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Video Bulk Import

 

What This Page Does

This page lets you import multiple videos at once from CSV data instead of uploading them one by one. You can paste video information into a form, map the columns to your site's fields, and import dozens or hundreds of videos in minutes. The system handles downloading videos, creating thumbnails, and organizing everything automatically.

[Screenshot: page-overview]

How to Get Here

Navigate to Admin Panel > Videos > Bulk Import

Understanding the Page

When you first open this page, you'll see several sections from top to bottom:

Playlist Section

At the top, you'll find controls for saving and loading your import settings. If you import videos from the same source regularly (like a sponsor feed), you can save your entire setup as a "playlist" and reload it instantly next time.

Field Mapping Section

This is where you tell the system which column in your CSV contains what information. For example, you might tell it that Column 1 is the video URL, Column 2 is the title, Column 3 is the description, and so on. You can map up to 30 columns.

Import Options Section

Here you choose how to import the videos (download them, link to them, or embed them), which categories to assign, and other settings like random views and scheduled publishing.

Data Section

At the bottom, you paste your CSV data or point to a file on your server. This is where your actual video information goes.

Common Tasks

How to Import Videos (Basic)

This is the most common task: importing a batch of videos from a CSV file.

  1. Click New in the Playlist section to start with a clean form.
  1. Set up your field mappings:
  • Click on the dropdown for Column 1 and select Video URL.
  • Click on the dropdown for Column 2 and select Title.
  • Click on the dropdown for Column 3 and select Description.
  • Click Add Column to add more columns as needed.
  • For any CSV columns you want to skip, select N/A (skip column).
  1. Choose your Import Method:
  • Select Download & Keep Video if you want to host the videos yourself.
  • Select Hotlink + Process if you want thumbnails but will link to external videos.
  • Select Embed if you're importing iframe embed codes (like YouTube videos).
  1. Set the Status dropdown to Processing so videos are automatically processed after import.
  1. Paste your video data into the Video Data box. Each line should be one video, with values separated by commas:
https://example.com/video1.mp4,My First Video,This is a great video,tag1;tag2
   https://example.com/video2.mp4,Another Video,Also amazing,tag3;tag4
  1. Click Preview Import to see how your data will look.
  1. Review the preview table to make sure everything lines up correctly.
  1. Click Confirm & Start Import.
  1. Watch the progress bar as your videos are imported. You'll see statistics showing how many videos were added, how many are being downloaded, and if any failed.
  1. When complete, click Admin Home to return to your dashboard or New Import to import another batch.
Tip: Start with just 5-10 videos the first time to make sure your field mappings are correct before importing hundreds.

[Screenshot: task-1-example]

How to Save a Playlist for Repeat Use

If you import from the same source regularly, save your settings as a playlist so you don't have to configure everything again.

  1. Set up all your field mappings and import options exactly how you want them.
  1. Type a name for your playlist in the Playlist Name field (e.g., "Sponsor ABC Import").
  1. Click Save.
  1. You'll see a confirmation message that your playlist was saved.

Next time you need to import from the same source:

  1. Select your playlist from the Load Existing Playlist dropdown.
  1. The page will reload with all your settings restored.
  1. Paste your new data and click Preview Import.
Tip: Playlists save everything: field mappings, import method, categories, sponsor settings, and more. It's like having a template for your imports.

How to Assign Videos to Categories

You can assign each video to up to 10 categories. The first category you select becomes the "primary" category shown on the video's page.

Option 1: Categories from CSV data

  1. Map one of your CSV columns to Categories in the field mapping section.
  1. Make sure your CSV data has category names separated by commas in that column.
  1. The system will look up categories by name and assign them automatically.

Option 2: Force categories for all videos

  1. Scroll to the Force Categories section in Import Options.
  1. Click Add Category to add category dropdowns (you can add up to 10).
  1. Select categories from the dropdowns.
  1. All imported videos will be assigned to these categories, regardless of what's in your CSV.
Warning: Category names must match exactly what's in your database. Hyphens in CSV category names are automatically converted to spaces.

Models (performers) can be assigned automatically or from your CSV data.

Option 1: From CSV data

  1. Map a column to Models in your field mappings.
  1. In your CSV, list model names separated by commas.
  1. If a model doesn't exist, the system creates it automatically.

Option 2: Force one model for all videos

  1. Find the Force Model dropdown in Import Options.
  1. Select a model from the dropdown.
  1. All imported videos will be linked to this model.

Option 3: Auto-detect from titles

  1. Check the box for Auto-detect models from title/description.
  1. The system will scan your video titles and descriptions for any model names already in your database and link them automatically.
Tip: Auto-detect is great when your video titles include model names, like "Jane Doe Pool Scene" - the system will find "Jane Doe" and link it.

How to Import Embedded Videos (YouTube, etc.)

If you want to embed videos from other sites rather than downloading them:

  1. Set up field mappings:
  • Column 1: Title
  • Column 2: Embedded Code
  • Column 3: Thumbnail URL
  1. Set Import Method to Embed (iframe code).
  1. Paste your data. Your embedded code column should contain the full iframe HTML:
My Video Title,<iframe src="https://youtube.com/embed/abc123"></iframe>,https://example.com/thumb.jpg
  1. Click Preview Import, then Confirm & Start Import.
Warning: Every embedded video must have a thumbnail URL. Without it, the import will fail for that video.
Note: Embedded videos don't support custom player features like watermarks, overlays, or ads. If you need those features, use Download or Hotlink mode instead.

How to Schedule Videos for Future Release

You can have the system automatically spread your video releases over a date range instead of publishing them all at once.

  1. Check the Random Schedule Between Dates box in Import Options.
  1. Click in the Schedule Date A field and pick a start date and time.
  1. Click in the Schedule Date B field and pick an end date and time (must be later than A).
  1. Import your videos.

Each video will get a random publish date between the two dates you chose. This creates a natural flow of content over weeks or months.

Tip: This is perfect for "drip release" content strategies where you want new videos to appear gradually instead of all at once.

How to Import with Random Views and Ratings

To make newly imported videos look more popular, you can assign random view counts and ratings.

  1. Find the Random Rating Range fields in Import Options.
  1. Enter a minimum rating (1-10) and maximum rating (1-10). For example: 7 to 10.
  1. Find the Random Views Range fields.
  1. Enter a minimum view count and maximum. For example: 5000 to 15000.
  1. Import your videos.

Each video will get a random rating and view count within your specified ranges.

Note: These are "seed" values shown to visitors. Real views and ratings from actual users are tracked separately.

How to Prevent Duplicate Imports

If you're worried about importing the same video twice:

  1. Check the Check for duplicates box in Import Options.
  1. Choose whether to check duplicates across your entire site or just within a specific category.
  1. Import your videos.

Any video with a title that already exists will be skipped and counted as a "duplicate" in the statistics.

Import Methods Explained

Understanding the three import methods is crucial. Choose based on how you want to host your videos.

Download & Keep Video

What it does: Downloads the video file from the URL in your CSV and stores it on your server. Your site will host and play the video.

Best for:

  • Videos you want full control over
  • Adding watermarks or overlays to videos
  • Building your own video library

 

What happens: The video is downloaded, thumbnails are created, and the file is kept permanently on your server. Your video processing system handles everything automatically.

What it does: Downloads the video temporarily to create thumbnails, then deletes the video file and links to the original URL for playback.

Best for:

  • Saving server storage space
  • Videos hosted elsewhere that you want to feature
  • Sites with limited disk space

 

What happens: The video is downloaded, thumbnails and preview clips are generated, then the original file is deleted. When visitors watch the video, it streams from the external URL.

Embed (iframe code)

What it does: Stores an iframe embed code (like from YouTube or Vimeo) without downloading anything.

Best for:

  • YouTube, Vimeo, or other external platform videos
  • Quick imports with no processing needed
  • Sites primarily linking to external content

 

What happens: The embed code is saved, and you must provide a thumbnail URL. No video file is downloaded or processed.

Warning: Embedded videos don't support advanced player features. If you need watermarks, custom overlays, or ads, use one of the other methods.

This page doesn't have filters or search since it's an import form. Once videos are imported, you can search and filter them on the main Video Management page.

Settings and Options

Setting What It Does Recommended
Import Method Controls how videos are handled (download, hotlink, or embed) Use Download for hosted content, Hotlink to save space, Embed for external videos
Status Sets the initial status of imported videos Use "Processing" for automatic handling, "Pending" for manual review
Delimiter Character separating columns in your CSV Use comma (default), or {tab} for tab-separated files
Force Categories Assigns specific categories to all imported videos Use when all videos in the batch belong to the same categories
Force Model Links all imported videos to one specific model Use when importing a batch of videos from one performer
Auto-detect Model Automatically finds and links models mentioned in titles Enable if your titles include model names
Random Rating Assigns random initial ratings to videos Set to 7-10 for premium content, 5-8 for average content
Random Views Assigns random initial view counts Set to 1000-12000 for realistic "seed" numbers
Random Schedule Spreads publish dates across a date range Enable for drip-release content strategies
Check Duplicates Prevents importing videos with duplicate titles Enable to avoid accidentally importing the same video twice

Understanding Playlists

Think of playlists as saved templates for your imports. When you save a playlist, it stores:

  • All your field mappings (which columns go where)
  • Your import method selection
  • Status setting
  • Delimiter choice
  • Forced categories
  • Model and sponsor settings
  • Random rating and view ranges
  • Schedule settings
  • Duplicate check settings

Everything except the actual video data. This means you can:

  1. Set up your import configuration once
  2. Save it as a playlist
  3. Use it over and over with new data

Perfect if you get weekly feeds from sponsors or regularly import from the same sources.

Tips for New Users

Tip:
  • Start small: Test with 5-10 videos before importing hundreds to make sure your field mappings work correctly.
  • Use playlists: If you import from the same source regularly, save a playlist to avoid reconfiguring everything each time.
  • Check the preview: Always review the preview table before confirming - it shows you exactly how the system will interpret your data.
  • Use N/A wisely: If your CSV has columns you don't need (like internal IDs), map them to "N/A (skip column)" instead of trying to match them to fields.
  • Watch the log: The import progress log shows exactly what happened with each video - look for error messages there if something goes wrong.

Troubleshooting

Videos not appearing on my site after import

What you see: You imported videos successfully, but they don't show up when you browse your site.

How to fix it:

  1. Go to Admin Panel > Videos > Video Management.
  2. Look for your newly imported videos and check their status.
  3. If the status is Processing, they're still being converted. This is normal for large files - check back in 5-10 minutes.
  4. If the status is Pending, you need to change it to Active manually, or the videos are waiting for review.
  5. If the status is Error, there was a problem with processing. Check the video details page for more information.

 

Import preview shows garbled or misaligned data

What you see: When you click Preview Import, the data doesn't line up with the columns correctly - everything looks mixed up.

How to fix it:

  1. Check your Delimiter setting. If your data is separated by tabs, commas, or another character, make sure the delimiter matches.
  2. For tab-separated data, type {tab} in the delimiter field (not the actual tab character).
  3. Look at your CSV data - make sure each line has the same number of columns.
  4. Try importing just one or two lines first to test if your delimiter is correct.

 

Categories or models not linking

What you see: Videos import successfully but don't show the categories or models you specified.

How to fix it:

  1. Make sure you mapped the correct columns - check that you selected Categories or Models in your field mappings.
  2. For categories: verify the category names in your CSV exactly match category names in your database (including spaces, capitalization).
  3. For models: the system auto-creates models if they don't exist, so they should link. Check the import log for messages about created models.
  4. If using forced categories, make sure you actually selected categories from the dropdowns (not just clicked Add Category).

 

Some videos failed to import

What you see: The statistics show "Failed" videos, but you're not sure why.

How to fix it:

  1. Scroll through the import log to find error messages for failed videos.
  2. Common reasons:

 

  • Missing title: Every video must have a title. Check your CSV data.
  • Missing video URL: For Download and Hotlink modes, each video needs a URL.
  • Missing thumbnail URL: For Embed mode, each video needs a thumbnail.
  • Duplicate title: If duplicate checking is enabled, videos with existing titles are skipped.

 

  1. Fix the data in your CSV and re-import just the failed videos.

 

Import gets stuck at 0% or a low percentage

What you see: You started the import but the progress bar isn't moving or stopped partway through.

How to fix it:

  1. Wait 2-3 minutes - very large files can take time to download.
  2. If it's truly stuck, check your browser's console (press F12, click Console tab) for JavaScript errors.
  3. Try importing a smaller batch (split your 500 videos into 50-video chunks).
  4. Contact your hosting provider - there may be a server timeout or memory limit issue.

 

Playlist won't save

What you see: You click Save but get an error message or nothing happens.

How to fix it:

  1. Make sure you entered a playlist name in the Playlist Name field.
  2. Check that you haven't already saved a playlist with that exact name - names must be unique.
  3. If the site is in demo mode, saving is disabled (you'll see an orange banner at the top of the page).

 

All videos show status "Pending" instead of "Processing"

What you see: Even though you selected "Processing" as the status, imported videos show as "Pending".

How to fix it:

  1. This is normal for Embed mode - embedded videos are always set to Pending regardless of your status selection.
  2. For Download and Hotlink modes, videos should show as Processing. If they don't, there might be a configuration issue. Contact support.

 

Page When to Use It
Video Management To view, edit, or delete videos after importing them
Video Upload To upload videos one at a time with full control over each one
Video FTP Import To import videos that have been uploaded to your server via FTP
Models To manage performer profiles linked to your videos
Categories To create or edit video categories
Sponsors To manage sponsor accounts for tracking video sources

Understanding CSV Format

Your CSV data is just text where each line is one video and values are separated by a delimiter (usually a comma).

Example with commas:

https://example.com/video1.mp4,My First Video,Great description,tag1;tag2,Amateurs

https://example.com/video2.mp4,Another Video,Also great,tag3;tag4,Brunettes

 

Example with tabs (use {tab} as delimiter):

https://example.com/video1.mp4    My First Video    Great description    tag1;tag2    Amateurs

https://example.com/video2.mp4    Another Video     Also great           tag3;tag4    Brunettes

 

Important rules:

  • One video per line
  • Same number of columns in every line
  • Tags are separated by semicolons (not commas)
  • Categories are separated by commas if you're importing multiple per video
  • If a title or description contains commas, use a different delimiter like tabs

 

What Happens During Import

Here's what the system does when you click Confirm & Start Import:

  1. Reads your data - Splits each line into columns based on your delimiter.
  1. Maps fields - Uses your field mappings to know which column is which.
  1. Processes each video:
  • Creates a database record with title, description, tags, etc.
  • Generates a unique URL slug from the title
  • Assigns categories (up to 10, first is primary)
  • Links models (creates them if they don't exist)
  • Links sponsors (creates them if they don't exist)
  • Assigns random ratings and views if you enabled that
  • Sets a random publish date if you enabled scheduling
  • Checks for duplicates if you enabled that
  1. For Download mode: Queues the video for download and processing by your automated system.
  1. For Hotlink mode: Queues the video for thumbnail generation, then deletion.
  1. For Embed mode: Saves the embed code and thumbnail URL directly.
  1. Shows results: Updates the progress bar and statistics as it works through your videos.

You can watch all of this happen in real-time in the import log.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many videos can I import at once?

A: There's no hard limit, but start with smaller batches (under 100) to make sure everything works. Very large imports (1000+) can take a long time.

Q: Can I import videos without URLs?

A: Only if you're using Embed mode and providing embed codes. For Download and Hotlink modes, every video needs a URL.

Q: What if my CSV has more columns than I need?

A: Map the columns you want to use, and map any extra columns to "N/A (skip column)". They'll be ignored.

Q: Can I import videos with different import methods in the same batch?

A: Yes, if you map an Embedded Code column, any row with embed code will use Embed mode even if you selected Download or Hotlink. Rows without embed code will use your selected method.

Q: Do I have to enter categories, models, and sponsors?

A: No. The only required fields are the video URL (or embed code) and title. Everything else is optional.

Q: What happens if a model or sponsor doesn't exist?

A: The system creates them automatically. New models are created with "Active" status. New sponsors get an auto-generated sponsor code.

Q: Can I edit videos after importing?

A: Yes. Go to Admin Panel > Videos > Video Management to edit any imported video.

Q: How long does processing take?

A: It depends on file sizes and your server. Small videos (under 100 MB) usually process in a few minutes. Large videos (over 1 GB) can take 10-30 minutes.

Q: What if the import fails halfway through?

A: Videos that were successfully imported before the failure are still saved. You can import the remaining videos in a new batch. Check the log to see where it stopped.

Q: Can I use this for galleries (photo sets)?

A: No, this is only for videos. There's a separate import tool for galleries.

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