ERROR:
For unknown reasons, the Data Dictionary could not be uploaded successfully to the project. Please try uploading it again, and check with your REDCap administrator if this issue persists.


The yesterday I received this error message while trying to upload a data dictionary file to RedCap.Β  This error appears up when there are line breaks where they shouldn’t be, special characters (such as ‘EN Dash‘) or characters encoded using something other than UTF-8 encoding, which RedCap requires.

The data dictionary file I was trying to use was a CSV file generated from Excel.Β  I specifically told Excel to encode the file using UTF-8, but it didn’t listen and did not convert my unicode characters to UTF-8.Β  My suggestion is to either use Google Spreadsheets or OpenOffice.Β  I used OpenOffice Calc, and it worked like a charm.Β  Also Calc lets you specify that all text cells be wrapped in quotes which helps.

If encoding is not your issue

If you know you CSV file is encoded correctly (loading your file into BeyondCompare will tell you), then you need to start looking at the file in a text editor (NOT Excel).Β  To troubleshoot, I open the CSV file in a text editor (such as NotePad2 or Notepad++) so I can see if any of the lines are breaking or some other weirdness. Β  I begin testing by cutting the last three quarters of theΒ  lines from the data dictionary file, save, then try to upload to RedCap.Β  If that works then I add in about 20 more lines, save, then upload again.Β  I continued this until I find the line that is causing problems.