Help:Import Spreadsheet

We know that many researchers have used spreadsheets to organize their research, and it would be a waste of time if, in bringing that data into the wiki, it had to be entered all in by hand again. Fortunately the wiki has an import function where properly-formatted spreadsheet data can be automatically imported into the wiki.

CSV Files

In general, the process requires that the spreadsheet be exported to something called a comma-separated-values file (or CSV, for short). Each row in that file will correspond to a future page on the wiki, and will be populated with whatever fields of data you have that correspond to the wiki fields. Nearly all spreadsheet programs have an "export to CSV" option, so the export to that format should be easy.

However, the file should be prepared in a particular format prior to export. Here are general considerations:

• Any fields that contain geographic coordinates (lat/long) must be decimal-degree values, and in a string " " separated by a comma, i.e "39.2356,-74.2356" otherwise they'll import, but won't be the right location. Note that decimal degrees is not the same as degrees, minutes and seconds. See the difference: 30.5 degrees (which is decimal notation) is the equivalent of 30°30’00” (degrees, minutes, seconds notation). Do not take something looking like 30°23’46” and enter it in as 30.2346. They are not equivalent and you'll find the location will not be where you intend.

• Any commas in any of the fields must be within quotes. For instance, brick, masonry, stone MUST be "brick, masonry, stone" or the import will fail.

• Make sure there isn't already a page for the record in the wiki. If there is, delete that record from the CSV and enter its data into the wiki by hand.

• The header record (field names, etc) which is the first line of the CSV file has a particular format requirement. The page field MUST be named Title and the rest of the fields MUST be named Table_Name[field_name] (Table_name to be substituted for whatever table the spreadsheet is to be imported into. Currently we have Arch, buildings, Firms and Grounds.)

The Table Formats

Note that you do not have to have an input for every field. You might not have any entries in any of the records for a particular field. However, the fields that you do have must be named (in the top row of the CSV file) exactly the field names below, including underscores, if any. And the names are case sensitive.

The Arch Table

Field Name	Type	Comments
portrait	File
birth_date	Date
birth_approx	Boolean
birth_place	String
death_date	Date
death_approx	Boolean
death_place	String
nationality	String
alma_mater	String
associated_firms	List of Page
burial_place	String
spouse	String
signature	File
awards	String
significant_design	String

The buildings Table

Field Name	Type	Comments
image	File
address	String
Geo	Coordinates
altitude	String
owner	String
building_type	String
architectural_style	String
height	Float
material	String
floor_count	Float
floor_area	Float
elevator_count	Integer
structural_system	String
architect	Page
architecture_firm	Page
structural_engineer	String
civil_engineer	String
m_e_engineer	String
other_designers	String
surveyor	String
landscape_architect	String
contractors	List of Page
awards	String
groundbreaking_date	Date
groundbreaking_date_approx	Boolean
start_date	Date
start_date_approx	Boolean
topped_out_date	Date
topped_out_date_approx	Boolean
completion_date	Date
completion_date_approx	Boolean
opened_date	Date
opened_date_approx	Boolean
cost	Float
cost_approx	Boolean
renovation_date	Date
renovation_date_approx	Boolean
ren_architect	String
ren_firm	String
ren_l_a	String
ren_str_engineer	String
ren_civ_engineer	String
ren_oth_designers	String
ren_m_e_engineer	String
ren_contractors	List of Page
ren_cost	Float
ren_cost_approx	Boolean
ren_awards	String
demolished	Date
demolished_approx	Boolean
national_register_id	Integer
national_register_url	URL

The Firms Table

Field Name	Type	Comments
logo	File
image	File
firm_type	List of String
founders	List of Page
antecedents	List of Page
successors	List of Page
personnel	List of Page
location	String
founded	Start date
founded_approx	Boolean
dissolved	End date
dissolved_approx	Boolean
awards	List of String
significant_projects	List of Page
website	URL

The Grounds Table

Field Name	Type	Comments
alt_name	String
image	File
address	String
perimeter	Text
Geo	Coordinates
founder	List of String
owner	String
builder	List of String
landscape_architect	Page
other_designers	List of Page
acreage	Float
elevation	Float
founded	Date
founded_approx	Boolean
opened	Date
opened_approx	Boolean
type	List of String
NRHP_ID	String
NRHP_url	URL

The Import

After the CSV file is in a format that allows for one-to-one import to the wiki fields, click on the Import CSV page, select the CSV file using the "Browse" button at the top of the page, leave the encoding type as-is, select "Skip" for pages that already exist, and click on the Import button at the bottom to initiate the process.

Note that wikis do not import files of this type all at one time. To lessen the load on the site, they import one record each time there is another page request anywhere else on the wiki. This serves to spread the backend processing load out and allows the wiki to remain responsive to other users. Over the next few minutes or hours the wiki will import one record at a time from the CSV until all the records are online.