Use this guide if you experience issues when uploading a CSV file to a filter in Search, or if the results after your upload are not what you expected.
CSV file requirements
CSV upload requirements depend on the filter you are using.
Uploading to Search filters
When uploading a CSV file to a Search filter, such as Domain, Name, or Job Title:
- The file must be in CSV format.
- The CSV must contain a single column only.
- You can upload up to 1,000 records.
- The column should contain only the values relevant to the filter you are using.
For example, when uploading to the Domain filter:
| Domain |
|---|
| cognism.com |
| example.com |
| company.com |
Do not upload additional columns containing other information when using these filters.
CSV encoding and special characters
Files must be saved in CSV format.
If your data contains special characters, save your CSV using UTF-8 encoding. This is particularly important when uploading data such as:
- Names
- Job titles
- Other text containing accented or special characters
Incorrect file encoding may prevent special characters from being interpreted correctly.
No contacts or unexpected results after uploading a CSV
If your upload returns no contacts or fewer contacts than expected:
- Check that you are using the correct upload filter.
- Make sure your CSV contains only one column.
- Check that the file does not exceed the applicable limit:
- 1,000 records for Search filter uploads.
- Check whether the upload is set to Include or Exclude.
- Review any additional filters applied to your search, as these may be limiting the results.
Correct CSV formatting does not guarantee that every uploaded domain will return contacts. Results also depend on the data available in Cognism and any other filters applied to your search.
If the file meets these requirements but you are still receiving unexpected results, contact Cognism Support and provide the CSV file you uploaded so the team can investigate.