Understanding the TCGPlayer order file format and required fields for successful imports.
File Format Overview
TCGPlayer order files are CSV format with specific columns:
- CSV Format: Standard comma-separated values
- Header Row: First row contains column names
- UTF-8 Encoding: Standard text encoding
- One Order Per Row: Each line item is a separate row
Required Columns
Essential columns for import:
- Order Number: Unique order identifier
- Product Name: Card name
- Set Name: Card set or expansion
- Quantity: Number of items sold
- Price: Sale price per item
- Condition: Card condition
- Order Date: When order was placed
Optional Columns
Additional columns that enhance import:
- SKU: Helps with accurate inventory matching
- Language: Card language
- Printing: Foil/non-foil designation
- Rarity: Card rarity
- Card Number: Set number
- Customer Name: Buyer information
File Requirements
To ensure successful import:
- CSV Format: Must be comma-separated (not tab or semicolon)
- Header Row: First row must contain column names
- No Empty Rows: Remove blank rows between data
- Consistent Columns: All rows must have same number of columns
- Text Encoding: Use UTF-8 encoding
- File Size: Maximum 50MB per file
Common File Issues
Problems that can cause import failures:
- Wrong Format: File saved as Excel instead of CSV
- Modified Headers: Column names changed or deleted
- Missing Data: Required fields are empty
- Special Characters: Unusual characters in product names
- Date Format: Dates in unexpected format
Preparing the File
Best practices for file preparation:
- Don't Modify: Use TCGPlayer export as-is when possible
- Check Format: Verify file is CSV, not XLSX
- Remove Test Data: Delete any test or dummy orders
- One Time Period: Import one date range at a time
- Backup Copy: Keep original file as backup
Validation Error Messages
Common validation errors and solutions:
- "Invalid file format": Ensure file is CSV
- "Missing required columns": Check header row has all required fields
- "Invalid date format": Dates should be in standard format
- "Empty file": File has no data rows
- "File too large": Split into smaller files
Data Mapping
How TCGPlayer data maps to SortSwift:
- Product Name → Card Name: Matched to card database
- Set Name → Set: Matched to set in database
- Condition → Condition: Maps to SortSwift conditions (NM, LP, MP, HP, DM)
- Printing → Printing: Foil designation
- Price → Sale Price: Used for profit calculation
Important: Do not modify the TCGPlayer export file unless necessary. Changes to column headers or data structure can cause import failures. If you must edit, keep a backup of the original.