Import Cards

Batch import is best when your source already has a clear table structure. A clean file produces better cards than a large file with inconsistent columns.

Supported File Types

Cardary supports spreadsheet imports from:

• .xlsx
• .csv

Legacy .xls files should be converted to .xlsx or .csv first.

Prepare the File

Before importing:

1. Use the first row as a complete header row.
2. Keep one card per row.
3. Keep columns consistent across the file.
4. Remove empty headers and malformed cells.
5. Avoid merged cells.
6. Put media references in predictable columns.
7. Keep formula text readable before import.
8. Import a small sample before the full deck.

Choose the Target Deck Type

The target deck type controls which fields and card styles are available. For example:

• Vocabulary imports should have stable word, meaning, pronunciation, and example columns.
• Simple imports should map cleanly to front and back.
• Quiz Set imports should preserve question text, answer options, correct answer, and explanation where available.
• Universal imports are safer for mixed material.

If the source has multiple unrelated formats, split it into separate files or use a Universal deck.

Map Fields Deliberately

Map only the columns you actually want to review. Do not import every source column just because it exists.

Good mapping questions:

• What should appear on the front?
• What should the learner recall?
• What should appear only after answering?
• Which column should become a category?
• Which column should become a tag?
• Which fields are context, not review content?

Extra context can make cards harder to grade. Keep source notes only when they help the learner decide or understand the answer.

Media and Resources

If your cards rely on images, audio, or files:

• verify that resource paths are correct;
• keep filenames stable;
• avoid duplicate files with different names;
• check a few imported media cards before studying;
• allow more sync time after media-heavy imports.

Attachments and large resource libraries may require CardaryPlus.

After Import

Open several imported cards and check:

• front/back or field placement;
• rich text formatting;
• line breaks;
• formulas;
• image and audio rendering;
• category and tag values;
• review behavior;
• sync status.

Run a short review session. If the sample is noisy, fix the file and import again before scaling.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to check
Columns map to the wrong fields	Header names, target deck type, import mapping
Cards are too hard to grade	Too many facts per row, too much context, unclear answer boundary
Media is missing	File paths, resource references, attachment limits, sync completion
Formulas look broken	Source formatting, OCR errors, unsupported markup
The deck is too large	Split the file, import in stages, check CardaryPlus limits

Related: Deck Types and CardaryPlus.