How to use the Export & Import tools?
SUMMARY
We cover this under primary headings:
- Format options.
- Understanding the Export Function.
- Understanding the Import Function.
- Unique Import function details
- Import format examples.
- User-space error messages.
Export/Import URLs revolve around a download/upload tool that works seamlessly in CSV or XML formats as follows:
- Login to your account and click the "Manage URLs" button.
- Click the Export or Import button in the upper right corner of your link list.
- Note: The Export and Import tools are only available to paying subscribers (i.e., not visible in free trials).
1. The Export Function
- It applies globally to all URLs in the account - "Long Url," "Short Url," and seven other optional parameters.
- You should find it easy to download all URLs from your account.
2. Import Function
- There is no file size limit, but there is a limit on the number of URLs per month. Contact us if you need to import more than the prescribed limit.
- The Import process is relatively slow if the number of URLs is> 100 and includes a timeout element. After 30 seconds of waiting, the browser may show a "Server Not Responding" message.
- However, please note that the server is still working on the import; you must give it more time.
- The URL number appears after each successful import.
3. Other details about the import procedure
- The supported file formats are CSV and XML (recognized by the mime type the browser sends, not by the file extension).
- The supported import fields are "long URL" and "short URL."
- It skips past:
- Short URLs with duplicate or invalid hashes because it only looks at the latter for identification.
- Long URLs invalidated by routine validation procedures.
- It requires a semicolon delimiter instead of a comma.
- URLs are sensitive to misplaced quotation marks, frequently triggering errors. Still, while quotations are not mandatory, we recommend them - especially if the URLs contain unusual symbols or spaces.
- The import process scans for "long URL" and "short URL" in that order.
- Always use the first line for column headers.
- If you need a clean slate in preparation for a new import, a quick way to do this is Settings > Account > Account Settings > Purge URLs
4. Import format examples - see CSV file examples
- User-space-specific error messages
- XML parsing error: "Error reading XML file"
- XML errors: [description of syntax error]
- Error messages that mean unable to recognize format:
- File upload error: "Unknown file type"
- CSV parsing errors: "Error reading CSV file."
- Data format requirements unmet: "0 URLs imported" or "Empty URL."
- XML error: "Not well-formed (invalid token)" at line 1, column 1