> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.coupler.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.coupler.io/sources/category/files-and-tables/csv/common-issues.md).
# Common Issues
## Connection issues
"Can't access your CSV file" error
This usually means your URL is not publicly accessible or not formatted correctly.
**Fix:**
* If using Google Drive, right-click the file → "Share" → "Change to "Anyone with the link" → "Viewer" → copy the shareable link
* Verify the URL points directly to the CSV file, not a landing page or preview page
* Test the URL in an incognito browser window to confirm it's public
* For API-based CSV exports, check that any required authentication headers (API keys, bearer tokens) are included in the "HTTP request headers" field
HTTP 405 "Method Not Allowed" error
Your CSV source requires a specific HTTP method (POST, PUT, etc.), but you selected GET.
**Fix:**
* Check your CSV source's API documentation to see which method is required
* Change the HTTP method in Coupler.io to match (e.g., POST, PATCH)
* Some sources like Clockify require POST for CSV exports
"Invalid Opening Quote" or CSV parse error
Your CSV contains unescaped quotation marks or special characters that confuse the parser.
**Fix:**
* Verify the CSV is properly formatted with escaped quotes (e.g., `"text with \"quotes\" inside"`)
* Download the CSV locally and open it in a text editor to inspect for formatting issues
* If the quote issue is in your source system, ask the provider to export with proper escaping
* Try using the "Ignore quotes" option in advanced settings if your CSV doesn't rely on quotes for field delimiting
Request times out or fails with no response
The CSV URL is slow to respond or unreachable from Coupler.io's servers.
**Fix:**
* Verify the URL is correct and responsive by testing it in your browser
* Check if your CSV source has rate limits or requires specific headers (User-Agent, etc.)
* If using an API endpoint, ensure any authentication tokens are current and not expired
* Try again after a few minutes; temporary network issues can cause timeouts
## Missing data
No data imported, but no error shown
The CSV was found and parsed, but it contained no data rows (only headers or empty file).
**Fix:**
* Verify the CSV file actually contains data by downloading and opening it locally
* Check if you're skipping too many rows with the "Skip rows" setting
* If the CSV is generated dynamically (e.g., API export), verify it returned data for the date range or filters you applied
Only partial columns imported
You may have specified a limited column list in the "Columns" field, or the CSV source only provided some columns.
**Fix:**
* Check the "Columns" field—if you want all columns, leave it empty
* Verify your CSV source returns all expected columns by testing the URL directly
* If using an API, check that you're not applying filters that exclude columns
Timestamps or dates are missing or incorrect
Date formatting issues or timezone mismatches can cause dates to appear wrong.
**Fix:**
* Verify dates in the source CSV are in a standard format (ISO 8601: YYYY-MM-DD recommended)
* Check your destination (Google Sheets, etc.) date formatting settings
* If your CSV source allows date range filters, ensure the date range includes the data you expect
## Permission errors
Google Drive file not accessible (403 Forbidden)
The file is shared with you personally, but not publicly shared.
**Fix:**
* Open the file in Google Drive, click "Share" at the top right
* Change the sharing setting from "Restricted" or "Shared with specific people" to "Anyone with the link"
* Set the role to "Viewer"
* Copy the shareable link and use it in Coupler.io
API key or bearer token rejected
Your authentication header is missing, invalid, or expired.
**Fix:**
* Verify the API key/token format matches your source's requirements (e.g., `Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN` or `X-API-Key: YOUR_KEY`)
* Check that your token hasn't expired; regenerate it if needed
* Ensure there are no extra spaces or typos in the header value
* Test the URL with the same header in Postman or curl to confirm it works
## Data discrepancies
CSV imported with extra blank rows at the end
Some CSV files have trailing empty lines that get imported as rows.
**Fix:**
* This is expected behavior; blank rows are preserved as-is from the source
* Clean them up in your destination using filters or formulas, or download the CSV and remove them before uploading
* The "Skip rows" setting only skips rows from the *top*; it doesn't remove trailing blank rows
Data appears truncated or wrapped oddly in the destination
Large text fields or special characters may display unexpectedly in your destination.
**Fix:**
* Adjust column width in your destination (Google Sheets, Excel, etc.)
* Check for hidden characters or encoding issues in the source CSV
* If using BigQuery or another data warehouse, verify the schema allows the data type and length
## Rate limits
"Rate limit exceeded" error on repeated imports
Your CSV source is throttling requests. This is common with API-based CSV exports.
**Fix:**
* Space out your scheduled refreshes; avoid running the same import multiple times per hour
* Check your CSV source's rate limit policy (e.g., Clockify, analytics APIs often allow 1-10 requests per minute)
* If scheduling, use longer intervals (daily vs. hourly) or distribute multiple flows across different times
* Contact your CSV source's support if you need higher rate limits
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