Converting a COMPLEX Excel file to an Anki deck!

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So you like to learn with Anki? You have some Excel files that would make good learning material?
Well, let's combine those and create a custom tool, perfect for long term memorizing information.
In this video, I'm gonna show you how to create an Anki Deck using a slightly modified version of the note type "10 Questions".
Here are the steps:
1. Open your Excel file
2. Save as a .txt file with the UTF-8 encoding
3. Open Anki, click on Tools and "Manage Note Types"
4. Add a new note type by cloning the 10 Quesiton type
5. Go to "Fields". Add all the different fields you want to be asked by your Anki deck: each field corresponds to one of the columns in your Excel file. Make sure you add them in the same order as they are shown in the Excel file!
6. Go to "Cards" and format the Front and the Back Template:
this command is necessary to eliminate blank cards:
Front template:
{{#Category}} Category of {{Item}} {{/Category}}
For instance, if I want to know the "Color" of an item (let's say, a banana) I'll have to write:
{{#Color}} Color of {{Item}} {{/Color}}
Back template:
{{FrontSide}}
hr id=answer
{{Category}}
And replace Category with whatever you want (in my case, {{Color}})
7. Go to "File" and "Import", then select your Excel file (which you previously converted into a .txt file with UTF-8 encoding)
8. Import the file
9. ???
10. PROFIT!
You want to learn how to use Anki properly? Check out this channel:
@MedSchoolInsiders
/ @medschoolinsiders
Anki for Beginners:
• How to Use Anki Effect...
Other useful Anki tutorials (vocabulary practice):
Create Anki using Excel: • Create Anki Cards usin...
Create Anki Cards quickly using Excel: • Create Anki Cards Quic...
---
Welcome to the Sewer!
My name is... oh, just call me SlimRat. Queen of the Sewer would do it, too.
I make videos about weird things that fascinate me, other than that you will find lots of inappropriate jokes, science, music, art and whatever I believe I could make you spit milk from your nose with. (Don't ask about that one)
Make sure to subscribe and leave a like if you enjoy the content!
---
PSSST... if you see this, write "Lamina cribrosa" in the comment section.
---
Let's be friends, shall we?
Twitter: / therattv
Instagram: @slimrat
Facebook: / therattv
#Anki #MedSchool

[@FluoGray]

Hey peepz, I know this is a very specific video, but I hope the Anki-nerds like yours truly will find this helpful. -Rat

[@Itxbilalch]

Oh yeah i really did, thanks dude it was really helpful

[@cindylloyd306]

This is-by far-the very best tutorial for anki and spreadsheets in the entire world! No kidding. I would have never figured that out. On a side point, nurses also have to memorize those things. Back when I was in college, computers were not an option. We had to either make our own handwritten flash cards or simply buy what was called "Med Cards" that were VERY expensive. My lazy arse opted for the pre-printed ones. lol! Anyway, thank you so much Ms. Fluo Gray! I am trying to learn a number of things (not medical) and this is EXACTLY what I need.

[@danielsanchezandrade]

You did a super great job! I'm a little rusty using Anki, since I left it some years ago, and now that I'm retaking it, it's very useful to see how I can import massive amount of anki cards. Thanks!

[@AssafOppenheimer]

I spent hours last year looking for this (exactly this) I gave up on anki as a result. Thank you! I wish I found you earlier...

[@spocksvulcanbrain]

This was very helpful. I'm a pharmacist so I feel your pain if you are learning all these for the first time. I need it for learning a language and needed more than one question/answer field. Still need to learn how to add the tag. But this is 99% of what I needed.

[@eddycuevas5130]

You're truthly outspoken person. I love that.

[@sandrarydell7904]

thank you so much for this! you have been a great help and now im feeling extra motivated to get some studying done ♡

[@FluoGray]

Aww that’s awesome! Glad that I could help you out! 🥰

[@bancho2408]

I was able to upload all my files because of your tutorial. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU!

[@FluoGray]

Aww I’m happy it helped! Have fun ☺️

[@huuthientran6778]

Thanks for sharing ! Btw, I also practiced listening skill while I was watching your video. Your voice is clear and loud and I love it. (I'm an English learner).

[@FluoGray]

That’s awesome! I’m happy this was helpful, take care (:

[@germancastro5862]

Perfectly explained. Thank you! Greetings from Colombia.

[@FluoGray]

Thank you so much! I thought i was being a bit chaotic but I’m glad it was understandable 🖤 greetings ☀️

[@karinaparedes3188]

Thank you so much this was exactly what I needed!!!! ugh so glad I don't have to waste so much time making Vetmed flashcards the old fashioned way!

[@FluoGray]

That’s awesome! Glad I could be helpful 🖤

[@FrotaPaulo]

This is what I was looking for!!! Thank you so much, you are awesome!!!

[@FluoGray]

Very happy that i could help! 🖤

[@idocols2]

Thank you so much for a brilliant, excellent and super useful video!

[@leel9186]

Very creative problem-solving skills there. Super helpful. Thanks.

[@FluoGray]

Thank you! I am the kind of person that spends time to find out a “smarter” solution out of laziness lol. Glad it was helpful and have fun studying

[@Dr_D00M]

Best tutorial for anki !

[@alessbritish228]

This video was quite useful and your way of expressing yourself is colourful, well done!

[@FluoGray]

I’m very glad it was useful! 🖤

[@brunobezerra4121]

Great tutorial!!! Congrats!!!

[@ronaldcox1552]

Spectacular tutorial!

[@eddycuevas5130]

Remarkable job, thank you so much.

[@ZettaMorgan8]

That's so cool, thank you!

[@haydenle1792]

Thanks a lot! You deserve the world

[@rcgabriela]

Thanks a lot! You saved at least 3 years of my life!

[@TrucPhamFTU]

I think it is very helpful. Thanks for your sharing!

[@chuandongxie7046]

This tutorial helps me a lot, many thanks.

[@FluoGray]

Very happy it was helpful!

[@martincorona4270]

You have same me so much time. Thank you! This is a good Christmas present.

[@FluoGray]

I am happy to read it! Have a beautiful Christmas day and stay safe!

[@LUISFERNANDOxxxful]

Wooow, what an useful video! Thank you very much ;)

[@FluoGray]

Happy to hear that! (:

[@dunghoangviet6273]

thank you for your video, it help me a lot

[@kmanoham]

Hello Morphing :-) Many thanks for this super tutorial ..very useful indeed.

[@gwapacutepangit]

THANK YOU! I am a med student and i badly need this 💖

[@FluoGray]

Awesome! Happy it helps 🥰

[@lallmanish90]

super awesome . thanks

[@jjonyeukwu1514]

Thank you so much! These are the videos I've been looking for. I'm also in med school

[@FluoGray]

Im happy it was helpful for you! Have fun ☺️

[@SixNick]

Firstly, thank you, this is very useful. Also, you are hilarious.

[@FluoGray]

Haha thanks! you know what to do 😎 🤘🏼

[@medbubble2798]

You are an absolute genius!

[@FluoGray]

😇 oh you're too kind

[@williamarchacki571]

Thank you so much!

[@RxTheHarmacist]

Thank you so much!! I'm a pharmacy student going through my oncology module and this tutorial could not be any more perfect for what I needed

[@FluoGray]

Good luck with your module and happy it was useful 🥰

[@shaheerkhan3262]

awesome youve helped so much

[@meshalfaridbhatti5585]

Amazing. Thank you so much❤️

[@FluoGray]

Hope it was helpful! Anki gang

[@merkasin]

omg this saved a lot of time thank you so much!!

[@FluoGray]

You’re welcome! Happy to help!

[@janellemaecaludacmargallo2683]

THIS IS A LIFE-SAVER HUHUHU

[@FluoGray]

V happy about it 🥰

[@gurbirgill1717]

Thanks for video.

[@saravucic-sneperger7076]

dude this was amaziiing!! keep up the excel-ent work (sorry i had to

[@FluoGray]

HAHAHAH damn :,)

[@greeppl]

Thanks, great video - gave me an idea on how to learn vocabulary

[@FluoGray]

That’s awesome! Have fun! ☀️

[@joaquingonzalez477]

Super useful video and super useful type of note Thank you very much Danke sehr schön!

[@FluoGray]

Glad it was useful! Thank you 😊

[@3azami]

thanks a lot ! motivates me to start using that method

[@3azami]

lamina cribrosa

[@FluoGray]

Awesome! 🤓☀️

[@littlemissfinster2337]

Vielen Dank, das war sooo hilfreich! Ich konnte mit dieser Methode ein ganz ähnliches Problem lösen!

[@FluoGray]

Das freut mich zu lesen! 🖤 sehr gern!

[@ryannn_5281]

I love you, Thankyou!

[@FluoGray]

Love u too! Have fun!

[@narenzimmermann6753]

Herzlichen Dank! Ich bin ein Deutschlerner und es ist sehr nützlich.

[@FluoGray]

Cool! Viel Erfolg beim Lernen 📚

[@mazin_0_0]

Thank you so much .You saved me > because I am leaning German and German for me like engineering it is so complex

[@meannvlogs]

you're a genius..big thanks ^_^

[@FluoGray]

You’re welcome 🖤

[@satiro1711]

Excelente video, valío la pena verlo totalmente.

[@FluoGray]

Muchas gracias! Espero que esto video sea útil.

[@lusttenharuno5069]

I love you. Thanks.

[@FluoGray]

I love you too and you're welcome!

[@CynicalDuty]

Well, I completely messed up, so I'll try again tomorrow lol. Also thank you for being funny. I thought I was going to dread watching a 17 minute video.

[@FluoGray]

I hope it works out, if not I can try and make the deck for you lmao

[@mnhidayatsc8129]

Very useful

[@FluoGray]

Very happy to hear so! ☺️

[@KamiKZChines]

On 4:33 is better to select the whole table, press {CTRL} + {G} than press the "Special" mark the "blanks" option and press "Ok". This will select all the blank cells on the selected range.

[@FluoGray]

Thanks, that’s a good tip!

[@aneirinwenner4783]

Lamina Cribrosa Also, super useful! Thanks very much

[@BrunoSilva-ec1sr]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! AND THANK YOU! I can't thank you enough!!!! You did an awesome job! I'm wondering whether it's possible to import new words to an existing deck (once it has been already setup) or do I need to create a new deck every time I want to import the text file? Thanks again!

[@FluoGray]

That’s a tricky one! I usually “just” redo the deck, but maybe there’s a more convenient way to do that. I’ll look into it! And thank YOU for watching! 😎🖤

[@Martine4Schmidt]

Super. Vielen Dank 👏🏻

[@FluoGray]

Sehr gerne!

[@KAMILOALCA]

gracias muchas gracias te amo

[@FluoGray]

De nada! Te amo tambien!

[@Flying6969]

Omg thank you for the information and the laughs. Been trying to figure out how to effectively study my 200 drugs

[@FluoGray]

That’s great my man. Have fun with drugs! 💉💊

[@freyglg5514]

I spent a few weeks searching the internet for this answer. Thank you so much for making this tutorial! I'm wondering how you can get Anki to eliminate cards that have no answer on the reverse. I saw that you filled those with N/A, but what if i don't want those cards to show up in my deck? Is there a quick way to skip them from being created? Thanks!

[@FluoGray]

Hey, sorry for the late reply - just seen the comment. I uploaded a Part II for this video and there is the answer you need! Good luck!

[@Lyriks_]

Now the real question : Did you succeed your medical exam ? Joke aside, thanks for the video, i liked your humorous tone maybe we should do a song together, i tend to swear a lot too 😂

[@FluoGray]

OFC i did succeed 😎🤟🏼

[@animeandstuff5377]

Good job do you know how to add images to excel automatically if you are doing vocab and if you do can you make a video on it :)

[@allanjones1054]

You saved me SO much time. Thank you for decoding Anki for me! Best of luck with your Medical studies.

[@FluoGray]

I’m v glad I could help! Thank you so much!

[@jamesyang7092]

I found this video really helpful. Thanks! Do you know how I can import the excel spreadsheet so that I can combine the cards with an already existing anki deck?

[@FluoGray]

I’m stuck on this one but there are some import/export options that you might want to try out.. i will get back to you if i find a way!

[@jamesyang7092]

@@FluoGray thanks

[@peschiber]

Hi Flue, great video! I'm a beginner, just downloaded Anki a few days ago. As I have many existing records, stored in Excel, mainly for languages, I was very interested in how to export the records from Excel to Anki. Your hint: to eliminate all empty fields in Excel beforehand was a great help to me. However, I have one big request: Could you create a link so I can download your sample file in Excel as well as the Anki deck? No, I don't want to study medicine. (As not quite a teenager anymore, 75 + x years, it's a little bit too late for me.) Examples are always a great help to understand the syntax. Ich wünsche dir ein erfolgreiches neues Jahr 2022. Liebe Grüße aus El Salvador Peter

[@FluoGray]

Hey there Peter, thank you for the nice comment! Unfortunately, I don’t have the decks that I used for this video anymore. If you want to download other decks, Anki.web has many many options for that! I hope this was helpful. Frohes neues Jahr aus Sachsen-Anhalt 🪅

[@peschiber]

@@FluoGray thanks for your fast answers. What a pitty. I know Anki offers a lot of decks. Lets switch to German, it is easier for me. Ich habe etliches versucht, Excel-Dateien nach Anki zu exportieren, aber irgendwie hab ich noch nicht den richtigen Dreh raus. Kann auch sein, dass auch an der neusten Anki-Version liegt - keine Ahnung. Ich wünsche dir einen tollen Aufenthalt in Sachsen-Anhalt. Bin gerade selber wieder in Berlin, daher eine Frage: Weißt du, ob es eine Anki-User-Gruppe in Deutschland gibt, am besten in Berlin? Falls ja, lass es mich wissen. Danke Peter El Salvador, z. Z. Berlin PS.: Keine Ahnung, ob dein Name "Gray" ist. Deine Vidios sind toll, you better call youselfe: Fluo Brilliant.

[@AMZamil]

I found it really helpful , and then I used chatgpt to give the instruction, weather I want after the words Tab Pipe Semicolon Colon Comma Space That’s it and paste it in csv directly

[@samfightss]

@Fluo Gray when will the other cards be displayed like contraindication and side effects etc also is it necessary to delete the first row which contains header (medication, medical uses, contraindication etc)?

[@FluoGray]

Yep you can do that, so that they won’t be displayed 👍🏼

[@timonnemeth6821]

Thanks a lot, the tutorial was very helpful! Would you maybe concider uploading the German/English sample pharm deck on a Google Drive to use it as a sample?

[@FluoGray]

Unfortunately the file has not been updated in a while! I will ask my coworker if she’s fine with it, as it was a joint project, and I’ll let you know (: glad to know the tutorial was helpful

[@shayarhashim7567]

Wow.

[@kmanoham]

Tx

[@joehandley633]

Thanks so much! This does work really well however I'm having a little problem... My Anki deck will import all of the questions I am asking it to (e.g. "What are the symptoms of AAA?") but it will also ask me "What are the symptoms of condition?" Obviously AAA is in the conditions field, but I don't want it to ask this as it makes no sense. I hope I'm making sense and you're able to help me! I've got no hair left to pull out haha. Thanks.

[@FluoGray]

Yeah, i know what you mean! You have to manually delete the notes from your card browser!

[@nicklopez3383]

I really would have liked to see what would I have to do if I wanted the questions to be a list or bullet points instead of paragraph form.

[@FluoGray]

That you can do best with the clozed caption notes!

[@kishorekumar2598]

does it support images that are added into each cell ?

[@FluoGray]

I will try this out and let you know!

[@davegill7706]

Great video, one question; I don't have a deck called "10 questions". How do I create/download "10 Questions"?

[@FluoGray]

Hey, Google “10 Questions Add-On for Anki” and you’ll find a link to download the 10 Questions thing ☺️

[@davegill7706]

@@FluoGray Thanks!

[@cfarr5285]

I have always had trouble with the type in boxes. I find you have to be able to spell the answer too, rather than just be able to speak answer. Memorising large decks is great, but they do not care less sometimes unless you can spell the answer too.

[@FluoGray]

I hope it was helpful!

[@eddycuevas5130]

2:45 HAHHAHAH

[@ayansinha331]

anyone know where to get the 10 questions note type template? I don't have it and need to import it

[@FluoGray]

You should be able to find it on Anki.web (:

[@imaiden7758]

You are a fucking rockstar, fantastic video!

[@AssafOppenheimer]

Quick question: if you update the excel sheet is there a way to automatically update anki without deleting old cards, replacing the entire deck?

[@FluoGray]

I’m sorry to say I haven’t found/invented anything like that yet... but I know the struggle, I usually replace the deck or “just” edit the new cards in

[@spocksvulcanbrain]

best that you keep a master file. If you already have an Anki deck, export it, then add to that in Excel and keep that file as the master to add/make changes. Then you are always working in only ONE file.

[@gcarlose2]

Can you share that excel file? looks very useful!

[@FluoGray]

Unfortunately I can’t🥲 besides the fact that it’s outdated now, it was a group project and the other people who worked on it are pretty protective of it.. I’m sorry!

[@FluoGray]

You GUYS!!! I learned a new trick to create a deck without the N/A or empty cards. Here's the tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZiWi6mJpphnd6s Here's how you do it: 1. Open your Excel file 2. Save as a .txt file with the UTF-8 encoding 3. Open Anki, click on Tools and "Manage Note Types" 4. Add a new note type by cloning the 10 Quesiton type 5. Go to "Fields". Add all the different fields you want to be asked by your Anki deck: each field corresponds to one of the columns in your Excel file. Make sure you add them in the same order as they are shown in the Excel file! 6. Go to "Cards" and format the Front and the Back Template. This command is necessary to eliminate blank cards: Front template: {{#Category}} Category of {{Item}} {{/Category}} For instance, if I want to know the "Color" of an item (let's say, a banana) I'll have to write: {{#Color}} Color of {{Item}} {{/Color}} Back template: {{FrontSide}} {{Category}} And replace Category with whatever you want (in my case, {{Color}}) 7. Go to "File" and "Import", then select your Excel file (which you previously converted into a .txt file with UTF-8 encoding) 8. Import the file 9. ??? 10. PROFIT!

[@katieknoll2075]

holy fuck i love you so much

[@ninayashaa]

Thanks a lot for this tutorial. Do you think you could somehow send me this excel file ? Like with all those mediactions? xx

[@FluoGray]

I can send you the Anki German deck if you want! The excel is a database that I built with some colleagues, and they don’t want to give it up haha

[@ninayashaa]

@@FluoGray oh okei.. yeah that would be amazing:) unfortunately I was not able to create the 10 questions thing :/ like my anki was error messaging me lol. Do you know were i can find a add on or so? How did u do it. Maybe its because I have windows 🥴

[@FluoGray]

Hello friends. Those of you who read video descriptions (haha) know that my tiny channel has a PayPal account for donations. Whatever lands in there is from now on going to be donated to organisations who support victims from US police brutality (joincampaignzero.org/solutions)

[@leobesa2887]

Will this work with images? I think not.

[@FluoGray]

It actually should, I haven’t tried this out yet. Might be worth it!

[@markstrong9815]

Is there any way to get ridof the N/A cards all at once when they are in the deck?

[@FluoGray]

There should be but I’ve avoided this issue by just filling them in every time I encounter one. I’m probably gonna do a video on how to solve this and I’ll keep you posted

[@markstrong9815]

​@@FluoGray Thank you! I ended up turning on the answers section of the anki browser and suspending all the N/A cards which took me about 20 minutes (it wont let you sort the answers...). but still much better than all the time i spent before making cards. Thank you SO MUCH for this video

[@FluoGray]

I am gonna try and skip the passage with the N/A thing in excel and generate a deck, maybe the empty boxes won’t affect the cards the way I thought. I’ll let y’all know what happens 👀

[@jansmola265]

kuss geht raus

[@FluoGray]

Ehre

[@vladb7727]

Hey, thank you for the informative video. I have followed the steps and even got the import window to map every column to the correct field, but after clicking import I get this error: Import failed. Debugging info: Traceback (most recent call last): File "aqt\importing.py", line 202, in on_done File "concurrent\futures\_base.py", line 432, in result File "concurrent\futures\_base.py", line 388, in __get_result File "concurrent\futures\thread.py", line 57, in run File "lib\site-packages\anki\importing oteimp.py", line 83, in run File "C:\Users\vladi\AppData\Roaming\Anki2\addons21\46741504 oteImporter.py", line 56, in importNotes n.fields[c] = html.escape(n.fields[c]) NameError: name 'html' is not defined Do you know what it means? :(

[@vladb7727]

Hey, I've fixed it I only needed to click on allow HTML. By the way, it also works not to fill empty cells. The only problem with this method is that it generates cards with empty cells, which have to be manually disabled. If you find a way to erase them, I would appreciate a reply haha

[@FluoGray]

Hey there Vlad, im happy it worked! i believe there must be a way to erase the blanc cards easily, however i'm a bit busy atm and i could get back to you only in a few days. (If i remember well, you can find some helpful options in the "browse cards" section, but i'm not quite sure which one you should click)

[@vladb7727]

@@FluoGray Thank you for the reply! I've tried the 'remove empty cards' option but it doesn't recognize them as empty. I ended up merging two fields which tended to be empty to one card so I see less empty ones haha Thanks again! You helped me a lot

[@vladb7727]

I found a fix, though I will not try this myself because my exam is tomorrow haha: anki.tenderapp.com/discussions/ankidesktop/36432-anki-create-card-even-when-the-back-template-is-empty

[@FluoGray]

That's actually very helpful, thanks for posting the link. Good luck with your exam!

[@myf94]

Dear Lord, today I am grateful to be a simple bich who did not have to learn a medication register in German. Thanks for the #kewl tutorial. Lamina cribrosa

[@leticia_yona]

How can I do the opposite?

[@FluoGray]

You mean, converting Anki decks into an Excel file? I'm not sure how that works, but i can try to find it out. I'll reach out to you if i find a way (:

[@leticia_yona]

@@FluoGray Yeahh. I was trying to find an app that converts apkg to doc but I couldn't find any. I hope you find another way.

[@florentjung5799]

Fuckin! Thank u :)

[@FluoGray]

You’re fucking welcome 🖤🤓

[@Shaggy-je5jr]

Lamina Cribrosa

[@jemand8462]

witzig, du studierst Medizin auf deutsch, hast dein Windows auf englisch und bist ein Anki-Nerd - genau wie ich :) Jetzt musst du nur noch japanisch lernen! Übrigens, GTE, Bildgebende Verfahren... klingt nach MS !? ;)

[@FluoGray]

Ich kann leider kein Japanisch. Hatte aber schonmal Katakana, Hiragana und einige Kanji gelernt, ist aber schon ewig her!

[@vicooo1498]

This doesn't work with my language, the letters get butchered when exporting :(

[@FluoGray]

Oh no! Im sorry.. must be some formatting issue..

[@eshepard682]

God damn i love your honesty. I'm right there with you. We have 180 drugs for this block...fuck!! endocrine drugs + immuno + cardiac...just kill my ass

[@FluoGray]

We can do it bro, i believe in you! No ones getting their ass killed today

[@eshepard682]

@@FluoGray hopefully! how's studying going for you? I got 1 more semester and then dedicated for step studying. I've been a slave to anki/amboss.

[@FluoGray]

Step 1 or 2? I study in Germany and im a third year student, so i passed my “step 1” and bracing myself for step 2, amboss and anki are LIFE 🙏🏼

[@eshepard682]

@@FluoGray step 1. Are you using AnKings deck? I have 1500 questions left on amboss, so i'll finish that Qbank before I start dedicated. Then I'ma do Uworld. How was it? and congrats!

[@Koroodetto]

Why don’t you show us how to get to new note?????????

[@FluoGray]

You click on the deck and then “new note” should be the first option that comes up after that

[@sonh99]

11:40 add for every single card? You did the wrong way

[@FluoGray]

What was the correct way?

[@memorymastery1315]

you are damn beautiful and keeewwwwl !

[@FluoGray]

That’s way too nice but I’ll take it ☠️🖤

[@Selu2023]

Hey Morphing Rat, do you have insta or anything. I'm a pharmacy student and would love to get to know you and how you study more. Of course I also understand if you don't want to haha 💙 stranger danger

[@FluoGray]

Hey there, I believe there’s a link to my socials somewhere - I don’t use them much tho. @morphing_rat on everything 🤘🏼

[@Selu2023]

@@FluoGray Hey haha Yeah sure, I understand that. I'll chuck you a friend request somewhere. My name's Shif by the way.

[@DelacroixGaming]

I am too stupid to understand what are you doin.

[@FluoGray]

Yeah you better go play hunt with your friends and stop picking your nose