Complete reference of all error messages you might see in Smelt.
File Upload Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| ”File contains no data rows” | Empty CSV or only headers | Verify file has data rows, not just headers |
| ”No columns detected” | Missing header row | Add a header row to your CSV |
| ”File too large” | Over 50MB | Split into smaller files (under 50MB each) |
| “Invalid file format” | Not a CSV file | Export from source as CSV format |
| ”Encoding error” | Unsupported character encoding | Re-save file as UTF-8 |
| ”File processing failed” | Corrupted or malformed file | Re-export from original source |
| ”Too many columns” | Over 100 columns | Remove unnecessary columns |
| ”Too many rows” | Over 50,000 rows | Split into multiple files |
Job Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| ”Usage limit exceeded” | Monthly row limit reached | Upgrade plan or wait for cycle reset |
| ”No templates selected” | Forgot to select templates | Select at least one template in wizard |
| ”Invalid row range” | Start row greater than end row | Fix row range (start must be ≤ end) |
| “Template not found” | Template was deleted | Select a different template |
| ”File not found” | Source file was deleted | Upload file again or select different file |
| ”Job timed out” | Very large job or network issues | Split into smaller batches, retry |
| ”Insufficient rows remaining” | Requested more than available | Reduce row range or upgrade plan |
API Key Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| ”Invalid API key” | Wrong key or revoked | Re-enter key or generate new one at OpenAI |
| ”API key expired” | Key was revoked at OpenAI | Generate new key at platform.openai.com |
| ”Rate limit exceeded” | Too many API requests | Wait 1 minute, Smelt auto-retries |
| ”Insufficient credits” | OpenAI account has no credits | Add credits at platform.openai.com |
| ”API key not configured” | BYOK mode but no key added | Add your API key in Settings |
| ”Invalid API key format” | Key doesn’t start with sk- | Ensure you copied the full key correctly |
Authentication Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| ”Invalid credentials” | Wrong email or password | Check spelling, use password reset if needed |
| ”Account not found” | Email not registered | Create a new account |
| ”Too many login attempts” | Rate limit triggered | Wait 15 minutes before trying again |
| ”Reset link expired” | Password reset link older than 1 hour | Request a new password reset |
| ”Reset link already used” | Link was already used | Request a new password reset |
| ”Email already registered” | Trying to register existing email | Log in instead, or use password reset |
Template Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| ”Template name required” | Empty name field | Enter a template name |
| ”Prompt template required” | Empty prompt field | Enter your prompt instructions |
| ”Invalid variable syntax” | Malformed {{variable}} | Check variable format (double braces) |
| “Output column name required” | Empty output column field | Enter an output column name |
| ”Cannot edit system template” | Trying to edit default template | Duplicate it first, then edit the copy |
| ”Cannot delete system template” | Trying to delete default template | System templates cannot be deleted |
Network Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| ”Network error” | Connection issue | Check internet connection, retry |
| ”Request timeout” | Slow connection or large request | Retry, or try smaller batch |
| ”Service unavailable” | Smelt or OpenAI temporarily down | Wait a few minutes and retry |
| ”Connection refused” | Network blocking | Check firewall/VPN settings |
Billing Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| ”Payment failed” | Card declined or expired | Update payment method in billing portal |
| ”Subscription not found” | Billing sync issue | Contact [email protected] |
| ”Invalid plan selection” | Plan no longer available | Select a different plan |
Export Errors
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| ”No results to export” | Job has no completed results | Wait for job to complete or check for failures |
| ”Export failed” | Server error during export | Retry, contact support if persistent |
Quality Flag “Errors”
These aren’t errors, but warnings about output quality:
| Flag | Meaning | Action |
|---|
forbidden_word | Output contains banned word | Edit to remove, or update forbidden words list |
has_placeholder | Output has unfilled [Name] etc. | Check CSV has data, edit to fix |
has_ai_speak | Output says “As an AI…” | Edit to remove, improve prompt |
Getting Help
If you encounter an error not listed here:
- Screenshot the error — Include the full message
- Note what you were doing — Which action triggered it
- Contact support — Email [email protected]
Most errors include guidance in the message itself. Read the full error text for specific instructions.
