Round Trip Import Fails with 'Error Reading File'

Published Date: August 27, 2026
Validated: Yes
Audience: Everyone
Products and Versions Covered:

Jama Connect® - All Versions
- Cloud/CVC
- Self-hosted

Summary

When attempting to import an updated Excel file using Round Trip import, Jama Connect displays the following error:

Error reading file

The error occurs after:

Exporting requirements to Excel.
Updating item content, such as Description fields.
Importing the workbook back into Jama Connect.
Selecting "Is this a round-trip import" and mapping the fields.

Changing the conflict handling option, such as 'On conflict Excel wins' or 'On conflict do not update', does not resolve the error.

Resolution

Create a new workbook using the correct Round Trip export:

Navigate to the project and select the items you want to update.
Select 'Export > View All Export Options'.
Select 'Excel Export for Roundtrip'.
Download and save the generated workbook.
Make the required updates without changing the workbook's underlying structure.
Preserve the existing HTML when modifying Rich Text fields.
Import the workbook back into Jama Connect and select 'Is this a round-trip import'.

Cause

This can occur when the workbook being imported was not created using the 'Excel Export for Roundtrip' export option, or when the structure of the Round Trip workbook was modified.

A valid Round Trip export contains elements required for the import process, including:

Hidden columns at the beginning of the workbook (columns A–E)
HTML markup within Rich Text fields

If these elements are missing, removed, or modified, Jama Connect may not be able to process the workbook and can return an 'Error reading file' message.

Rich Text fields require additional care. When editing these fields in Excel, the existing HTML structure must be preserved. Removing or breaking the HTML markup can prevent the content from being processed correctly during the Round Trip import.

Troubleshooting

If the error continues, generate a fresh, unmodified 'Excel Export for Roundtrip' and compare it with the workbook that fails to import.

Check that:

Columns A–D and other expected hidden content are still present.
The workbook structure or has not been changed.
Rich Text fields still contain their expected HTML markup.
The file was originally generated using 'Excel Export for Roundtrip', rather than another Excel export template.

If a fresh, unmodified Round Trip export imports successfully, review the changes made to the failing workbook to identify what may have altered the expected Round Trip structure.

Additional Resources

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