Import Data App: Matrix field with input textboxes incorrectly imports when value has "comma" on them

I think I have a workaround for my own use (will search and replace commas with semicolons in my Excel file). However, this is slightly unsatisfactory. Commas are not special characters in XML, so I don't know if you have some other value that I could use that would actually display as a comma or to distinguish a text comma from a row comma for import purposes.

Hi,

If I understand correctly, you are saying that the current delimiter used by Import Data App (which is comma sign) is not working on your import process?

I understand that when you export the form data that have a Matrix table field on it, the resulting data for the Matrix field is also delimited by comma sign.

So what happens now, when you try to import the previously exported data using the Import Data Apps, is it will breakdown the Matrix data into multiple field data because of the comma delimiter.

Please confirm if this what happens in your case. 

If it is not, please clarify so we can check on it further.

Thank you.

That is correct.

Thus, original data:

Column 1 Row 1 Entry             Column 2 Row 1 Entry
Column 1 Row 2 Entry             Column 2 Row 2, Entry

translates through 

Column 1 Row 1 Entry|Column 2 Row 1 Entry,Column 1 Row 2 Entry|Column 2 Row 2, Entry

to become

Column 1 Row 1 Entry             Column 2 Row 1 Entry
Column 1 Row 2 Entry             Column 2 Row 2
Entry

@adatshalom 

If I understand you correctly, it is the matrix values that contains comma right?

Example: 

Now you want to escape the comma separated values during the import for matrix tables? If yes, you can try replacing the commas with the following special HTML character for comma. This might help.

,

So on your example, it will become:

Column 1 Row 2 Entry             Column 2 Row 2, Entry

This looks fine on my test, hopefully it does the same thing on your end.

Hope this helps!

That works for the first two pieces--separating into the matrix properly and displaying in the grid view, but when you edit the submission, you still see , instead of a comma, which I suspect will be disconcerting to our members.

It seems like our developers have updated the Import Data App, but it looks like they are still making some test, I see the bug ticket here is still unresolved: http://www.jotform.com/answers/615408.

The Import Data App now shows the template for the Matrix field:

However, it looks like the comma separates the value on a new row instead. So for input fields that have commas in it, it will import it incorrectly.

I'll forward this to our developers to have it checked.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

Fantastic! Thanks for your efforts; works like a charm.

You're most welcome. We're glad to be of a help.

If you needed any assistance again, please do not hesitate to open a new thread here in the forum.

Thank you.