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Problem

Errors can occur when importing timesheets due to data issues. The most common data issues are:

• Incorrect date format

• Blank active cells

Below are details on how to check if an error is due to one of these data issues and how to fix it.

Incorrect Date Format

All dates included in the timesheet import file must be in the format dd/mm/yyyy.  If a date is not in this format, the following error will occur when clicking Queue Batch.

Common causes for the date format to be incorrect are:

• The date has an extra digit, ie 13/12/20019 instead of 13/12/2019

• Date cells have the wrong date format selected

Solution

Check all dates in the import file to ensure:

• There are no extra digits

• They are in the format dd/mm/yyyy

If all dates look correct but the error is still occurring, the wrong date format may have been selected for all or just one date cell. In Excel, there are 2 short date types with the format dd/mm/yyyy, these are:

• 14/03/2012

• *14/03/2012 

 To ensure all date cells have the correct format:

• Open the import file in Excel

• Select a date column so it’s highlighted

• Right Click on column > select Format Cells

• Select Date

• Select *14/03/2012

• Click OK

• Repeat for all date columns

• Save the file then re-import into FastTrack360

Blank Active Cells

When saving an Excel file, a blank active cell is saved if there is formatting in the cell. This generally happens if data has been deleted from a cell using Delete on a keyboard rather than using Excel’s Delete or Clear options.  A blank active cell can cause an error when importing into FastTrack360 as it’s expected an active cell has data.

If a timesheet import file includes a blank active cell, one of the following errors may occur:

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Solution

To check if there are any blank active cells in the import file:

• Open the Excel file

• Press Ctrl + End to locate the last active cell

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If the highlighted cell is blank, you will need to clear the blank active cells. To do this:

• Highlight all blank Row(s)/Column(s) between the last Row/Column with data and the last active cell

• Right Click and select Delete

• Save the file

• Redo Ctrl + End to make sure the highlighted cell has data
  

  

• Re-import the file into FastTrack

If there are no blank active cells and you are still getting an error, check for incorrect date formats. 

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