How can I import my old database?

Our import tool lets you import a CSV file of your old database into Colido. You can export a CSV file from almost any database program and from an Excel spreadsheet as well.

First of all please choose “Import” from the main navigation on the left. Within this section you will be able to see all recent imports and start a new one as well.

As you start the import process, you will be asked to choose a csv file from your disc. Please be aware that the import is limited to 2500 objects right now. So in case your collection is bigger than that, you will need to split your csv database into multiple parts and import them one by one.

After you uploaded your file you will be asked to set your default units and currencies and match all columns.

Setting default units and currencies will help to complete your informations, if units and currencies are not included in your csv file. All currency and unit informations coming from your original informations will not be overwritten by these settings though.

By matching the columns of the imported database file with the Colido information input fields, you can make sure that your collection data will be transferred correctly.

The system will already try to make sense of your uploaded data. Therefore some columns of your old database are probably already matched to the Colido database fields. Any column with a match is marked with a blue frame.

Please double check all already matched fields and also match the columns, which are not connected and marked blue yet. You can also dismiss columns, if you do not want to include the informations captured within these fields.

If you captured informations within your own database before, which do not have a proper input field in Colido, we suggest to add these informations to the “Notes” or the “Description” field for now.

Please be aware of the difference between the “Specimen title” and the “Minerals / paragenesis” fields we are providing: If you are matching one of your database columns to the field “Minerals / paragenesis” all data will be treated as a mineral (or checked against connecting terms such as “and”, “on”, “with”, “pseudomorph after”, “var”, etc). If the system does not find a mineral species or a connecting term in our species database, every other word within this field will be treated as a new mineral species - and it will be added to the your private mineral database and to the paragenesis chart of the specific object.

So if you are using locality or other describing informations within your mineral names, please match its column with the field “Specimen title” – and not with the “Mineral / paragenesis” field. The system will then try to build up the paragenesis by itself.

After all columns are either matched or dismissed, you will see a preview of your new Colido database within the next step. As you feel everything looks okay, start the import.

The server will take some time to process your import. This depends on the size of your database and the amount of other users importing databases at the same time. You will see your import status on the dashboard and within the import section as well. As the import is done you will get an in-app notification.

If anything went wrong with the import and you would like to redo it, just go to the import section again. It will show you a list of all recent imports. Click on the arrow button on the right side of the corrupted import. You will then see all the objects you have imported. Click on “Manage objects” on the top right side, then click “Select all” on the left. This will select all objects associated with the import you are looking at. Then click on “Delete”. This again might take some time - depending on the amount of objects you are deleting.

After you have deleted these objects, you can start over with a fresh system. By the way: All deleted items will remain in the trash for a certain time. That way you can always restore deleted items.

Please be aware that the import feature still is in testing mode. If you experience any problems or if you have any suggestions on how to improve it, please send an email to support@colido.de

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