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Please check if it's relevant to your use case. On October 2021 we released a new version of our platform.
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Questions  /  Working with Data  /  Import Data

How can I force data types when importing csv files?

Learn how to use .csvt file to force data types on your csv imports

:trophy: From CSV to CSVT

Given a csv file called file.csv with the following structure:

id desc lon lat price
1 apartment -3 42 199000
2 condo -3 43 459000

You can create a type definition file, file.csvt, as:

"Integer","String","Real","Real","Real"

For more information, you can check CSV GDAL documentation. Secondly, you need to compress both files and upload it dragging and dropping it on CARTO dashboard UI or via the Import API.

That will create a column price as a double precision one, as opposed to the integer type when you don’t use the file.csvt file.

:zap: What’s next?

To get a big picture about CARTO data management, you can continue reading Preparing and Formatting Data. The CARTO Glossary also contains useful definitions of all of the components, processes, and technologies regarding data management.