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CSV Import

Former Member
Former Member over 6 years ago
Hi

I know I am not the first to raise this as I have already searched the forums and looked at a number of posts concerning this issue. I have eight years of data from MapMyRun (account is now closed and deleted) exported as a CSV file - it doesn't contain any mapping data so conversion to tcx or gpx is not required. I'm not exactly a rookie when it comes to IT and I know that data import is a notoriously tricky issue and I also don't entirely blame Garmin for the fact that I cannot get it to work so far.

What I have done is created some workouts in Garmin Connect (GC) and then exported these as a CSV file - this provides me with a base template to work with, because usually for a CSV import to work, the column headings, field formatting and data has to match. I have then copied all my data from the MMR file into the relevant columns in the GC export and I have defaulted all the fields I don't want to zero (or 00:00) as the case may be. I have also ensured categories of workouts have been edited to match with those available in Garmin Connect.

The only problem is the date field, as the GC field format is a custom format of DD/MM/YYYY HH:MM:SS and I know I have duplicates as I have dates for my workouts but no start times (thanks MMR - top work there). To get round this I ensured the top four values only were unique rows and used this as a test file.

However, even after all this I am still receiving the error message:

An error occurred with your upload. Please try again.

I have also tried using date only in the import field (i.e. deleting the time stamp) but this also returns the same error. I can't really think of anything else to try - as I said I don't expect this to work by magic but I had rather hoped that by using CG to create a base CSV template and manually mapping my data to that it might have stood a chance.

Has anybody else managed to crack this? All pointers gratefully received.

Regards and thanks in anticipation

Andy

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  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    I had one additional thought - to create a CSV import file directly from the output file that was created by Garmin Connect - I used just one line of data and only changed the Workout Title - no other fields were edited. This also failed to import with an identical error, unfortunately that leads me to conclude - as have others - that the CSV import facility is simply not functional at this time as there is no reason why this test should not pass easily.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago

    Good suggestion thanks - however using a unique date still generates the same error. To import data - there's a small cloud symbol top right with an up arrow in it called 'upload or import activity' when you hover over it. Click that and you get a browse or drag and drop option to upload a file. To export data under the activities tab there's an option top right called Export CSV that drops all your activities to data into a csv file that saves in your default download location.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    The CSV import is for fitbit data not Garmin activitiy data exported in csv format.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago


    Yeah, seems that way but it should be badged as a Fitbit proprietary format if that''s the case. CSV is a global standard so any CSV file should work, provided the structure matches the import spec - so come on Garmin, publish the schema for the input specification. There is no reason not to.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Create a fitbit login. Add a manual activity. Export data from here https://www.fitbit.com/settings/data/export. The format is underwhelming.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago
    Create a fitbit login. Add a manual activity. Export data from here https://www.fitbit.com/settings/data/export. The format is underwhelming.


    Now that is a top suggestion. So I have tried this and - you're right - underwhelming is the word; it doesn't even capture activity type. However, undaunted I continued to beat my MMR data until it wept (in fact it was sobbing uncontrollably by this point) but no matter - the wretched file will still not import to GC.

    I really don't know what else I can do now other than to add it all manually - which is a complete and utter pain in the neck but looks like that is my only remaining option.

    The CSV Import plugin allows users to import items from a simple CSV (comma-separated values) file, and then map the CSV column data to multiple elements, files, and/or tags. Each row in the file represents metadata for a single item


    Thanks for this, I do have a pretty good understanding of how CSV files are structured and are 'supposed' to work - the problem is that GC does not seem to want to follow open standards and conventions for structured data or play by the rule book. It won't read its own export format and won't import using the Fitbit file structure either.

    Many thanks to all respondents for taking the time out to assist and suggest solutions - much appreciated as always.

    Andy
  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Did you ever get any luck here? I am trying to resolve the same issue and the Garmin tech response is incredibly unhelpful. I exported all my MMR data and then formatted it into the Fitbit .csv template but that certainly doesn't work!

    Very frustrating when you're committing to the Garmin ecosystem and they don't care about your historical data!

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to twjdavie

    Sounds like Andy  never solved it, I'm in the same situation, 9 years of data that i would like to consolidate in GC. Their above suggestion to fool GC with a Fitbit csv sounds like a winner, but they are saying they failed. Very frustrating, and no I will not manually enter 9 years data... Good luck

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to 8406375
    8406375 said:
    Their above suggestion to fool GC with a Fitbit csv sounds like a winner, but they are saying they failed

    Seems to me that he skipped one step:

    Importing the original .csv, which was exported from his Fitbit account.

    Instead, it sounds as if he exported the .csv from his Fitbit account, studied it, mimicked the format with his own data and tried to import it.

    So now we don't know if the problem is that Garmin can't read an original Fitbit .csv, or that he somehow made an error with his custom file, so it doesn't exactly replicate the Fitbit .csv format.

    So if I were you, I would not yet give up on the Fitbit suggestion.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I've just exported all my data from Golden Cheetah as a .fit and it has imported seamlessly into Garmin Connect using the web uploader. It just handled 200 activities with no problems. Why don't you try importing your data into Golden Cheetah, and then batch exporting it as a .fit file. I love Golden Cheetah and may keep using it but I've just got a Garmin watch and I really like the idea of having everything on phone or online.