Preferred Data Formats

Overview

Use these standard formats when preparing your data files. Consistent formatting ensures smooth import and reduces validation errors.

Dates

Required Format: YYYY-MM-DD (ISO 8601)

Examples:

• ✅ 2024-01-15
• ✅ 2023-12-31
• ❌ 01/15/2024
• ❌ 15-Jan-2024

Common Transformations:

MM/DD/YYYY → YYYY-MM-DD
Example: 01/15/2024 → 2024-01-15

DD-MON-YYYY → YYYY-MM-DD
Example: 15-Jan-2024 → 2024-01-15

Excel Date Serial → YYYY-MM-DD
Example: 45307 → 2024-01-15

Phone Numbers

Preferred Format: (555) 123-4567

Accepted Formats:

• ✅ (555) 123-4567
• ✅ 555-123-4567
• ✅ 555.123.4567
• ✅ 5551234567

Transformations:

(555) 123-4567 → (555) 123-4567 ✓ (already correct)
555.123.4567   → (555) 123-4567
5551234567     → (555) 123-4567

Boolean Values

Required Format: true or false

Common Transformations:

Y/N     → true/false
1/0     → true/false
Yes/No  → true/false
T/F     → true/false

Examples:

• ✅ true
• ✅ false
• ❌ Y
• ❌ 1
• ❌ Yes

Currency

Required Format: Numeric value without currency symbols or thousands separators

Examples:

• ✅ 1500.00
• ✅ 250.50
• ❌ $1,500.00
• ❌ 1.500,00

Common Transformations:

$1,500.00  → 1500.00  (remove $ and commas)
1500       → 1500.00  (add decimal places)
1.500,00   → 1500.00  (European format to US format)

Percentages

Required Format: Decimal value (not percentage)

Examples:

• ✅ 0.25 (for 25%)
• ✅ 0.50 (for 50%)
• ❌ 25%
• ❌ 25

Common Transformations:

25%  → 0.25
50%  → 0.50
100% → 1.00

Email Addresses

Required Format: Standard email format

Examples:

• ✅ john.smith@email.com
• ✅ owner@domain.org
• ❌ john.smith (missing domain)
• ❌ @email.com (missing local part)

Validation:

• Must contain exactly one @ symbol
• Must have content before and after @
• Domain must include a period (.)

Text Fields

Encoding: UTF-8

Special Characters:

• Commas inside text fields must be quoted
• Example: "123 Main St, Suite 100"

Line Breaks:

• Avoid line breaks within fields
• If necessary, use quoted fields

Empty Values:

• Use empty string "" for optional fields
• Required fields cannot be empty

File Format Requirements

CSV Files:

• UTF-8 encoding
• Comma delimiter
• Header row required
• Quote text fields containing commas
• Maximum file size: 100MB

Column Headers:

• Use exact field names as specified in entity documentation
• Case-sensitive
• No spaces before/after column names

Common Issues and Fixes

Issue: Date import errors

Fix: Convert all dates to YYYY-MM-DD format

Issue: Currency values rejected

Fix: Remove $ symbols and thousand separators (,)

Issue: Phone number validation fails

Fix: Use consistent format, preferably (555) 123-4567

Issue: Boolean field errors

Fix: Use only true or false (lowercase)

Issue: File encoding errors

Fix: Save CSV files as UTF-8 encoding

Quick Reference

Questions?

See FAQs for more help with data formatting.