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GeoDirectory import and export FAQ

2 min read Last Updated: October 20, 2026
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Answers to common GeoDirectory questions about import and export. Click a question to open the answer.

Yes. When you import listings with the GeoDirectory CSV import (GeoDirectory > Import & Export), it looks up the coordinates from the address for any row where latitude or longitude is empty. Include the latitude and longitude columns in the CSV and leave them blank, and fill in the street, city, region, country and zip.

The lookup uses your geocoding service: the Google Geocoding API key in GeoDirectory > Settings > General (Map Settings, Show Advanced), or your Google Maps key if that is empty. Large files make one lookup per listing, so check your API quota first. Rows that cannot be geocoded are reported as errors. The CSV imports: useful tips page has more detail.

GeoDirectory checks every row before it imports it and skips the ones that fail. When nothing gets imported, it’s usually one of these:

  • The post_type column is empty or isn’t a GeoDirectory post type, such as gd_place.
  • The post_title column is empty.
  • latitude and longitude are empty and the address can’t be geocoded. GeoDirectory looks up the coordinates from the address, so your Google API key (or OpenStreetMap) has to be able to geocode it.
  • The coordinates are filled in but city, region or country is empty.

Start from the sample CSV at GeoDirectory > Settings > Import/Export > Listings and keep its column names. The CSV import tips and CSV import errors pages cover file format problems.

Not in bulk. Google’s Places API terms do not allow you to copy and store their place data to build your own database, and GeoDirectory does not supply listing data.

For single listings, the Social Importer add-on can pull details from a Google Business Profile, Yelp, Tripadvisor or Facebook page into a new listing. See How to set up Social Importer for Google My Business.

GeoDirectory shows this when the uploaded file does not pass the WordPress file type check, or it cannot read the file afterwards. Check these, then upload again in GeoDirectory > Import/Export > Listings:

  • The file name ends in .csv and it is saved as comma separated values (UTF-8). A file saved with semicolons or tabs, or still in Excel format, will fail.
  • You are logged in as an administrator.
  • A security plugin or your host is not blocking CSV uploads.
  • The wp-content/uploads/geodir_temp folder can be written to by the server.

The old error “Sorry, this file type is not permitted for security reasons” came from a WordPress 4.7.1 bug. GeoDirectory now handles the file type check for CSV imports itself, so you do not need a plugin for it. See also I get an error when trying to import a CSV file!.

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