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Special Characters 

  1. Double Quotes: 

  • Issue: Double quotes are ignored when parsing data and do not prevent commas from being treated as delimiters. 

  • Resolution: Remove double quotes or replace them with single quotes for text fields. 

  1. Single Quotes: 

  • Issue: Single quotes cause no issues and can remain. 

  • Resolution: No action required. 

  1. Ampersands (&): 

  • Issue: Ampersands cannot be used. 

  • Resolution: Replace ampersands with the word "and" or another suitable character. 

 

Common Field Requirements and Limitations 

 File Formatting 

  1. Maximum Number of Columns: 

    • Limit: A file can have up to 50 columns. 

    • Resolution: Reduce columns by consolidating data where possible. 

  1. Unique Values in Fields: 

    • Limit: Fields like Activist Codes can have no more than 60 unique values in one file. 

    • Resolution: Split files into smaller batches, ensuring each has fewer than 60 unique values for these fields. 

 

Data Field-Specific Issues 

  1. Address: 

    • Limit: Cannot exceed 500 characters. 

    • Resolution: Shorten addresses by using abbreviations or removing unnecessary details. 

  1. Email: 

    • Limit: Must include “@” and be fewer than 100 characters. 

    • Resolution: Validate email addresses before uploading. 

  1. Employer/Occupation: 

    • Limit: Cannot exceed 50 characters. 

    • Resolution: Use abbreviations or simplify employer/occupation names. 

  1. First/Last/Middle Name: 

    • Limits: 

      • First Name: 75 characters max. 

      • Last Name: 150 characters max. 

      • Middle Name: 75 characters max. 

    • Resolution: Shorten names if needed. 

  1. Gender: 

    • Requirement: Values must start with “M” or “F”. 

    • Resolution: Ensure all gender fields use these values. 

  1. Phone Numbers: 

    • Requirement: Numeric values only, limited to 10 digits. 

    • Resolution: Remove non-numeric characters (e.g., parentheses, dashes) and ensure the length is 10 digits. 

  1. State: 

    • Requirement: Must be a valid US state or territory. 

    • Resolution: Correct any typos or invalid entries. 

  1. Suffix: 

    • Limit: 5 characters max. 

    • Resolution: Shorten long suffixes if applicable. 

  1. Zip Code: 

    • Requirement: Numeric values only, max 10 characters. 

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