Basic Easy Populate Question

**minuteman1970** · 08-11-2007, 07:33 PM

Hello,
I am running Easy Populate v2.76-OsMax2, and have a basic question. I noticed that when you save the excel file as a tab-delimited file, you lose you column organization for rows which have fewer details and attributes. For example, let's say you add an item with only the basic minimum fields filled out, and want to add attributes later. The right-side of the row is brought all the way over to the left. How would you then add attributes?

I am thinking that perhaps you could paste a blank space character into each empty field, so that you can keep your columns when you import/export the file. Will this cause any issues when inserting the file via EP into your database?
Thanks in advance.

**michael_s** · 08-11-2007, 08:04 PM

You are just opening the file with the incorrect format. Make sure you open it as a CSV file. Excel will then ask you what the delimiter is and a few other details about opening the file. That should keep the columns intact for you.

I have never run into your issue though...

**minuteman1970** · 08-12-2007, 04:50 AM

It seems the spacing is misaligned due to not having attribute data. I was thinking of forcing this to happen by filling all empty Excel cells with a space, but am unclear on how EP will interpret this.

My preference would be to keep the file in a true .xls format, but I am unclear as to whether this will work. From within the Admin section, EP allows you to download the complete file in a tab-delimited format, which is how I am importing it into Excel. Looking at the easypopulate.php file, it seems possible to reconfigure alternate delimeters such as commas or semicolons. However, many of my products have long descriptions, which include commas and semicolons as well.

What is the best/recommended practice in this sort of scenario?

**michael_s** · 08-12-2007, 08:10 AM

The easypopulate file is not created by easypoulate in xls format, and opening it in xls format breaks the file as xls does not respect tab delimited structure.

Best practice, only practice: You must open this file as a CSV text file in excel, not an xls file, it is not an xls file. Never was, never will be. It simply will not be formatted correctly with any other opening method.

Open it as a csv file and it will keep the data in correct format with correct column spacing, etc. In excel, when you open the file as a CSV text file, it will ask you for the delimiter, which you should select the tab option. The dialogue box will then organize the fields and data correctly. Doing it any other way will just waste your time.