is a title rather than the headers, leaves required columns missing. (Sheets
  exported before a column was renamed, such as the old parking slot headers, are still read.)
- There is nothing under the header, or the file is empty (0 bytes) or has no header row.

Checking the file as a whole first means a half-understood sheet can never write half its rows. 1. Start from the app's own file. In the dialog click Download template, or use Export
   on the same tab to get the current list, which has the same columns. Download template and
   Export need the View permission on the tab's module.
2. Keep the layout. Fill in rows under the header on the Data sheet. Do not rename, move out of
   the first row or delete the column headers, and leave the Lists sheet in place.
3. Save as .xlsx. In Excel use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (.xlsx), without a
   password. If the data came from another system, paste it into the downloaded template rather
   than uploading that system's file.
4. Remove extra rows above the header (titles, notes, blank lines), so the first row is the
   header row.
5. Make sure at least one row under the header has data (the template's example row is ignored on
   import, so replace it with real rows).
6. Click Choose another file and pick the corrected file. The check runs again; then follow
   "Import is greyed out or nothing was written" if any rows fail.

Importing needs the Create and Edit permissions on the tab's module: Towers, Floors &
Units for units, Parking for parking slots, Construction Stages for stages, Pricing
Plans for unit pricing, and Tenants for members, landowners and PAP tenants. Without both, the
Import button is not shown.

Question 5

Why do I see "The sheet has a header but no rows"?

Accepted Answer

Every import works from a template the app hands out: an .xlsx workbook with a Data sheet whose
first row holds fixed column names, and a Lists sheet that feeds the dropdowns. The app reads
the Data sheet (or the first sheet, if there is no sheet called Data), takes the first row as the
headers and every row below it as a record. It stops before checking anything when:

- The file is not an .xlsx workbook. An older .xls file, a password-protected workbook, a PDF or
  a Word file is not something it can open; depending on the file you see "could not be read as an
  Excel workbook", "The file is not readable" or "missing the column(s)". A CSV saved from an older
  template is still accepted, but one in an unusual text encoding gives "The file is not readable".
- A required column is missing. Column names are matched ignoring upper and lower case and
  spaces around them, but not spelling. A header that was renamed, translated or deleted, or a sheet
  whose first row is a title rather than the headers, leaves required columns missing. (Sheets
  exported before a column was renamed, such as the old parking slot headers, are still read.)
- There is nothing under the header, or the file is empty (0 bytes) or has no header row.

Checking the file as a whole first means a half-understood sheet can never write half its rows. 1. Start from the app's own file. In the dialog click Download template, or use Export
   on the same tab to get the current list, which has the same columns. Download template and
   Export need the View permission on the tab's module.
2. Keep the layout. Fill in rows under the header on the Data sheet. Do not rename, move out of
   the first row or delete the column headers, and leave the Lists sheet in place.
3. Save as .xlsx. In Excel use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (.xlsx), without a
   password. If the data came from another system, paste it into the downloaded template rather
   than uploading that system's file.
4. Remove extra rows above the header (titles, notes, blank lines), so the first row is the
   header row.
5. Make sure at least one row under the header has data (the template's example row is ignored on
   import, so replace it with real rows).
6. Click Choose another file and pick the corrected file. The check runs again; then follow
   "Import is greyed out or nothing was written" if any rows fail.

Importing needs the Create and Edit permissions on the tab's module: Towers, Floors &
Units for units, Parking for parking slots, Construction Stages for stages, Pricing
Plans for unit pricing, and Tenants for members, landowners and PAP tenants. Without both, the
Import button is not shown.

Question 6

Why do I see "The file has no header row"?

Accepted Answer

Every import works from a template the app hands out: an .xlsx workbook with a Data sheet whose
first row holds fixed column names, and a Lists sheet that feeds the dropdowns. The app reads
the Data sheet (or the first sheet, if there is no sheet called Data), takes the first row as the
headers and every row below it as a record. It stops before checking anything when:

- The file is not an .xlsx workbook. An older .xls file, a password-protected workbook, a PDF or
  a Word file is not something it can open; depending on the file you see "could not be read as an
  Excel workbook", "The file is not readable" or "missing the column(s)". A CSV saved from an older
  template is still accepted, but one in an unusual text encoding gives "The file is not readable".
- A required column is missing. Column names are matched ignoring upper and lower case and
  spaces around them, but not spelling. A header that was renamed, translated or deleted, or a sheet
  whose first row is a title rather than the headers, leaves required columns missing. (Sheets
  exported before a column was renamed, such as the old parking slot headers, are still read.)
- There is nothing under the header, or the file is empty (0 bytes) or has no header row.

Checking the file as a whole first means a half-understood sheet can never write half its rows. 1. Start from the app's own file. In the dialog click Download template, or use Export
   on the same tab to get the current list, which has the same columns. Download template and
   Export need the View permission on the tab's module.
2. Keep the layout. Fill in rows under the header on the Data sheet. Do not rename, move out of
   the first row or delete the column headers, and leave the Lists sheet in place.
3. Save as .xlsx. In Excel use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (.xlsx), without a
   password. If the data came from another system, paste it into the downloaded template rather
   than uploading that system's file.
4. Remove extra rows above the header (titles, notes, blank lines), so the first row is the
   header row.
5. Make sure at least one row under the header has data (the template's example row is ignored on
   import, so replace it with real rows).
6. Click Choose another file and pick the corrected file. The check runs again; then follow
   "Import is greyed out or nothing was written" if any rows fail.

Importing needs the Create and Edit permissions on the tab's module: Towers, Floors &
Units for units, Parking for parking slots, Construction Stages for stages, Pricing
Plans for unit pricing, and Tenants for members, landowners and PAP tenants. Without both, the
Import button is not shown.

Question 7

Why do I see "The file is empty"?

Accepted Answer

Every import works from a template the app hands out: an .xlsx workbook with a Data sheet whose
first row holds fixed column names, and a Lists sheet that feeds the dropdowns. The app reads
the Data sheet (or the first sheet, if there is no sheet called Data), takes the first row as the
headers and every row below it as a record. It stops before checking anything when:

- The file is not an .xlsx workbook. An older .xls file, a password-protected workbook, a PDF or
  a Word file is not something it can open; depending on the file you see "could not be read as an
  Excel workbook", "The file is not readable" or "missing the column(s)". A CSV saved from an older
  template is still accepted, but one in an unusual text encoding gives "The file is not readable".
- A required column is missing. Column names are matched ignoring upper and lower case and
  spaces around them, but not spelling. A header that was renamed, translated or deleted, or a sheet
  whose first row is a title rather than the headers, leaves required columns missing. (Sheets
  exported before a column was renamed, such as the old parking slot headers, are still read.)
- There is nothing under the header, or the file is empty (0 bytes) or has no header row.

Checking the file as a whole first means a half-understood sheet can never write half its rows. 1. Start from the app's own file. In the dialog click Download template, or use Export
   on the same tab to get the current list, which has the same columns. Download template and
   Export need the View permission on the tab's module.
2. Keep the layout. Fill in rows under the header on the Data sheet. Do not rename, move out of
   the first row or delete the column headers, and leave the Lists sheet in place.
3. Save as .xlsx. In Excel use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (.xlsx), without a
   password. If the data came from another system, paste it into the downloaded template rather
   than uploading that system's file.
4. Remove extra rows above the header (titles, notes, blank lines), so the first row is the
   header row.
5. Make sure at least one row under the header has data (the template's example row is ignored on
   import, so replace it with real rows).
6. Click Choose another file and pick the corrected file. The check runs again; then follow
   "Import is greyed out or nothing was written" if any rows fail.

Importing needs the Create and Edit permissions on the tab's module: Towers, Floors &
Units for units, Parking for parking slots, Construction Stages for stages, Pricing
Plans for unit pricing, and Tenants for members, landowners and PAP tenants. Without both, the
Import button is not shown.

Question 8

Why do I see "Attach the filled-in sheet as "file""?

Accepted Answer

Every import works from a template the app hands out: an .xlsx workbook with a Data sheet whose
first row holds fixed column names, and a Lists sheet that feeds the dropdowns. The app reads
the Data sheet (or the first sheet, if there is no sheet called Data), takes the first row as the
headers and every row below it as a record. It stops before checking anything when:

- The file is not an .xlsx workbook. An older .xls file, a password-protected workbook, a PDF or
  a Word file is not something it can open; depending on the file you see "could not be read as an
  Excel workbook", "The file is not readable" or "missing the column(s)". A CSV saved from an older
  template is still accepted, but one in an unusual text encoding gives "The file is not readable".
- A required column is missing. Column names are matched ignoring upper and lower case and
  spaces around them, but not spelling. A header that was renamed, translated or deleted, or a sheet
  whose first row is a title rather than the headers, leaves required columns missing. (Sheets
  exported before a column was renamed, such as the old parking slot headers, are still read.)
- There is nothing under the header, or the file is empty (0 bytes) or has no header row.

Checking the file as a whole first means a half-understood sheet can never write half its rows. 1. Start from the app's own file. In the dialog click Download template, or use Export
   on the same tab to get the current list, which has the same columns. Download template and
   Export need the View permission on the tab's module.
2. Keep the layout. Fill in rows under the header on the Data sheet. Do not rename, move out of
   the first row or delete the column headers, and leave the Lists sheet in place.
3. Save as .xlsx. In Excel use File > Save As > Excel Workbook (.xlsx), without a
   password. If the data came from another system, paste it into the downloaded template rather
   than uploading that system's file.
4. Remove extra rows above the header (titles, notes, blank lines), so the first row is the
   header row.
5. Make sure at least one row under the header has data (the template's example row is ignored on
   import, so replace it with real rows).
6. Click Choose another file and pick the corrected file. The check runs again; then follow
   "Import is greyed out or nothing was written" if any rows fail.

Importing needs the Create and Edit permissions on the tab's module: Towers, Floors &
Units for units, Parking for parking slots, Construction Stages for stages, Pricing
Plans for unit pricing, and Tenants for members, landowners and PAP tenants. Without both, the
Import button is not shown.

The Excel file cannot be read: wrong format, missing columns or no rows

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The Excel file cannot be read: wrong format, missing columns or no rows

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Why it happens

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