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Project Brief: Legacy Bookcat Database Migration to LibraryThing (CSV) Project Overview I need an Excel / CSV data specialist to clean, format, and successfully import a personal catalog of 2,700 physical books into LibraryThing. The current dataset was exported as a CSV file from Bookcat, a legacy library database software that is no longer supported. Because the data originates from an outdated system, the file contains severe formatting quirks that cause modern systems to fail. The collection consists of a mix of modern books (with 10-digit or 13-digit ISBNs) and older/vintage books (which completely lack ISBN identifiers). A previous bulk import attempt stalled at 683 records because of these internal structure bugs. I need a professional to clean, prune, and structure this Bookcat data to match LibraryThing's exact specifications and execute the import cleanly. Known Technical Issues (Source Data Quirks) Upon auditing the Bookcat export, we identified the specific bugs causing the system to choke: 1. Smushed Headers: The fourth column header is merged into a single word: PUBLISHEFORMAT. This must be split back into two distinct columns (PUBLISHER and FORMAT) to prevent the entire spreadsheet data from shifting sideways upon import. 2. Excessive Author Columns: The legacy system has separate headers for AUTHOR2, AUTHORS3, AUTHOR4, AUTHORS5, and AUTHORS6. LibraryThing only expects one primary author field. These must be flattened or handled correctly. 3. Scientific Notation: Excel formatting has corrupted some 13-digit ISBNs into scientific notation (e.g., 4.5E+12). These strings must be restored and locked as plain text numbers. Scope of Work 1. Data Cleansing & Structural Fixes: Fix the PUBLISHEFORMAT header, restore corrupted ISBN text strings, and clear out empty/useless legacy columns (like ROWKEY or DIMENSIO). 2. Author Flattening: For books with multiple authors, merge the data from AUTHOR2 through AUTHORS6 into a single, comma-separated string within a single field to protect the metadata. 3. File Segmentation: o Separate the data into two distinct, cleanly labeled CSV sheets. o File A: Books with valid ISBN numbers. o File B: Books without ISBN numbers (vintage/pre-1970 prints). 4. Column Mapping & Execution: Align and paste the data into LibraryThing’s official CSV import template layout. Execute the upload via the LibraryThing desktop web dashboard and monitor the background "Lookup Queue" until all 2,700 records have completely cleared and settled. Freelancer Requirements • High proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (data cleansing, text manipulation, and formatting formulas). • Previous experience with legacy software data migration, CMS systems, or digital library cataloguing systems (LibraryThing, Libib, or CLZ experience is a major asset). • Strong attention to detail to catch formatting glitches that trigger server upload errors. Deliverables • The final, fully populated LibraryThing account showing all 2,700 books. • A copy of the cleaned, master CSV files used for the successful import.
Project ID: 40587957
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47 freelancers are bidding on average $143 AUD for this job

HI there already i have checked project details job is clear so please contact me then i will show you sample, thank you
$50 AUD in 1 day
8.7
8.7

With a focus on a meticulous migration of your Bookcat legacy library catalog to LibraryThing, I will address data cleaning, column mapping, and monitoring processes to ensure a seamless transition of all 2,700 records. My expertise in data manipulation and CMS integrations will guarantee a successful upload while providing a cleaned master CSV file for future use. Trust in my commitment to excellence for a smooth and efficient migration process.
$225 AUD in 5 days
6.8
6.8

Hi, To successfully migrate your legacy Bookcat database to LibraryThing, I will first conduct a thorough audit of the CSV file to identify and rectify the formatting issues you mentioned. This includes splitting the merged header, restoring corrupted ISBNs, and flattening the author fields. Next, I will segment the data into two distinct CSV sheets as per your requirements, ensuring that each file is cleanly labeled and formatted according to LibraryThing's specifications. Finally, I will execute the import and monitor the process to ensure all records are uploaded without errors. Happy to discuss the details.
$120 AUD in 3 days
7.0
7.0

Hi, I can clean and migrate your Bookcat catalog into LibraryThing by fixing CSV structure issues, restoring ISBN data, flattening author fields, removing unnecessary columns, and preparing import-ready files. I’ll carefully validate the dataset, split ISBN/non-ISBN records, map fields correctly, and ensure a smooth upload with accurate final results.
$30 AUD in 1 day
7.0
7.0

Hi, I reviewed the project and the main requirement is to clean and structure a legacy Bookcat CSV so it can be imported into LibraryThing. Using Software Architecture discipline and CMS familiarity, I’ll perform data cleansing to fix the PUBLISHEFORMAT header, flatten AUTHOR2 through AUTHORS6 into a single comma-separated field, restore 13-digit ISBNs as plain text, remove empty legacy columns, and split the dataset into two labeled CSVs: one for books with ISBNs and one for vintage records without ISBNs. I will map everything to LibraryThing’s official CSV import template and run the upload via the desktop web dashboard, monitoring the Lookup Queue until all 2,700 records settle. Expect quality, clean work, and easy management with responsive communication. Let’s discuss here now.
$150 AUD in 7 days
6.6
6.6

Hi, I can clean and restructure your Bookcat export to ensure a successful LibraryThing import. I'll fix the broken headers, restore ISBNs affected by scientific notation, merge multiple author fields, remove unnecessary legacy columns, separate ISBN and non-ISBN books into organized CSV files, and map everything to LibraryThing's import format. I'll verify the import, monitor the lookup process until all records are processed, and provide the final cleaned CSV files along with a fully populated LibraryThing catalog. Best regards, Muhammad Usman
$220 AUD in 3 days
6.9
6.9

Hello, I'm excited to help you successfully migrate your 2,700-book collection into LibraryThing. I have extensive experience with legacy data systems and CSV-to-CMS workflows, and I understand the specific technical challenges your Bookcat export presents. My previous experience includes migrating support articles from a legacy site to a wiki-based site based on DokuWiki. My Approach: I'll systematically address each known issue: splitting the merged PUBLISHEFORMAT header and consolidating the multi-author columns into clean, comma-separated strings. I'll audit the file for additional quirks (empty columns, malformed rows) and remove them before segmenting your data into two verified CSV files—one for ISBN-bearing books, one for vintage titles without ISBNs. For restoring corrupted ISBNs from scientific notation to plain text, I need the original CSV files that you exported from the Bookcat library database software. I'll then map your cleaned data directly to LibraryThing's import template, execute the bulk upload, and monitor the lookup queue through completion, ensuring all 2,700 records import cleanly. What You'll Receive: - Both cleaned CSV master files (ISBN & non-ISBN) - Fully populated LibraryThing account with all books successfully catalogued - Detailed import log documenting any records requiring manual review I'm confident I can solve these data migration challenges and deliver your complete, functioning library catalog.
$200 AUD in 5 days
6.5
6.5

Hello, I understand you need to migrate a 2,700-book catalog from a legacy Bookcat CSV into LibraryThing. The core challenge is the data's structural integrity-specifically, the merged PUBLISHEFORMAT header, multiple author columns needing consolidation, and ISBNs corrupted by spreadsheet auto-formatting. The objective is to systematically clean this data, split it into two distinct files (ISBN vs. non-ISBN), and map it perfectly to the LibraryThing template for a successful import. Technical approach: I will use a Python script with the pandas library to perform the data transformation. This approach is ideal as it avoids the very auto-formatting issues that corrupted the ISBNs in Excel. The script will programmatically split headers, merge the author columns into a single string, force ISBNs into the correct text format, and drop unnecessary legacy columns. Core modules: The workflow will include: 1. A robust data ingestion module to read the source file. 2. A structural repair module for headers and data types. 3. Author consolidation logic. 4. An ISBN-based data segmentation engine. 5. A mapping and export module that creates the two final, clean CSV files. Implementation strategy: I'll begin by developing and testing the script on a small data sample. After you verify the sample output, I'll process the entire 2,700-record file. I will perform a small test import on LibraryThing with a handful of records from each file before running the final bulk upload, which I will monitor until completion. Regards, Rohit
$44 AUD in 1 day
6.8
6.8

Hi, I’m Armin Nikdel. I can take your Bookcat CSV, clean the formatting issues, and prepare it for a smooth LibraryThing import. My approach focuses on fixing the structural problems that caused your previous import to stall at 683 records—things like broken delimiters, inconsistent quoting, and mixed ISBN formats—so the full 2,700 books go through without errors. I’ll start by parsing the raw CSV to identify exactly where the field boundaries break, then rebuild the file with clean, consistent columns that match LibraryThing’s import template. For the older books without ISBNs, I’ll ensure title and author fields are complete enough for LibraryThing to match them manually or via its title/author search. I’ll also validate all ISBNs (10- and 13-digit) and flag any that are invalid or missing, so you can decide how to handle them before the final import. One question: do you have a backup of the original Bookcat export, or is the CSV you shared the only copy? I ask because having the raw export helps me verify that no data was lost during any previous conversion attempts. I can deliver a cleaned, import-ready CSV within about two weeks for AUD 250.
$250 AUD in 16 days
5.8
5.8

Hi, Good evening! I am a professional Freelancer and Expert in Microsoft Access, Data Cleansing, CMS, Data Entry, Software Architecture, Database Programming, Excel and Google Sheets, I am ready to provide you a Quality work with 100% perfection with satisfaction on your project. I will provide:- • Initial concepts within Agreed Timeframe. • Fast Turnarounds with Unlimited revisions • Extra Ordinary Aftercare Services. • Print ready and web friendly Files Please see portfolio on this link https://www.freelancer.com/u/pixelstudio0077 Regards Osama K.
$30 AUD in 1 day
5.8
5.8

I understand you need to migrate your Bookcat book catalog to LibraryThing. I can help clean and format your CSV file for a smooth import. I have experience fixing header issues like your 'PUBLISHEFORMAT' and handling extra author columns by merging them. I can also restore ISBNs that are showing in scientific notation, making sure they are plain text numbers. I will split your data into two CSV files: one for books with ISBNs and one for older books without ISBNs. Then, I will map this data to LibraryThing's template and manage the import process for all 2,700 records. I am confident in my ability to handle these data quirks and ensure a successful migration. For the books without ISBNs, will these need any specific manual tagging or categorization in LibraryThing, or will a simple presence in the second file be sufficient for import?
$200 AUD in 2 days
5.1
5.1

Hello, I understand the project requirements for converting a book library CSV file from a legacy library database to LibraryThing. Specifically, I see the need for data cleansing, formatting, and importing 2,700 physical books with various ISBN formats and author columns from Bookcat into LibraryThing. For your project, my plan is to first address formatting quirks such as splitting the PUBLISHEFORMAT header and restoring ISBNs from scientific notation. Then, I will flatten multiple author columns into a single field and segment the data into two CSV sheets based on ISBN presence. Finally, I will map and execute the upload using LibraryThing’s CSV template, ensuring all 2,700 records are successfully imported. As final deliverables you will receive a fully populated LibraryThing account showcasing all 2,700 books and a copy of the cleaned, master CSV files used for the import. One thing I'd like to confirm before we start: Are there any specific metadata fields or customization requirements for the book entries in LibraryThing? Regards, Imran
$100 AUD in 1 day
4.6
4.6

Hello, already done many project on BOOKCAT DB , Will finish fast in a day and pay after work done! I can clean and restructure your 2,700-book Bookcat export, correct the broken headers, preserve all ISBNs as text, merge the multiple author fields, remove unnecessary legacy columns, and separate the catalog into ISBN and non-ISBN CSV files. I will map the cleaned data to the LibraryThing import format, upload it through your account, monitor the lookup queue, and verify that all records are imported successfully. You will also receive the final cleaned master CSV files.
$350 AUD in 1 day
4.8
4.8

Hi Your Bookcat CSV stalls at 683 records because headers, ISBN formatting, and author fields don’t match LibraryThing’s import expectations. I’ve spent the last 10 years solving exactly this type of migration/CSV ingestion problem. We’ll audit the export, split the merged PUBLISHEFORMAT header into PUBLISHER + FORMAT, flatten AUTHOR2-AUTHORS6 into one comma-separated author field, and force any ISBNs (including Excel scientific-notation like 4.5E+12) back to plain-text 10/13-digit values. Then we’ll prune legacy junk columns (ROWKEY, DIMENSIO, etc.), map every remaining field into LibraryThing’s CSV template, and segment into two clean files: ISBN-valid (A) and ISBN-missing/vintage (B). Finally, we’ll execute the LibraryThing desktop web dashboard upload and monitor the Lookup Queue until all 2,700 items fully settle. Best regards, Zeeshan
$30 AUD in 1 day
4.3
4.3

Hi, your LibraryThing import needs careful cleanup of the Bookcat export before the data will load correctly. The issues you flagged, merged headers, extra author fields, and corrupted ISBN values, are exactly the kind of problems that can break a bulk import. I’ve handled spreadsheet cleanup and CSV restructuring for legacy datasets, and I’m comfortable working in Excel or Google Sheets with text formatting, column mapping, and import-ready file preparation. I would first normalize the headers, preserve ISBNs as plain text, flatten the extra author columns, and split the catalog into ISBN and non-ISBN files. Then I’d align both files to LibraryThing’s import layout so the upload is clean and stable. If you’d like, I can take this from the raw export through to a completed import and organized master files. Best regards, Gabriel
$30 AUD in 5 days
4.0
4.0

Hi. The legacy Bookcat export file with 2,700 records needs a robust Python script to handle the structural bugs before LibraryThing import. Instead of manual spreadsheet work, I will use Python with Pandas to precisely address each identified issue: - Automatically split 'PUBLISHEFORMAT' into 'PUBLISHER' and 'FORMAT' columns. - Flatten multiple author fields (AUTHOR2-6) into a single, comma-separated 'AUTHOR' string. - Correct 13-digit ISBNs corrupted by scientific notation back to plain text, and remove extraneous columns like 'ROWKEY'. - Generate two distinct CSVs: one for valid ISBNs and another for books without ISBNs, ready for LibraryThing's template. I can deliver the cleaned and segmented files, ready for upload, within 2 days for $180 AUD. I can also assist with the initial upload via the desktop dashboard. Beyond the described segmentation, are there any unique fields in the non-ISBN dataset that require special mapping considerations for LibraryThing? Best regards, Yevhen.
$180 AUD in 2 days
3.9
3.9

Hello, "LEGACY BOOKCAT CSV TO LIBRARYTHING IMPORT" — you need the broken CSV cleaned, split and ready so LibraryThing can accept all 2,700 books. I’ll use Excel Power Query to split the merged PUBLISHEFORMAT header, force the ISBN columns to Text format (removing scientific notation), and flatten AUTHOR2‑AUTHOR6 into a single comma‑separated field. I cleaned and delivered 200 verified dental clinic leads in a tidy Excel file: https://www.freelancer.com/projects/data-collection/Polish-Dental-Clinics-Business-Leads/reviews. I’ll also create two final CSVs (ISBN‑valid and ISBN‑missing) and run a test import to confirm the LibraryThing lookup queue clears without errors. Do you have a sample of the current CSV export so I can verify the header structure before starting? Looking forward to working with you. Artur Giżycki
$200 AUD in 3 days
3.0
3.0

Hey, that PUBLISHEFORMAT header splitting into two clean columns without shifting the rest of the sheet is exactly the kind of bug that kills these imports. I’d fix that first, flatten AUTHOR2 through AUTHORS6 into one comma-separated field, and force those scientific-notation ISBNs back to plain text before touching LibraryThing. Splitting into ISBN and non-ISBN files first usually stops the Lookup Queue from choking halfway through like your last attempt. Happy to work within your budget range — want me to start with a sample batch of a few hundred rows so you can check the format before I run all 2,700?
$30 AUD in 1 day
2.7
2.7

Hi, I’m Miguel , and I’d be happy to rescue this Bookcat export from its CSV haunted house. Your brief is refreshingly specific: the PUBLISHEFORMAT header collision, excess AUTHOR fields, ISBN scientific-notation damage, and the stalled 683-record import all point to structural corruption rather than a simple “save as CSV” job. I can clean the 2,700-book dataset carefully, normalize the columns for LibraryThing, preserve multi-author metadata in one clean field, and split the catalog into ISBN / non-ISBN import files as requested. I’ll also keep ISBNs locked as text, remove legacy noise columns like ROWKEY/DIMENSIO where appropriate, and align the final data to LibraryThing’s import template so the upload doesn’t trip over hidden formatting gremlins. After import, I’ll monitor the Lookup Queue until the records finish processing and provide the cleaned master CSV files used for the successful migration. This is exactly the sort of detail-heavy data cleanup where being picky is a feature, not a bug. Best, Miguel
$140 AUD in 5 days
2.4
2.4

Hello, The primary reason for your import failure is the improper handling of delimiter alignment in the legacy header row. I will systematically clean your dataset, flatten authors, and handle ISBNs, ensuring a 100% successful LibraryThing migration. Lets chat, Dawid
$220 AUD in 4 days
1.1
1.1

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