Importing a CSV file

Hello, I'm looking to see if LibraryThing can work for me. I'd like to import an Excel/CSV file, but I find the instructions lacking a lot of details. In the Universal Import function, there's a text in the right column mentioning the CSV import, and referring to an example file (LibraryThingSample.csv). It says you can use this as a basis for your own CSV file, but it doesn't say how the columns need to be formatted and named to be able to import correctly.
So, in the example file, are these the only columns that can be imported? If not, how do I know how to name the columns so that the import function will recognize them and match them into something LibraryThing will accept?

Thanks in advance,
/Thomas Michanek, Sweden

The import will automatically recognize the ISBN on a book, so any other data becomes secondary, because it retrieves data based on that ISBN. I've never uploaded without the ISBN so I'm not sure how that would work, and will let others answer that part.

And those are the only columns that can be imported so the question about other columns isn't relevant.

OK, but according to the page for Universal Import, the CSV import will import more than the ISBN:
"Alternatively, you can format a file with carefully selected columns and have all this imported. See the Excel sheet at the bottom of this page for an example of how it needs to look." (Translated into English from my localized page)

So, I assume that by using the CSV file, I will get more than the ISBN column imported, and LibraryThing will use the data in the additional columns. Otherwise, the whole point with the CSV import seems lost.

That's how most of us wish it would work. But if you have ISBNs included, the system looks up the ISBNs and takes that info instead (so title/author/publication being the main ones). It will still import things that the library info does do, like tags and review.

If you don't have the ISBNs included in the CSV file, will it be imported at all? Not all my books have ISBN.

>6 michanek: Yes. So long as you follow the LT Sample file formatting for your data, books without ISBNs will still be imported.

Thank you LT! Just did the download of my Shelfari books and it only took 55 minutes and not one book was lost! THANK YOU! I use a public computer and was afraid it would take longer than the time I had to use! Fantastic!!!!!

Where do I find the format needed for books without ISBN numbers. We don't have any ISBN numbers listed in our excel database, and we have over 1000 books. I tried importing it but it would not work.

HELP

Thanks

>9 Adat_Reyim_Library: I replied to your message over here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/230811 with more details, but you can find the Sample format on our Import page: More > Import/export > Universal Import.

Hi folks,
Still trying to sort a couple of issues around the import. OK I understand that LT grabs book data from elsewhere (eg Amazon) to populate critical Bibliographic data.
What I'm struggling with is how to import more custom fields.
I used a tag field, but also want a comments field (or even another tag field) so I can add other important data.
Can anyone advise.
Ive tried the CSV import but it wont add anything other than the "TAG" field.
Thanks

If you looked at the sample import file that Lorannen linked to, that's all the import fields available. Even then, if you use an ISBN, all other data is ignored in the import file.

BTW, Overcat is a much better source than Amazon for an import. Amazon can be a big help for new books that aren't listed in many libraries yet, but older books are in libraries. Older Amazon entries are often from their marketplace partners and the data quality is terrible. Overcat is an LT source including all successful library searches and full catalogues from a few libraries that have permitted that.

>12 gilroy: Correct. Leaving the ISBN column blank is one way to get around that issue, too.

OK, thanks, I did check the CSV sample..
Would you be able to recommend the best approach to this:

LibraryThing is grabbing the basic bibliographic data for the books, but I want to add 2 extra fields for the following:
1. Tag for a collection sub category ie Reader
2. A Tag or comment to indicate the language level - eg Intermediate - these are young readers books so I want to show the level.

I would rather do this in the spreadsheet - which I guess is not possible from your comments -even though it would be easier!
I guess I could just use a TAG from the spreadsheet for "Reader" and co-opt RATING for the language level.
I agree with Michanek above that the upload instruction is a little ambiguous.
Thanks again and any thoughts?

...err OK can't co-opt the RATING field in the way described above.
Now trying several tags in TAG field.

I've just successfully imported over 4,000 titles without ISBNs. How can I get ISBNs to pull up for my titles (authors are included)?

Can we use a csv to add information to existing records?

>18 PBASA: there is no way to edit records with the import function at this time.

I am trying to import my books using a csv. file. I made a file (using Excel and saving as a csv) with the exact headings as the example (I copied and pasted them into the top row). My items were imported, except the author and review (where I had added my notes) column info did not import. HELP Please! and Thanks!

>20 Gordon_C_Olson_Libr: If you included the ISBN in the file, it will pull items from the sources but nothing else from the csv file.
If you want to draw in what was in the file, you need to not include the ISBN, but leave the same column in as blank.

I don't have any isbn's (should have said that). I'm working with a collection donated to our library and working with the excel file they provided.
I did what you suggested, using all the fields in the sample csv with the only fields with information being title, author, publisher, reviews, call number. I got everything except author and reviews.

>22 Gordon_C_Olson_Libr: Okay, well, since your library is set to private, I can't dig deeper to see if things got imported into the wrong fields.
Since you didn't include an ISBN in the file, but kept the column there, and all the fields were in the same order and identically labeled to the sample CSV, you may have a bug that needs to go to the admin team. They can be contacted through the Contact link at the bottom of every Librarything page.

>23 gilroy: Thanks for your help. I set it to public. I really had it set to private only to get it in better order before making it public. Will also contact the bug team.