Hello Anki Team and Community,
I frequently use the “Import File” feature to add notes in bulk, often with files generated by other tools. I have noticed a limitation in the current import process that I believe could be improved.
The Problem:
When importing a text file, the file preview window in the “Import” dialog is fixed and only displays the first 5 lines of the file. This is helpful for an initial check, but if the file contains many notes, there is no way to scroll through or view the entire file before clicking the “Import” button.
This means that if there is a formatting error on a line that isn’t visible, the issue only becomes apparent after the import is complete. For example, when “Allow HTML in fields” is enabled, a single misplaced <br> tag or an incorrect field separator on line 20 can silently misalign all subsequent notes—an issue that is impossible to spot with the current preview. Correcting this requires deleting the improperly imported cards and starting the process over, which is inefficient.
The Feature Suggestion:
I propose making the file preview window in the “Import” dialog scrollable or expandable.
This could be implemented in a few ways:
- A scrollbar could appear on the right side of the preview table, allowing the user to scroll through all the lines of the source file.
- An “Expand View” button could open the preview in a larger, scrollable window (or simply load the next 50-100 lines) to make verification easier.
Why this would be helpful:
This feature would allow users to quickly verify that every line in the import file is formatted correctly and that all fields are properly aligned before committing to the import. This would save time by catching errors early, especially for those working with large or programmatically generated datasets.
Thank you for considering this suggestion. 
2 Likes
Thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate you trying to help!
I took a look at the link, but unless I’m misunderstanding its features, I don’t think it solves the issue I’m trying to address. As you can see from the screenshot I’ve attached, I already use headers like #columns, #deck, and #tags, which Anki uses to automatically map everything correctly.
My feature suggestion is focused on the step after the file is loaded but before the final import: the ability to visually inspect the entire file’s content within the preview window. The current preview only shows the first few lines. I’m looking for a way to scroll through all the notes to catch subtle formatting errors that might be hundreds of lines down.
Thanks again for the link, though
You can leave the text in this format, one card per line…
deck name; field 1; field 2; field 3… | tag1 tag2…
deck name; field 1; field 2; field 3… | tag1 tag2…
Note: if the deck doesn’t exist, it will create the deck with the name you defined in deck name.
Leave both options checked (enter your cards and tags via pipe).
And finally, click the “add cards” button at the bottom.
Copy and paste the text below into the “Type Your Cards” section.
Number Theory ; The proof that there cannot be two multiples of (n) in a set of (n) consecutive integers works by contradiction:1. Assume two different numbers, (x) and (y), are both divisible by (n). This means their difference (\lvert x-y \rvert) must also be {{c1::a multiple of (n)}}.2. Since (x) and (y) are from a set of (n) consecutive integers, their difference must be in the range {{c2:: (0 < \lvert x - y \rvert < n) }}.3. This leads to a contradiction: a positive multiple of (n) {{c3::cannot be less than (n)}}. ; This confirms that the initial assumption (that two such numbers exist) must be false. | consecutive-integers divisibility proof-by-contradiction proof-technique
Number Theory ; What is the theorem regarding the number of multiples of (n) in a set of (n) consecutive integers? ; Any set of (n) consecutive integers contains exactly one multiple of (n). | consecutive-integers divisibility proof-by-contradiction proof-technique
Number Theory ; What proof technique is used to show a set of (n) consecutive integers cannot contain more than one multiple of (n)? ; Proof by Contradiction. | consecutive-integers divisibility proof-by-contradiction proof-technique
Number Theory ; To prove there can’t be two multiples of (n) in a consecutive set, what is the initial assumption for the proof by contradiction? ; Assume there exist two different integers, (x) and (y), in the set that are both multiples of (n). | consecutive-integers divisibility proof-by-contradiction proof-technique
Number Theory ; If two integers (x) and (y) are both divisible by (n), what property must their difference, (\lvert x - y \rvert), also have? ; Their difference, (\lvert x - y \rvert), must also be divisible by (n). | consecutive-integers divisibility proof-by-contradiction proof-technique
Number Theory ; If (x) and (y) are two different integers from a set of (n) consecutive integers, what inequality must their difference, (\lvert x - y \rvert), satisfy? ; (0 < \lvert x - y \rvert < n). | consecutive-integers divisibility proof-by-contradiction proof-technique
Number Theory ; In the proof regarding multiples of (n) in a consecutive set, what is the core contradiction? ; The difference (\lvert x - y \rvert) must be a multiple of (n), but it must also be strictly between 0 and (n). A positive multiple of (n) cannot be less than (n). | consecutive-integers divisibility proof-by-contradiction proof-technique
