Data Automation Troubleshooting Guide

Quick solutions to common data connection issues

Quick Diagnostics

Is Your Issue Here?

• Data not appearing in templates
• Images not loading
• Connection keeps dropping
• Only partial data syncing
• Primary key errors
• Performance problems

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Data Not Appearing {#data-not-appearing}

Symptom

Smart fields show placeholder text or are completely blank in your templates.

Most Common Causes

1. Column Header Mismatch

Problem: Your data source column names don't exactly match your smart field names.

Solution:

1. Go to your Data Sources tab
2. Check the exact spelling of your column headers
3. In your template, ensure smart fields match exactly (including capitalization)
4. Example: If your column is "first_name", your smart field must be exactly "first_name", not "First Name"

2. Primary Key Not Set

Problem: No unique identifier selected for your data rows.

Solution:

1. Edit your data source settings
2. Choose a column with unique values (ID numbers, email addresses, etc.)
3. Ensure every row has a value in this column
4. Avoid: Using names or descriptions that might duplicate

3. Data Source Connection Expired

Problem: Authentication has expired (common with Google Sheets).

Solution:

1. Go to Data Sources
2. Look for warning icons next to your connections
3. Click "Reconnect" and re-authenticate
4. Test with a simple template to verify the fix

Quick Test

Create a new text box, insert a smart field, and check if any data appears. If nothing shows up, the issue is with your data connection, not your template.

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Images Not Loading {#images-not-loading}

Symptom

Image placeholders appear but actual images don't load in templates.

Common Causes & Solutions

1. Private or Protected URLs

Problem: Image URLs require login or special permissions to access.

Solution:

1. Test your URLs: Open each image URL in an incognito browser window
2. Make images public: Change sharing settings to "Anyone with the link can view"
3. Use direct links: Link to image files (.jpg, .png) not gallery pages
4. Example: Use https://drive.google.com/uc?id=FILE_ID for Google Drive images

2. Incorrect URL Format

Problem: URLs point to web pages instead of image files.

Solution:

1. Right-click images and select "Copy image address"
2. Use direct file URLs ending in .jpg, .png, .gif, or .svg
3. Test format: Paste URL in browser - you should see only the image, not a webpage

3. Large File Sizes

Problem: Images are too large to load quickly.

Solution:

1. Optimize images: Keep under 2MB each for best performance
2. Use web formats: JPG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency
3. Compress images: Use tools like TinyPNG or built-in image compression

4. Broken or Moved Links

Problem: Image files have been deleted or moved.

Solution:

1. Check each URL individually
2. Update broken links in your data source
3. Use stable hosting: Avoid temporary file sharing links

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Connection Keeps Dropping {#connection-drops}

Symptom

Data source works initially but stops syncing or shows connection errors.

For Google Sheets Connections

Re-authenticate Your Account

1. Go to Data Sources
2. Find your Google Sheets connection
3. Click "Reconnect"
4. Sign in again and grant permissions
5. Test the connection with a template

Check Sharing Permissions

1. Open your Google Sheet
2. Click "Share" → "Change to anyone with the link"
3. Set permission to at least "Viewer"
4. Copy the new sharing link if it changed

For CSV URL Connections

Verify URL Accessibility

1. Test URL: Open in incognito browser - should download the CSV file
2. Check hosting: Ensure the hosting service is reliable
3. Verify format: URL should end with .csv or have proper headers

Update Connection Settings

1. Re-enter the CSV URL in your data source
2. Test different update frequencies (try "Manual" first)
3. Check if your hosting provider changed access requirements

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Partial Data Sync {#partial-data-sync}

Symptom

Some data appears correctly, but other fields are blank or missing.

Diagnosis Steps

1. Check All Required Fields

Problem: Some template fields aren't mapped to data columns.

Solution:

1. List all smart fields in your template
2. Verify each has a corresponding column in your data source
3. Map any unmapped fields in your data source settings

2. Verify Data Completeness

Problem: Your source data has empty cells in important columns.

Solution:

1. Review your data: Check for blank cells in critical columns
2. Fill missing data: Use "N/A" or appropriate defaults
3. Identify patterns: Are certain rows or columns consistently empty?

3. Primary Key Uniqueness

Problem: Duplicate primary key values confuse the data sync.

Solution:

1. Check your primary key column for duplicate values
2. Choose a different column if duplicates exist
3. Clean your data: Ensure each row has a unique identifier

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Primary Key Issues {#primary-key-issues}

What is a Primary Key?

A primary key is a column that uniquely identifies each row of data. It's essential for Marq to know which data belongs to which template.

Common Primary Key Problems

1. Duplicate Values

Problem: Multiple rows have the same primary key value.

Solution:

1. Identify duplicates: Sort your data by the primary key column
2. Choose a different column: Use ID numbers, email addresses, or SKUs
3. Create unique values: Add row numbers or modify existing data

2. Empty Primary Key Cells

Problem: Some rows don't have a value in the primary key column.

Solution:

1. Fill empty cells: Add unique values for each row
2. Remove incomplete rows: Delete rows that can't have unique identifiers
3. Use auto-numbering: Add a simple ID column (1, 2, 3, etc.)

3. Primary Key Changes Over Time

Problem: The values in your primary key column change when you update your data.

Solution:

1. Use stable identifiers: Choose columns with values that never change
2. Avoid names or descriptions: These might be edited over time
3. Create permanent IDs: Add an ID column that never changes

Best Primary Key Options

• Employee ID numbers
• Email addresses (if they don't change)
• Product SKUs
• Account numbers
• Auto-generated row IDs

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Performance Issues {#performance-issues}

Symptom

Data loads slowly, templates take a long time to update, or the interface feels sluggish.

Optimization Solutions

1. Reduce Data Size

Large datasets slow everything down.

Solutions:

• Limit rows: Keep under 1,000 rows when possible
• Remove unused columns: Only include data you actually use
• Archive old data: Move historical data to separate files

2. Optimize Data Format

Clean, well-formatted data loads faster.

Solutions:

• Consistent formatting: Same date format, number format, etc.
• Remove special characters: Keep text simple and clean
• Standardize text length: Very long text fields slow loading

3. Connection Settings

Adjust how often data syncs.

Solutions:

• Manual sync: For data that doesn't change often
• Reduce sync frequency: Daily instead of hourly
• Use CSV uploads: For static data instead of live connections

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Getting More Help

Before Contacting Support

Try these quick fixes:

1. Refresh your browser and try again
2. Test in incognito mode to rule out browser issues
3. Try a different template to isolate the problem
4. Check our status page for any known issues

When You Contact Support

Include this information for faster resolution:

For All Issues:

• Description of what you were trying to do
• Exact error message (screenshot if possible)
• Data source type (Google Sheets, CSV, etc.)
• Browser and operating system

For Google Sheets Issues:

• Sharing link to your Google Sheet
• Number of rows and columns in your data

For CSV Issues:

• Sample of your CSV file (first 5-10 rows)
• File size and number of rows
• Where the CSV is hosted (if using URL method)

For Image Issues:

• Direct links to 2-3 problem images
• Image file sizes and formats

Contact Option

• Email: support@marq.com (response within 4 hours)

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Preventing Future Issues

Data Source Maintenance

• Regular cleanup: Remove old or unused data monthly
• Monitor connections: Check data source status weekly
• Keep backups: Save copies of important data sources
• Document changes: Note when and why you modify data structures

Template Best Practices

• Test with sample data before rolling out to teams
• Use descriptive names for data sources and smart fields
• Create template documentation for team members
• Regular template audits to ensure all data connections work

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Related Articles

• Google Sheets Integration Setup →
• CSV File Integration Setup →
• Data Mapping Best Practices →
• Smart Fields Guide →

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Still stuck? Our support team is here to help with personalized troubleshooting for your specific situation.