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Data Import Issues and Troubleshooting

Introduction​

Importing data into whyhow is a critical step in building knowledge graphs and performing analysis. However, users may sometimes encounter issues during the data import process. This guide aims to help users troubleshoot common data import issues and provide solutions to ensure smooth data integration.

Common Data Import Issues​

1. File Format Incompatibility​

Symptoms​

  • Error messages indicating unsupported file formats
  • Data fails to load or is not recognized by whyhow

Possible Causes​

  • Using file formats that are not supported by whyhow
  • Incorrect file extensions or mismatched file content

Solutions​

  1. Verify that the file format you are using is supported by whyhow. Refer to the documentation for a list of supported file formats.
  2. Ensure that the file extension matches the actual content of the file. For example, a CSV file should have a .csv extension.
  3. Convert the file to a supported format using a reliable file conversion tool or export the data from the original source in a compatible format.

2. Data Schema Mismatch​

Symptoms​

  • Errors indicating schema mismatch or invalid data structure
  • Imported data does not align with the expected schema in whyhow

Possible Causes​

  • Inconsistency between the structure of the imported data and the defined schema in whyhow
  • Missing or additional columns in the imported data compared to the schema

Solutions​

  1. Review the schema requirements for the specific data type you are importing in whyhow.
  2. Verify that the imported data matches the expected schema, including column names, data types, and order.
  3. Modify the imported data or the schema definition in whyhow to ensure consistency.
  4. Use data transformation tools or scripts to preprocess the data and align it with the required schema.

3. Encoding and Special Characters​

Symptoms​

  • Garbled or unreadable characters in the imported data
  • Errors related to character encoding or unsupported characters

Possible Causes​

  • Mismatch between the character encoding of the imported file and the expected encoding in whyhow
  • Presence of special characters or symbols that are not handled correctly

Solutions​

  1. Identify the character encoding of the imported file. Common encodings include UTF-8, ASCII, or ISO-8859-1.
  2. Ensure that the character encoding of the file matches the encoding expected by whyhow. Convert the file to the appropriate encoding if necessary.
  3. Handle special characters or symbols in the data by either removing them, replacing them with acceptable alternatives, or escaping them properly.
  4. Use data cleaning techniques to normalize and standardize the data before importing.

4. Data Quality and Consistency​

Symptoms​

  • Errors or warnings related to data quality issues
  • Inconsistencies or anomalies in the imported data

Possible Causes​

  • Missing or null values in the imported data
  • Inconsistent formatting or data types across records
  • Duplicate or conflicting data entries

Solutions​

  1. Perform data quality checks and validations on the imported data before importing into whyhow.
  2. Handle missing or null values by either removing the affected records, imputing default values, or marking them explicitly.
  3. Ensure consistent formatting and data types across all records in the imported data. Convert or normalize the data as needed.
  4. Identify and resolve duplicate or conflicting data entries by applying deduplication techniques or defining priority rules.

If you can't find a solution in the above or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team. You can contact us via email: team@whyhow.ai.