New Web 2 SMS Feature to fix your corrupted contact data files
Ever since we added the ability to import Microsoft Excel based data files into directSMS’ Web to SMS platform, we have had a lot of customers complain about how Excel was altering their data once they hit Save or Save As.
Specifically, the columns contain mobile phone numbers and how Excel would remove all the leading zeros.
Your phone numbers would go from a valid 0423 321 321 to an invalid 423 321 321!
Trying to import that into any system would then result in a whole mess of error messages essentially boiling down to… The numbers are invalid.
So having thought long and hard about the process, we’ve come up with a solution… We’ve added a new feature to the various system screens where users can upload Excel based files.
This feature will attempt to FIX WHAT EXCEL BROKE!
1. Upload Contacts
You should see the option to “Fix Number Formatting Issues” once you get to the step in the upload contacts wizard. Please see the screen shot below.
By clicking the checkbox, the system will attempt to fix any errors Excel might have introduced. When this is turned on, the numbers that Excel had corrupted by removing their leading zeros should now be fixed again. Yay!
Upload Contacts – Fix Number Formatting Issues
2. Send Bulk SMS
You should see the option to “Fix number formatting issues in file” once you upload your Excel or CSV file. Please see the screen shot below.
Send Bulk SMS – Fix Number Formatting Issues
By clicking the checkbox, the system will attempt to fix any errors Excel might have introduced. When this is turned on, the numbers that Excel had corrupted by removing their leading zeros should now be fixed again.
We strongly recommend that you check the messages that will be sent out at the message preview step before clicking on Send to make sure everything is correct.
3. Send Mail Merge SMS
You should see the option to “Fix number formatting issues in file” once you upload your Excel or CSV file. Please see the screen shot below.
Send Mail Merge SMS – Fix Number Formatting Issues
By clicking the checkbox, the system will attempt to fix any errors Excel might have introduced. When this is turned on, the numbers that Excel had corrupted by removing their leading zeros should now be fixed again.
We strongly recommend that you check the messages that will be sent out at the message preview step before clicking on Send to make sure everything is correct.
That’s it. No more having to worry about formatting Excel columns or using international format to store all your mobile numbers.
Please keep in mind, this is feature will try to convert whatever data is in the mobile number column, it is entirely up to you to check that whatever fixes the system has attempted are correct.