# Bulk import of cases from excel... not working **URL:** \ **Category:** Users\ **Created:** [February 17, 2015, 10:22am UTC](https://forum.dimagi.com/t/bulk-import-of-cases-from-excel-not-working/2073 "2015-02-17T10:22:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eric\_Stephan2](https://dimagi.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Eric\_Stephan2](https://forum.dimagi.com/u/Eric_Stephan2)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 10:22am UTC](https://forum.dimagi.com/t/bulk-import-of-cases-from-excel-not-working/2073/1 "2015-02-17T10:22:30Z")
Hi folks -- I am trying to carry out the bulk import of 400 cases from an excel spreadsheet, for the purposes of testing how my phones and app will behave with a large number of cases. \*\*\* I am trying to follow the instructions to the letter -- the ones I am following are: [https://confluence.dimagi.com/display/commcarepublic/Importing+Cases+Using+Excel](https://confluence.dimagi.com/display/commcarepublic/Importing+Cases+Using+Excel) \*\*\* My problem appears is in mapping the case properties of "owner\_name." My problem seems to be exactly the same as the one that is posted by someone in the comment thread at the bottom of: [https://confluence.dimagi.com/display/commcarepublic/Mapping+Case+Properties+and+Completing+the+Import](https://confluence.dimagi.com/display/commcarepublic/Mapping+Case+Properties+and+Completing+the+Import) \*\*\* My problem: When I reach that final page just mentioned, your instructions tell me: _Map the owner\_name column to the case property called owner\_name. This will assign each case to a user or case sharing group. You will need to check off the box for "Create a new property instead"_ ... However, if follow that instructio, and I check the 'create a new property instead' box to OFF, then it does not allow me to type anything I want in there -- it instead gives me a dropdown where I must choose one of the existing properties. "owner\_name" is not one of the option. Only owner\_id is in there, which I believe is something different. ... But, if I check that checkbox to ON, then I CAN type whatever I want in there. I did try that method and carefully typed in _owner\_name_, ... but when I did that, it did the whole import and then nicely told me that zero records were imported -- you can see the error message in the attached screenshot. ... I am also attaching my import XLS sheet. you will see that the name of the group that I am trying to make be the "owner" is m1m. That is the exact name of a case sharing group that I want to be the owner of these new cases. Any advice on how to make this import work? thanks! Eric ![](https://dimagi.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/1X/942d6381b3a3815da875d70ad4644586de011937.jpg) [FormsREG-hack-for-importing-bulk-out400.xls](https://dimagi.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/1X/3d53fa4d992b8049e79b5eb0590e6d3b33eb68e0.xls) (98 KB) ---
**Author:** ![czue](https://dimagi.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.dimagi.com/czue/32/493_2.png) [@czue](https://forum.dimagi.com/u/czue)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://forum.dimagi.com/t/bulk-import-of-cases-from-excel-not-working/2073/2 "2015-02-17T13:21:37Z")
Hey Eric, We'll create a support ticket in our system and get back to you on this via that mechanism. cheers, Cory > **ยทยทยท** > > On Tue, Feb 17, 2015 at 5:22 AM, Eric Stephan wrote: > > > Hi folks -- I am trying to carry out the bulk import of 400 cases from an > > excel spreadsheet, for the purposes of testing how my phones and app will > > behave with a large number of cases. > > > > \*\*\* I am trying to follow the instructions to the letter -- the ones I am > > following are: > > > > [Importing Cases Using Excel - CommCare Public - CommCare Public](https://confluence.dimagi.com/display/commcarepublic/Importing+Cases+Using+Excel) > > > > \*\*\* My problem appears is in mapping the case properties of "owner\_name." > > My problem seems to be exactly the same as the one that is posted by > > someone in the comment thread at the bottom of: > > > > [https://confluence.dimagi.com/display/commcarepublic/Mapping+Case+Properties+and+Completing+the+Import](https://confluence.dimagi.com/display/commcarepublic/Mapping+Case+Properties+and+Completing+the+Import) > > > > \*\*\* My problem: When I reach that final page just mentioned, your > > instructions tell me: _Map the owner\_name column to the case property > > called owner\_name. This will assign each case to a user or case sharing > > group. You will need to check off the box for "Create a new property > > instead"_ > > ... However, if follow that instructio, and I check the 'create a new > > property instead' box to OFF, then it does not allow me to type anything I > > want in there -- it instead gives me a dropdown where I must choose one of > > the existing properties. "owner\_name" is not one of the option. Only > > owner\_id is in there, which I believe is something different. > > > > ... But, if I check that checkbox to ON, then I CAN type whatever I want > > in there. I did try that method and carefully typed in _owner\_name_, ... > > but when I did that, it did the whole import and then nicely told me that > > zero records were imported -- you can see the error message in the attached > > screenshot. > > > > ... I am also attaching my import XLS sheet. you will see that the name of > > the group that I am trying to make be the "owner" is m1m. That is the exact > > name of a case sharing group that I want to be the owner of these new cases. > > > > Any advice on how to make this import work? > > > > thanks! > > Eric > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "commcare-users" group. > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > > email to [commcare-users+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:commcare-users+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout).