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Troubleshooting Flamingo CSV Export Issues: Missing Data, Columns & Errors

26 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Flamingo

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Exporting data from the Flamingo plugin is a powerful feature, but users often encounter problems where the resulting CSV file doesn't match what's seen in the WordPress admin. Based on extensive community reports, this guide covers the most common Flamingo export issues and their potential solutions.

Common Flamingo Export Problems

Users frequently report the following problems when trying to export data to CSV:

  • Missing Fields: Important data like phone numbers, consent information, or 'Last Contact' dates not appearing in the export.
  • Incorrect Column Headers: The export only uses the field labels from the most recent form, missing fields from other forms.
  • All Data in One Column: CSV data not being parsed into separate columns, making filtering impossible.
  • Missing Meta Data: Useful information like the submission URL ([_url]), page title ([_post_title]), or user agent data is not included.
  • Unreadable Columns: Exported files contain strange, illegible column headers (e.g., ak_bmcc, ak_bmk).
  • 'File Not Found' Errors: The export process fails to generate a file.
  • Exporting All Entries: The bulk export feature exports all entries instead of only the selected ones.
  • Missing Forms in Filter: Some forms do not appear in the 'Filter' dropdown, preventing form-specific exports.

Why These Export Issues Happen

These problems generally stem from a few core aspects of how Flamingo handles data export:

  1. Default Export Structure: By design, the exported CSV creates columns based only on the fields present in the first record of the selected data. If a later form or submission has additional fields, they will not get their own column.
  2. Meta Data is Separate: Valuable meta-information (like the submission URL, user IP, or user agent) is stored separately from the main form data and is not included in standard exports by default.
  3. Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Other plugins, especially those related to security, caching, or performance, can interfere with the export script's ability to generate or serve the CSV file.
  4. Data Formatting: Certain field types, like masked fields or checkboxes with pipes (|), may export their values differently than expected.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

While some solutions may require a plugin update from the Flamingo team, here are the most effective workarounds based on community feedback.

1. For Missing Fields, Columns, and Meta Data

The most requested feature is the ability to export all possible fields and meta data. As this is not a native option, users have had success with these methods:

  • Use a Dedicated Export Plugin: Several third-party plugins are designed to extend Flamingo's export capabilities, offering control over which fields and meta data are included.
  • Custom Code Snippet: A developer can hook into Flamingo's export function to modify the columns and data included in the CSV output. This is the most flexible but technically advanced solution.

2. For 'File Not Found' and Other Export Errors

If your export fails completely, a plugin or theme conflict is the most likely cause.

  1. Conflict Test: Temporarily switch your theme to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four) and disable all plugins except for Contact Form 7 and Flamingo.
  2. Test Export: Attempt the export again. If it works, reactivate your plugins and theme one-by-one, testing after each, to identify the conflicting software.
  3. Common Conflicts: Security plugins (e.g., Wordfence), caching plugins, and performance optimization plugins are frequent culprits. Check their settings for options that might block admin-ajax.php requests, which handles the export.

3. For Unreadable Column Headers

Strange column headers (e.g., ak_bmcc, ak_bmk) are often caused by an issue with the Contact Form 7 plugin itself, not Flamingo.

  • Update Plugins: Ensure both Contact Form 7 and Flamingo are updated to their latest versions. The Flamingo team has historically fixed specific issues like this in updates.
  • Check for Known Issues: Search the Flamingo and Contact Form 7 support forums for your specific version numbers to see if others have reported and resolved the same problem.

4. For Exporting Specific Data

  • Bulk Export Selected Items: The inability to export only selected entries appears to be a bug. The current workaround is to use the date or channel filters to narrow down the list before exporting, so only the desired items are in view.
  • Export by Form/Channel: If a form is missing from the filter dropdown, try submitting a new test entry through that form. This can sometimes trigger Flamingo to properly register the channel and add it to the list.

Conclusion

Most Flamingo export issues relate to the plugin's default export behavior or conflicts with other site components. For missing data, the community's consensus is that extending the export functionality requires a separate solution, as it is not built into the core plugin. For failed exports, a methodical conflict test is the most reliable path to a solution. For ongoing issues, checking the official Flamingo support forums for updates is recommended, as the development team periodically addresses these common problems.

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