Import failed because we couldn't determine the format of the dates in the file

When importing transactions with a CSV file, you might get the following error message:

Import failed because we couldn't determine the format of the dates in the file

Why this error occurs

PocketSmith will try to detect the date format of your file automatically, but if there are not many transactions to compare, it may not be able to determine the date format.

For example, PocketSmith must choose between formats dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy. 01/02/2015 could mean 1 January or 1 February. 

How to fix

The only way to fix this error is to import a CSV file with transactions with a broader date range so that PocketSmith can detect the date format.

Include multiple transactions within a single month

Having more transactions within the same month will mean that PocketSmith is more likely to determine the date format of the file.

Include transactions from the 13th of the month and after

Ensure your file has transactions from dates later in the month, not just the month's start. As dates up to the 12th of a month can be confused for months.

Manually enter transactions

If you only want to import a few transactions with the file, instead of trying to fix the file it might be more efficient to manually enter the transactions into PocketSmith, as shown in this guide: Manually add transactions to an account.

Are you still having trouble?

If possible, please send us a copy of the file you are having trouble with, as this will help us investigate further.