Importing Data Updated 2026-02-22

Preparing a CSV file for store import

What this article helps you do

Prepare a CSV file with your store locations so you can bulk import them into Mapstore without errors or skipped rows.

Before you start

  • Have your store data ready (names, addresses, and any extra fields like phone or email)
  • Use a spreadsheet app (Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers) or a plain text editor to create the CSV
  • Ensure the file is saved as CSV (comma-separated values), not Excel format

Step-by-step instructions

1. Include required columns

Every row must have two columns: name and address. These are required. Rows missing either field will be skipped during import.

Example header row:

name,address

2. Add optional columns if needed

You can include any of these columns in your CSV:

  • phone - Store phone number
  • email - Store email
  • website - Store website URL
  • description - Store description
  • status - Active/inactive (use true, false, yes, or no)
  • pinned - Feature this store (use true, false, yes, or no)
  • filters - Comma-separated tags for filtering (e.g. retail,outlet)
  • googlePlaceId - Google Place ID for reviews and hours sync
  • customDirectionsUrl - Custom directions URL for this store
  • customMarkerImage - Custom marker image URL
  • image - Store image URL
  • note - Internal note (not shown on the storefront)
  • sortOrder - Numeric row order used for sorting

3. Match column names correctly

Column names are case-insensitive. Common aliases work (e.g. location_name or store_name for name, full_address or location for address).

4. Format data cleanly

  • Put each store on its own row
  • Avoid empty required fields
  • For text with commas, wrap the value in double quotes
  • Remove extra spaces at the start or end of values

How to verify it worked

  1. In Mapstore, go to Stores and open Bulk.
  2. Upload your CSV file.
  3. Check the import summary: it should show how many stores were imported and how many rows (if any) were skipped.
  4. If rows were skipped, the summary will list the row numbers (header counts as row 1) and reasons (e.g. “Missing required field(s): name”).
  5. Go to Stores and confirm your locations appear on the list.

Common issues and fixes

IssueFix
Rows skipped with “Missing required field(s): name” or “address”Add a name and address column and ensure every row has values in both.
Many rows skippedOpen your CSV in a text editor and check for empty cells, odd characters, or rows without both name and address.
Column not recognizedUse the standard column name (e.g. name, address, phone) or a known alias.
Import shows warningsRead the warning text; it may mention minor issues that did not block the import.