Importing DataUpdated 2026-08-25

Prepare a CSV file

What this article helps you do

Prepare a CSV file with store locations. Then, import the locations into Mapstore without errors or unexpected skipped rows.

Before you start

  • You have the store names, addresses, and other fields such as phone or email.
  • Create the CSV with a spreadsheet app or a plain-text editor.
  • Save the file as CSV, not as an Excel file.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Include required columns

Each row must have name and address. Mapstore skips a row if one of these values is missing.

Example header row:

name,address

2. Add optional columns if necessary

You can include these optional columns in your CSV:

  • phone - Store phone number
  • email - Store email
  • website - Store website URL
  • description - Store description
  • status - Make the store Active with true, 1, yes, or on. Other values create a Draft store.
  • pinned - Pin the store with true, 1, yes, or on. Other values leave it unpinned.
  • lat and lng - Existing latitude and longitude. Include the two columns when you know the coordinates.
  • filters - Comma-separated tags in one cell, such as "retail,outlet"
  • googlePlaceId - Google Place ID for rating, review count, 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

Custom fields use headers such as cf_text_Parking or cf_link_Booking_URL. See Add custom fields for position options.

3. Match column names

Column names are case-insensitive. For name, you can use location_name or store_name. For address, you can use full_address or location.

4. Format data cleanly

  • Put one store on each row.
  • Do not leave a required field empty.
  • Put double quotation marks around text that contains commas.
  • Remove spaces at the start or end of values.

How to verify it worked

  1. In Mapstore, go to Stores.
  2. Open Bulk.
  3. Select the file.
  4. Click Test CSV. This preview does not change stores.
  5. Check the rows ready to import, skipped rows, planned changes, geocoding work, and projected location total.
  6. Correct unexpected problems.
  7. Test the file again.
  8. Click Upload.
  9. Go to Stores.
  10. Make sure that you can see your locations in the list.

Troubleshooting

Issue Fix
Rows skipped with “Missing required field(s): name” or “address” Add a name and address column. Make sure that each row has values in the two columns.
Many rows skipped Open your CSV in a text editor. Check for empty cells, odd characters, or rows without a name or address.
Column not recognized Use a standard column name such as name, address, or phone. You can also use a known alias.
Import shows warnings Read the warning text. It can identify small problems that did not prevent the import.