Book Tracker allows you to import libraries from other apps using CSV files. While powerful, CSV imports sometimes cause problems: wrong formats, missing page counts, or books appearing incomplete.

This guide explains the most common CSV import issues and how to fix them.

1. Missing or incorrect formats (everything shows as Paperback)

Cause: the CSV didn’t include a valid format field, or the values weren’t recognized.

Fix:

• Make sure the Format column in your CSV uses one of the following exact values:
  • PAPERBACK → Paperback edition
  • HARDCOVER → Hardcover edition
  • MASS_MARKET_PAPERBACK → Mass-market paperback
  • SPIRAL_BOUND → Spiral-bound edition
  • LEATHER_BOUND → Leather-bound edition
  • EBOOK → Digital eBook
  • AUDIOBOOK → Audiobook
  • MAGAZINE → Magazine
  • COMIC_BOOK → Single comic book
  • GRAPHIC_NOVEL → Graphic novel
  • MANGA → Manga
  • BOX_SET → Box set collection
  • OMNIBUS → Omnibus edition
  • REFERENCE_BOOK → Reference book (e.g., dictionary or encyclopedia)
  • OTHER → Other format
• If the field is missing or invalid, Book Tracker assigns the default format, which is Paperback (unless you change it in Settings → Configurations → Default Format).

👉 More info: How to change the default book format in Book Tracker.

2. Page count is 0

Cause: the CSV didn’t include the total page number, or the value was invalid.

Fix:

• Open the book in Book Tracker and manually edit the page count.
• If the book is already in a Reading Status, see What to do if a book has the wrong page count.

3. Covers are missing

Cause: CSV files cannot include images. Covers are imported only if the file includes a valid ISBN or an image URL.

Fix:

• Make sure the CSV has an ISBN column. Book Tracker uses it to fetch covers during import.
• If no ISBN is available, you’ll need to add covers manually.👉 See Why covers may be missing after import.

4. Wrongly mapped fields

Cause: the CSV columns weren’t matched correctly during import.

Fix:

• When importing, carefully review the field mapping screen.
• Make sure columns like Title, Author, Format, Pages, ISBN are assigned to the correct fields.

5. Import stops or fails

• Large libraries may take several minutes to import.
• Avoid force-quitting the app during import.

Best practices before importing

• Clean your CSV file in a spreadsheet app (Excel, Numbers, Google Sheets) to ensure columns are correct.
• Always create a backup of your current Book Tracker library before importing new books.
• After importing, sample a few books to confirm that formats, pages, and covers look correct.

✅ With the right CSV setup and field mapping, you can import your library smoothly into Book Tracker and avoid common pitfalls.