Error Messages

If you see an error in BatchCard, find it in the table below for an explanation and fix.

CSV import errors

Error message	What it means	How to fix it
File format not supported	The uploaded file is not a `.csv` file.	Save your spreadsheet as a CSV file. In Google Sheets, go to File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv). In Excel, go to File > Save As and choose CSV (Comma delimited).
Missing required column: value	The CSV file does not have a `value` column in the header row.	Open your CSV and make sure the first row includes a column named `value` (lowercase). See CSV Format for the full column list.
Invalid value in column: value	One or more rows have a non-numeric value in the `value` column.	Check for currency symbols (`$`), commas in numbers (`1,000`), or text in the value column. Use plain numbers only: `25.00`.
Invalid value in column: quantity	A `quantity` value is not a whole number greater than 0.	Quantity must be a positive integer. Use `1`, `5`, or `100`. Do not use decimals (`2.5`) or zero (`0`).
Invalid email address	A `recipient_email` value is not a valid email format.	Check for typos, missing `@` signs, or extra spaces. Each row should have one email address or be left blank.
Invalid date format	An `expiration_date` value is not in `YYYY-MM-DD` format.	Use the format `2027-12-31`. Do not use `12/31/2027` or `Dec 31, 2027`.
Code is too short. / Code is too long.	A value in the `code` column is outside the accepted length. Each code is checked before any card is created, and a code that is shorter than 8 characters or longer than 20 is rejected for that row.	Change the code to 8 to 20 letters or numbers (A-Z, 0-9), or leave the column blank so BatchCard generates a code for that row. The row is reported in the rejected rows list, which you can download from the validation step. See CSV Format.
Duplicate header columns	The CSV header row contains the same column name more than once.	Open your CSV and remove the duplicate column. Each column name should appear exactly once.
Empty file	The CSV file has a header row but no data rows.	Add at least one row of data below the header row.
Encoding error	The file is not UTF-8 encoded.	Re-save your file as UTF-8. In Google Sheets, CSV exports are UTF-8 by default. In Excel, choose CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) when saving.

See CSV Upload Errors for more detailed troubleshooting steps.

Plan and limit errors

Error message	What it means	How to fix it
Monthly card limit reached	You have created the maximum number of gift cards for your current billing cycle.	Wait for the next billing cycle, or upgrade your plan for a higher limit.
Import exceeds the maximum of 10,000 rows. Please split your file into smaller batches.	The file has more than 10,000 data rows. The 10,000 row ceiling on a single import is the same on every plan.	Split your file into files of 10,000 rows or fewer and import each one. See Import Errors.
Feature not available on your plan	You are trying to use a feature (such as email delivery or scheduled delivery) that requires a higher plan.	Upgrade your plan to access this feature.

Batch creation errors

Error message	What it means	How to fix it
Batch creation failed	An unexpected error occurred while creating gift cards.	Try again. If the error continues, check your internet connection and refresh the page. Contact support if the problem persists.
Some gift cards failed to create	Part of the batch was created, but one or more cards failed.	Open the batch details to see which cards were created. Click Retry to re-create only the failed cards, or download the processing-errors report (CSV or Excel) for the details.
Shopify API rate limit	Too many requests were sent to Shopify in a short time. BatchCard paused and will retry automatically.	Wait a moment. BatchCard handles retries automatically. Large batches may take longer to process.

Email delivery errors

Error message	What it means	How to fix it
Email delivery failed	The delivery email could not be sent to the recipient.	Check that the email address is valid. See Email Delivery Issues for common causes.
Invalid recipient email	The email address format is not recognized.	Fix the email address and retry delivery, or create a new batch with the corrected address.

Permission errors

Error message	What it means	How to fix it
Insufficient permissions	BatchCard does not have the required Shopify permissions.	Close BatchCard and open it again from your Shopify admin. BatchCard checks its permissions every time it loads, and Shopify shows an approval screen for anything that is missing. Approve it.
Session expired	Your Shopify session has timed out.	Refresh the page. Shopify will re-authenticate automatically.

If the approval screen does not appear

Do not remove the app to fix a permissions error unless nothing else works. Removing BatchCard starts a 2 day clock: your batch records, your stored gift card codes, and your delivery history are kept for 2 days in case you reinstall, then permanently deleted. Export your codes before you remove BatchCard. Your gift cards themselves stay in Shopify either way.

As a last resort, remove BatchCard from your Shopify admin and install it again. A new install requests every permission from scratch. Export your codes first, then uninstall and reinstall within 2 days, and your batches and codes are still there when you return.

CSV Upload Errors -- detailed steps for fixing import problems
Email Delivery Issues -- troubleshooting email delivery
CSV Format -- full CSV column specification