# Help with "Error: The survey sheet is either empty or missing important column headers" **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [August 25, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-with-error-the-survey-sheet-is-either-empty-or-missing-important-column-headers/29459 "2020-08-25T15:25:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Olimpia](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/olimpia/32/13363_2.png) [@Olimpia](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Olimpia)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-with-error-the-survey-sheet-is-either-empty-or-missing-important-column-headers/29459/1 "2020-08-25T15:25:35Z")
Hello, I need help with an error appearing when uploading my excel survey sheet (.xls) to the xlsform online. Sorry if this has been asked already, I am very new to ODK and I am trying to get my head around this. I have the two tabs (survey and choices) and the compulsory headers. I doubled checked that everything is spelled correctly and that the compulsory columns are all filled in. However I still get the error "Error: The survey sheet is either empty or missing important column headers". Do you know why this is? I am using a mac and I have tried on the ODK website using both safari and google chrome ---
**Author:** ![Oliver\_Burdekin](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/oliver_burdekin/32/1807_2.png) [@Oliver\_Burdekin](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Oliver_Burdekin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-with-error-the-survey-sheet-is-either-empty-or-missing-important-column-headers/29459/2 "2020-08-25T16:08:25Z")
Could you upload a sample of your xls sheet? ---
**Author:** ![Olimpia](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/olimpia/32/13363_2.png) [@Olimpia](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Olimpia)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-with-error-the-survey-sheet-is-either-empty-or-missing-important-column-headers/29459/3 "2020-08-25T16:36:13Z")
Yes, apologies for not uploading it earlier. Please find attached now. Thank you very much for your response[sample .xlsx](https://forum.getodk.org/uploads/short-url/wMO9LbTB6i0bCojHEOWWZqu9kLS.xlsx) (10.0 KB) ---
**Author:** ![Grzesiek2010](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/grzesiek2010/32/2881_2.png) [@Grzesiek2010](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Grzesiek2010)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2020, 7:08am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-with-error-the-survey-sheet-is-either-empty-or-missing-important-column-headers/29459/4 "2020-08-26T07:08:11Z")
Hi @Olimpia welcome to the forum! Please [introduce yourself here!](https://forum.getodk.org/t/introduce-yourself-here/6671) the only problem I can see is that you have `label ::English` (blank space after label) instead of `label::English` after fixing that converting works fine. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Maori](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/lynn_maori/32/18749_2.png) [@Lynn\_Maori](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Lynn_Maori)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 1:07am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-with-error-the-survey-sheet-is-either-empty-or-missing-important-column-headers/29459/5 "2022-08-30T01:07:14Z")
Hello, i am also having same issue here. though i am just learning how to create and use ODK. what am i going to do to address the error message? [form\_excel.xlsx](https://forum.getodk.org/uploads/short-url/tJYd1KKLg6OHqgz7BkRxZw94Vsc.xlsx) (9.6 KB) ---
**Author:** ![Dnes\_Dangol](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/dnes_dangol/32/10797_2.png) [@Dnes\_Dangol](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Dnes_Dangol)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:19am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-with-error-the-survey-sheet-is-either-empty-or-missing-important-column-headers/29459/6 "2022-08-30T05:19:14Z")
Hello Lynn Maori, I went through your file, there was an error in the survey and choices name. It should be in a small alphabet. For your reference, I had attached the edited version. It works on my side. Hope it works for you as well Dinesh Dongol [form\_excel\_edited.xlsx](https://forum.getodk.org/uploads/short-url/fSBNLfvEJqXaRNwiaHZJFIlD8nx.xlsx) (9.7 KB)