---
title: "Columns in CSV do not match survey"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/1357/columns-in-csv-do-not-match-survey"
tags: ["collect", "earth"]
status: "answered"
score: 0
answer_count: 3
asked: "2017-08-09T17:25:28"
last_activity: "2017-08-14T22:13:47"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# Columns in CSV do not match survey

Asked by jinkaizhang on 2017-08-09

Hello,

I was trying to import plot data into Collect Earth (using the Collect Earth options panel). I always got the error saying "Columns in CSV do not match survey". Even though i got the error, the plot data can still be imported into Collect Earth. I am not sure what the issue is .

here is a portion of the csv file:

id,ycoord,xcoord,ele,slop,aspect
0,56.58899,-113.76972,108.43495,0.75489,0
1,56.58899,-113.66972,296.56506,1.06752,0
2,56.58899,-113.56972,108.43495,0.75489,0
3,56.58899,-113.46972,90,0.47745,0
4,56.58899,-113.36972,-9999,0,0
5,56.58899,-113.26972,78.69007,1.21712,0
6,56.58899,-113.16972,78.69007,1.21712,0
7,56.58899,-113.06972,239.03624,1.39176,0
8,56.58899,-112.96972,135,0.33761,0
9,56.58899,-112.86972,135,5.38598,0
10,56.48899,-113.76972,291.03751,3.32143,0
11,56.48899,-113.66972,63.43495,1.06752,0
12,56.48899,-113.56972,-9999,0,0
13,56.48899,-113.46972,18.43495,3.01696,0
14,56.48899,-113.36972,78.69007,1.21712,0
15,56.48899,-113.26972,225,0.33761,0
16,56.48899,-113.16972,225,0.33761,0
17,56.48899,-113.06972,63.43495,1.06752,0
18,56.48899,-112.96972,326.30994,1.72101,0



thanks,

Jinkai


## Answer (score 0, by Stefano (OF) on 2017-08-10)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/1357/columns-in-csv-do-not-match-survey/1359

Dear Jinkai,  
You can try to generate the "template" for the CSV data import from the Survey Designer (you can find this function among the Advanced Functions in the top right corner of the survey edit page):  
![alt text][1]  
You can compare the template with the file you are trying to import and check if there are any differences (please not that you have to respect the same column names that are in the template).   
Thanks,  
Open Foris Team



  [1]: http://www.openforis.org/support/upfiles/Collect_Survey_Designer_-_Export_Collect_Earth_CSV_data_import-export_template.png


## Answer (score 0, by Open Foris on 2017-08-14)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/1357/columns-in-csv-do-not-match-survey/1361

In this specific case, after reviewing, it seems that the column names (the first line in the CSV) do not match the names of the variables in the survey.

    id,ycoord,xcoord,ele,slop,aspect

Probably *ele* should be *elevation* and *slop* should have been *slope*. 

If there are no columns names then the check is not performed.


## Answer (score 0, by jinkaizhang on 2017-08-14)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/1357/columns-in-csv-do-not-match-survey/1364

Thanks. 
After i changed column names to *id,YCoordinate,XCoordinate,elevation,slope,aspect*, it worked fine.

Good Day,

Jinkai