Excel import error message : Can't use backslash, comma and semi colon
Although this functionality is cool and can save time, I spent a couple of hours trying to figure out why my file wouldn't upload. After some help from wrike support, we realized that the excel file cannot contain back slashes, commas and semi colons. Is there a way to fix this? Sometimes we will need to use commas and semi colons. Thanks.
Hi John, thanks for your post! I know you had a Support ticket about this, but I wanted to share the answer here in case other people run into the same issue. It is caused by the fact that it’s not possible to use semicolons, backslashes and commas in the Folders’ titles (you can use these symbols in the tasks’ titles, though). When you import the Excel file, Wrike tries to create Folders with these symbols in the titles and since it’s not possible to use them you get the error. I can edit the title of this Community post so it reflects the inability to use commas and semicolons in the Folders’ titles in the Workspace (as opposed to it being an importing limitation), please let me know if you’d like me to help out with that.
I’ve also replied to your Support ticket with the edited file, hope you’ll be able to import it just fine but please let me know if you continue getting the error.
Anna G Community Team at Wrike Wrike Product Manager Become a Wrike expert with Wrike Discover
Anna G Wrike Team member Become a Wrike expert with Wrike Discover
Hi Anna,
Thanks for your response on this thread and also via the ticket. I was able to upload the document but I did have to remove all commas, semi-colons and backslashes not just from the task titles but also in the task descriptions. This makes it difficult for users to always remember not to use these characters especially when writing longer text than just titles. Of course we can bridge this gap with training but I do feel this is still a constraint that is uncomfortable.
Anyway, that is just my two cents worth. I will continue to monitor our users' comments to this and see if it gets too annoying. But it would be nice if this could be fixed in future releases.
Cheers,
John
Thanks for your reply, John! While it’s not possible to use commas, semicolons and backslashes in Folders’ titles (both in the Workspace and imported Excel files) it should be possible to use them in descriptions as well as task titles. If you would like me to look into this please reply to the Support ticket with a file that had these symbols in task descriptions and titles and not in Folders’ titles, I will be happy to help.
Anna G Community Team at Wrike Wrike Product Manager Become a Wrike expert with Wrike Discover
Anna G Wrike Team member Become a Wrike expert with Wrike Discover
I would really appreciate the ability to use a forward slash in a project title as this is the naming convention we've used for many years.