EasyPopulate 4.0 Support Thread

waterbender:

It looks like I can adapt most things except product_id. Some guy said that we can add products_id as a custom field under User Defined Products Fields. Once I done that, will I be able to use products_id as the primary index instead of products_model? Or do I still mess with codes?

So you would be able to export it so that you night be able to use it as a cross reference for merging datafiles from other similar products, but without some serious code changes/checks would not be able to call it the primary key. There are some considerations to be made also if it is to become the primary key. One that comes to mind is the relationship between the newly identified product number and the autonumber associated with the table for "standard" operation. By using the default of this code of this plugin, I think it cares for that already because it does an add to the table without concern of what the autonumber currently is.

mc12345678:

So you would be able to export it so that you night be able to use it as a cross reference for merging datafiles from other similar products, but without some serious code changes/checks would not be able to call it the primary key. There are some considerations to be made also if it is to become the primary key. One that comes to mind is the relationship between the newly identified product number and the autonumber associated with the table for "standard" operation. By using the default of this code of this plugin, I think it cares for that already because it does an add to the table without concern of what the autonumber currently is.

Hi sorry, I don't fully understand. Are you saying that you don't recommend using products_id as the primary index to import/update products unless we do some code changes to suit? I use products_model for other purpose and most products don't have unique model numbers.

waterbender:

Hi sorry, I don't fully understand. Are you saying that you don't recommend using products_id as the primary index to import/update products unless we do some code changes to suit? I use products_model for other purpose and most products don't have unique model numbers.

With regards to this plugin, I would agree with that statement, that would not make changes to use product_id as the primary key without making changes to suit, or without acknowledging the effect(s) of doing so without making code changes to suit. Without a little investigation, I am not sure what the effect would be if say the following were true: the autonumber for the table is: 5, six products have been added to the table with id numbers of 1-6, and then the standard categories add products option is used. I don't know whether ZC would try to add an item at position 5 (error), add an item at position 7 (okay) or update the item at position 5 (essentially an error for the purposes identified here). Alternatively an additional field could be added to the table (I think numinix has something like this), but long and short of it is, it would be wrong of me not to point out some things to take into consideration. There are those out there that actually se the model number for something of value and as written this plug-in doesn't do what they want, but there are also those out there that just dutifully poplate the model_number with something unique so they can use this plugin. Whatever the case, the datafile needs something unique to be able to do it's job, and it would be my recommendation that whatever is used is available in both the datafile and onscreen when adding/modifying a product within the admin panel unless that option becomes totally disabled to support only this plugin (also not recommended).

As to the example above, if you do create code to address the autonumber, would want to also consider a situation where the last record added was 6, and now 1145 is added, what about 7 through 1144? Left blank or non-existent and the autonumber? Updated to 1146? What happens when someone picks the last possible number as their next product or a number that is outside the scope of the table? These things need to be considered if changing to the product_id instead of using a method similar to this plugin of having a unique identifier that is independent of the database size (though there may be a limit as to the length of the identifier). Again, whatever is chosen may be good for your usage, but possibly not for the masses. The other thing about this module is that it really is database/store independent. I could essentially dowload all of the products in my store, send you the file, and you could upload all of my products into your store. Sure might append something to the model number to try to ensure even further that it was unique like an acronym for my store, but more than likely it could all be copied over independent of your numbering. Further, and possibly more helpful, if your database got a little funky, could download all of the products and associated data, then clear the applicable tables and upload all of the data again without recourse of id numbers. (WARNING, this is a general discussion here, care must be taken to accomplish what was just described, or else your store could become useless. There may be other dependencies applicable to your store that may not have been discussed. Again warning, I am not responsible for actions you take based on the above discussion.)

Hi

Is there any funky switch (function/action triggered by a specific value) on one of the 'specials' fields (specials_price, specials_date_avail, specials_expires_date) that will remove or delete the Specials record for a product (linked record in the 'specials' table)... like the value '9' specified for product_status to remove/delete a product?

Would be very nice if there was.

Cheers
GAM

mc12345678:

Okay, so EP4 is based heavily on using the right "product" at th right time, with the right information. Off the top of my head, I can't remember if it will properly handle just any old filename, but if you are wanting to updated information that wold be provided in a full export, then the start of the filename needs to closely match the same. Basic filename. (Typically anything up to and including EP4, also the capitalization is important as well.)

When stating that there was no special character, does that mean didn't "see" a special character or was that by bit/byte inspection to verify that each character was an expected alpha-numeric character or end-of-line, etc...? State that becauuse, just because don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.

So I tried to just send NULL descriptions to clear the descriptions, nothing changed same descriptions remained unchanged. So I suspect that all the descriptions have stayed the same no matter what upload I sent and are all prior to my changes made to eliminate special characters from my data. I only tried to upload the product model field and description field in the file. The file name was simple just Description.csv.

It is very odd that it will update prices and things like call for price but is not making any update to description. I'm tempted to clear the field in the SQL database but afraid I wouldn't get the description data back in.

scubasteve:

So I tried to just send NULL descriptions to clear the descriptions, nothing changed same descriptions remained unchanged. So I suspect that all the descriptions have stayed the same no matter what upload I sent and are all prior to my changes made to eliminate special characters from my data. I only tried to upload the product model field and description field in the file. The file name was simple just Description.csv.

It is very odd that it will update prices and things like call for price but is not making any update to description. I'm tempted to clear the field in the SQL database but afraid I wouldn't get the description data back in.

Okay, I understand there may be a language barrier. I will try to keep my discssion straight and simple.

Some data fields will be updated no matter what the file is named; however, some fields (it would appear description 1 is an example) will only be updated if the filename starts with one of the standard file names (attrib-basic-ep, attrib-detailed-ep,featured-ep,full,categorymeta,category, etc...) Description.csv is not a filename recgnized by the program. As the limited instructions say to do. Export a file of the type that you would like to import. Change the data, save the file and then upload and import the file. Changes will be made as appropriate.

This is the error message I am now getting when I click on easypopulate. WARNING: An Error occurred, please refresh the page and try again.

I manage to use it and export the product list, now Im trying to upload and import the full product list... but it is no longer working.

isolveja:

This is the error message I am now getting when I click on easypopulate. WARNING: An Error occurred, please refresh the page and try again.

I manage to use it and export the product list, now Im trying to upload and import the full product list... but it is no longer working.

Are there error messages in your error log(s)? What else "changed"? Was something installed, edited, or deleted?

What do you mean when you say. Click on easy populate? Are you not able to get the the EP window, or is it that once there, you can not import?

Please, we are not in front of your computer and need more information to be able to help.

mc12345678:

Are there error messages in your error log(s)? What else "changed"? Was something installed, edited, or deleted?

What do you mean when you say. Click on easy populate? Are you not able to get the the EP window, or is it that once there, you can not import?

Please, we are not in front of your computer and need more information to be able to help.

I changed nothing. There are no other error message. Nothing was installed edited or deleted. When I click on EP the window does not come up instead I get that error message.

I am trying to upload my Full product listing but it is not importing into my database.

GAM:

Hi

Is there any funky switch (function/action triggered by a specific value) on one of the 'specials' fields (specials_price, specials_date_avail, specials_expires_date) that will remove or delete the Specials record for a product (linked record in the 'specials' table)... like the value '9' specified for product_status to remove/delete a product?

Would be very nice if there was.

Cheers
GAM
FYI
Looking into the code itself I discovered that specifying 0 (zero) on v_specials_price for a record deletes the Special on import.

isolveja:

I changed nothing. There are no other error message. Nothing was installed edited or deleted. When I click on EP the window does not come up instead I get that error message.

So it's working again? Did you have to reinstall the plug-in?

isolveja:

I am trying to upload my Full product listing but it is not importing into my database.

Seems like it is working for you again or at least not displaying an error?

Okay the real question, what is the name of the file that has the datat you are trying to import? Does the beginning of the filename match the beginning of the filename of any exported file?

Anyone able to shed some light on this... EP4 reporting the following even though 'specials price' is LOWER than 'normal price'.

(my debugging info preceding the standard error message is included in sample output below, e.g., s_price: 6.7270 p_price: 14.1363, where s_price = 'specials_price' and p_price = 'products_price')

s_price: 6.7270 p_price: 14.1363SKIPPED! - Model: EKFBASUSCH3AN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 115.5000SKIPPED! - Model: EKFBASUSCH3WAN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 127.9545SKIPPED! - Model: EKFBKITGAX58UD7AN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 139.1363SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC260275285GTXGWN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 80.0000 p_price: 109.8181SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC285GTXA - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 77.3520 p_price: 104.7272SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC295GTX1PCBBackAN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 50.0000 p_price: 123.0454SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC4890CFAN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 80.0000 p_price: 117.4545SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC4890SAPPHIREPCBAN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 80.0000 p_price: 107.6818SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC5870V2AN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 108.1363SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC9800GX2SLIN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 80.0000 p_price: 163.1818SKIPPED! - Model: EKFCR600CFA - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 35.3180 p_price: 143.4545SKIPPED! - Model: EKFCR600CFXA - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 40.3520 p_price: 163.8636SKIPPED! - Model: EKMMSUPHFINTELN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 8.5000 p_price: 10.3181SKIPPED! - Model: EKMOS680i1 - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 9.0910 p_price: 36.3636SKIPPED! - Model: EKMOS680i2 - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 9.0910 p_price: 36.3636SKIPPED! - Model: EKMOS680i2A - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 9.0910 p_price: 36.3636SKIPPED! - Model: EKFBKITGAP67AUD7AN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 155.0909SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC5850AEN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 99.9000 p_price: 112.6818SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC5870AEN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 99.9410 p_price: 124.5454SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC5870PEN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 95.8500 p_price: 108.1363SKIPPED! - Model: EKSUPHFFEN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 79.1270 p_price: 104.5000SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC570GTXSEPEN - specials price higher than normal price...

I've tried numerous things but just cannot understand why this is occurring for the handful of products above out of a few hundred in the original upload file.

Example of header and first data record in the file (only records that error are included in the current test file):

v_products_model,v_products_type,v_products_image,v_products_name_1,v_products_description_1,v_products_url_1,v_specials_price,v_specials_date_avail,v_specials_expires_date,v_products_price,v_product_is_call,v_products_sort_order,v_products_quantity_order_min,v_products_quantity_order_units,v_products_priced_by_attribute,v_product_is_always_free_shipping,v_date_avail,v_date_added,v_products_quantity,v_manufacturers_name,v_categories_name_1,v_tax_class_title,v_status
EKALUFC4870KITV2,1,ek/EKALUFC4870KITV2.jpg,ALU - FC4870 KIT V2,"<p class=""prodname"">EK-ALU-4870 Kit V2</p><br /><p class=""prodname2"">ALU replacement part for EK-FC4850/4870 water blocks</p><br /><p class=""proddesc"">With the ALU replacement part you can make all your EK-FC4850/4870 compatible with (Club 3D) non-reference Radeon HD 4870 graphic cards</p><br /><p class=""prodinc""><b>Enclosed:</b><br>- ALU Part<br>- Mounting screws<br>- Thermal pad</p><p class=""prodname2"">EKWB EAN: 3830046993670</p><div><p align=""center""><a title=""Check Compatibility list for this product"" target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/waterblock/3830046993670""><img src=""/store/images/ek_compat.gif"">   </a><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/EK-IM/EK-IM-3830046993670.pdf""><img src=""/store/images/ek_install_man.gif"">   </a><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/EK-PSS/EK-PSS-3830046993670.pdf""><img src=""/store/images/ek_prod_spec.gif""></a><br /><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/catalogsearch/result/?q=3830046993670""><font face=""MS Reference Sans Serif"" size=""2"" color=""#f88c18""><strong>Search EKWB shop for 3830046993670</strong></font></a></p></div>",www.ekwb.com/shop/alu-fc4870-kit-v2.html,[B] 6.7270 [/B],2013-01-01,2020-02-02,[B]14.1363[/B],0,0,1,1,0,0,,2009-12-02,4 ,EK Water Blocks,Water Cooling^Blocks^VGA-Full Cover,GST,1

I am using Excel and encoding in UTF-8 via Notepad++ to ensure the descriptions are not compromised and many other similar records with specials in the original file are being processed as expected. I just can't see a pattern or work out why it is falling over on these. :frusty: I've been testing this extensively before posting.

Would appreciate any assistance.

Cheers
GAM

GAM:

Anyone able to shed some light on this... EP4 reporting the following even though 'specials price' is LOWER than 'normal price'.

(my debugging info preceding the standard error message is included in sample output below, e.g., s_price: 6.7270 p_price: 14.1363, where s_price = 'specials_price' and p_price = 'products_price')

s_price: 6.7270 p_price: 14.1363SKIPPED! - Model: EKFBASUSCH3AN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 115.5000SKIPPED! - Model: EKFBASUSCH3WAN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 127.9545SKIPPED! - Model: EKFBKITGAX58UD7AN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 139.1363SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC260275285GTXGWN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 80.0000 p_price: 109.8181SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC285GTXA - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 77.3520 p_price: 104.7272SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC295GTX1PCBBackAN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 50.0000 p_price: 123.0454SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC4890CFAN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 80.0000 p_price: 117.4545SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC4890SAPPHIREPCBAN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 80.0000 p_price: 107.6818SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC5870V2AN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 108.1363SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC9800GX2SLIN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 80.0000 p_price: 163.1818SKIPPED! - Model: EKFCR600CFA - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 35.3180 p_price: 143.4545SKIPPED! - Model: EKFCR600CFXA - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 40.3520 p_price: 163.8636SKIPPED! - Model: EKMMSUPHFINTELN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 8.5000 p_price: 10.3181SKIPPED! - Model: EKMOS680i1 - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 9.0910 p_price: 36.3636SKIPPED! - Model: EKMOS680i2 - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 9.0910 p_price: 36.3636SKIPPED! - Model: EKMOS680i2A - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 9.0910 p_price: 36.3636SKIPPED! - Model: EKFBKITGAP67AUD7AN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 90.0000 p_price: 155.0909SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC5850AEN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 99.9000 p_price: 112.6818SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC5870AEN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 99.9410 p_price: 124.5454SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC5870PEN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 95.8500 p_price: 108.1363SKIPPED! - Model: EKSUPHFFEN - specials price higher than normal price...
s_price: 79.1270 p_price: 104.5000SKIPPED! - Model: EKFC570GTXSEPEN - specials price higher than normal price...

> 
> I've tried numerous things but just cannot understand why this is occurring for the handful of products above out of a few hundred in the original upload file.
> 
> Example of header and first data record in the file (only records that error are included in the current test file):
> ```
v_products_model,v_products_type,v_products_image,v_products_name_1,v_products_description_1,v_products_url_1,v_specials_price,v_specials_date_avail,v_specials_expires_date,v_products_price,v_product_is_call,v_products_sort_order,v_products_quantity_order_min,v_products_quantity_order_units,v_products_priced_by_attribute,v_product_is_always_free_shipping,v_date_avail,v_date_added,v_products_quantity,v_manufacturers_name,v_categories_name_1,v_tax_class_title,v_status
EKALUFC4870KITV2,1,ek/EKALUFC4870KITV2.jpg,ALU - FC4870 KIT V2,"<p class=""prodname"">EK-ALU-4870 Kit V2</p><br /><p class=""prodname2"">ALU replacement part for EK-FC4850/4870 water blocks</p><br /><p class=""proddesc"">With the ALU replacement part you can make all your EK-FC4850/4870 compatible with (Club 3D) non-reference Radeon HD 4870 graphic cards</p><br /><p class=""prodinc""><b>Enclosed:</b><br>- ALU Part<br>- Mounting screws<br>- Thermal pad</p><p class=""prodname2"">EKWB EAN: 3830046993670</p><div><p align=""center""><a title=""Check Compatibility list for this product"" target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/waterblock/3830046993670""><img src=""/store/images/ek_compat.gif"">   </a><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/EK-IM/EK-IM-3830046993670.pdf""><img src=""/store/images/ek_install_man.gif"">   </a><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/EK-PSS/EK-PSS-3830046993670.pdf""><img src=""/store/images/ek_prod_spec.gif""></a><br /><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/catalogsearch/result/?q=3830046993670""><font face=""MS Reference Sans Serif"" size=""2"" color=""#f88c18""><strong>Search EKWB shop for 3830046993670</strong></font></a></p></div>",www.ekwb.com/shop/alu-fc4870-kit-v2.html,[B] 6.7270 [/B],2013-01-01,2020-02-02,[B]14.1363[/B],0,0,1,1,0,0,,2009-12-02,4 ,EK Water Blocks,Water Cooling^Blocks^VGA-Full Cover,GST,1

I am using Excel and encoding in UTF-8 via Notepad++ to ensure the descriptions are not compromised and many other similar records with specials in the original file are being processed as expected. I just can't see a pattern or work out why it is falling over on these. :frusty: I've been testing this extensively before posting.

Would appreciate any assistance.

Cheers
GAM

Maybe "backwards" or otherwise odd, but you said you're using Excel. I'm not sure how much of the above explanation shows data copied over to show us what is expected and how much is provided by EP4 (like the actual values of s_price and v_price), also, the file snippet shown does not appear to follow the formatting expected by EP4 (quotes around every field separated by a comma).

Wondering also if there is a currency conversion or something else odd going on that is preventing the import. Are you able to apply the desired special from within ZC admin for these products without issue? Is there a possible duplicate model name such that the new special price is greater than the existing product price or is the current product price less than the special price and the new product price is different?

Might have other ideas later, but that's what I have at the moment.

mc12345678:

Maybe "backwards" or otherwise odd, but you said you're using Excel. I'm not sure how much of the above explanation shows data copied over to show us what is expected and how much is provided by EP4 (like the actual values of s_price and v_price), also, the file snippet shown does not appear to follow the formatting expected by EP4 (quotes around every field separated by a comma).

Wondering also if there is a currency conversion or something else odd going on that is preventing the import. Are you able to apply the desired special from within ZC admin for these products without issue? Is there a possible duplicate model name such that the new special price is greater than the existing product price or is the current product price less than the special price and the new product price is different?

Might have other ideas later, but that's what I have at the moment.

Hi MC

Thanks for taking the time to look into this and respond. After several more tests I believe I have discovered the problem... spaces before and/or after commas around those values i.e.:
, xx.xxxx ,

Example in bold:
v_products_model,v_products_type,v_products_image,v_products_name_1,v_products_description_1,v_products_url_1,v_specials_price,v_specials_date_avail,v_specials_expires_date,v_products_price,v_product_is_call,v_products_sort_order,v_products_quantity_order_min,v_products_quantity_order_units,v_products_priced_by_attribute,v_product_is_always_free_shipping,v_date_avail,v_date_added,v_products_quantity,v_manufacturers_name,v_categories_name_1,v_tax_class_title,v_status
EKALUFC4870KITV2,1,ek/EKALUFC4870KITV2.jpg,ALU - FC4870 KIT V2,"<p class=""prodname"">EK-ALU-4870 Kit V2</p><br /><p class=""prodname2"">ALU replacement part for EK-FC4850/4870 water blocks</p><br /><p class=""proddesc"">With the ALU replacement part you can make all your EK-FC4850/4870 compatible with (Club 3D) non-reference Radeon HD 4870 graphic cards</p><br /><p class=""prodinc""><b>Enclosed:</b><br>- ALU Part<br>- Mounting screws<br>- Thermal pad</p><p class=""prodname2"">EKWB EAN: 3830046993670</p><div><p align=""center""><a title=""Check Compatibility list for this product"" target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/waterblock/3830046993670""><img src=""/store/images/ek_compat.gif"">   </a><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/EK-IM/EK-IM-3830046993670.pdf""><img src=""/store/images/ek_install_man.gif"">   </a><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/EK-PSS/EK-PSS-3830046993670.pdf""><img src=""/store/images/ek_prod_spec.gif""></a><br /><a target=""_blank"" href=""http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/catalogsearch/result/?q=3830046993670""><font face=""MS Reference Sans Serif"" size=""2"" color=""#f88c18""><strong>Search EKWB shop for 3830046993670</strong></font></a></p></div>",https://www.ekwb.com/shop/alu-fc4870-kit-v2.html**, 6.7270 ,2013-01-01,2020-02-02,14.1363,0,0,1,1,0,0,,2009-12-02,4 ,**EK Water Blocks,Water Cooling^Blocks^VGA-Full Cover,GST,1

Despite the other field delimiter formatting mentioned, everything works fine and has worked for the several hundred other records in the file originally imported.

Now to identify why the additional spacing is occuring in my Excel file(s) and rectify. :blink:

Cheers
GAM

For anyone else that might experience similar circumstances with unusual spacing/formatting around numeric values in your Excel file, as per above posts that caused the specials price to be seen as greater than the product price due to a 'space' either side of the value in the field, check your column formatting. In my case above, somehow some unusual custom formatting slipped into a previously functional Excel/EP4 upload source file.

Cheers
GAM

For those that cannot or wish not to stop using Excel and have experienced formatting, character encoding and field delimiter problems with save as 'CSV' from Excel, check out this link to a VBA macro that just might solve your issues and/or make existing frequent conversion to UTF-8 tasks a lot more efficient and reliable...

http://vba-corner.livejournal.com/5733.html

I've trialled this a little today and it seems to work exactly as expected. It converts the fields in each record to that expected by EP4 (comma separated, quote enclosed) and appears to retain the UTF-8 encoding (not tested with foreign characters, only 'special' characters).

For reference and background, I previously had Excel output and import via EP4 working fine but I had to open and 'convert to utf-8' via Notepad++ before uploading to ensure I didn't lose formatting/special characters in my 'descriptions'. Although the file wasn't delimited correctly for EP4, i.e., no quotes around values, it did still work.

Hoping this might others.

Cheers
GAM

GAM:

For those that cannot or wish not to stop using Excel and have experienced formatting, character encoding and field delimiter problems with save as 'CSV' from Excel, check out this link to a VBA macro that just might solve your issues and/or make existing frequent conversion to UTF-8 tasks a lot more efficient and reliable...

http://vba-corner.livejournal.com/5733.html

I've trialled this a little today and it seems to work exactly as expected. It converts the fields in each record to that expected by EP4 (comma separated, quote enclosed) and appears to retain the UTF-8 encoding (not tested with foreign characters, only 'special' characters).

For reference and background, I previously had Excel output and import via EP4 working fine but I had to open and 'convert to utf-8' via Notepad++ before uploading to ensure I didn't lose formatting/special characters in my 'descriptions'. Although the file wasn't delimited correctly for EP4, i.e., no quotes around values, it did still work.

Hoping this might others.

Cheers
GAM

STOP! BEWARE!
I've realised that the above solution for me is not quite so perfect after all... there is a flaw.

Date formats are changed to dd/mm/yyyy, which is not good at all. :(

I'll post back if I find a solution to the date issue.

Cheers
GAM

GAM:

STOP! BEWARE!
I've realised that the above solution for me is not quite so perfect after all... there is a flaw.

Date formats are changed to dd/mm/yyyy, which is not good at all. :(

I'll post back if I find a solution to the date issue.

Cheers
GAM

I was using the same example for Excel; however, hadn't tried to upload the file yet. Glad you pointed that out. The "program" doesn't modify the data presented specifically for dates. Therefore, it would seem that you would need to apply a custom date format to the excel cell to force a YYYY-MM-DD and appropriate time format as part of the text export. Might be possible to do a test of the cell and if it is a date and time format to then translate to the correct format; however, wonder what other "numbers" could be turned into a date time based on what is input.