Upload/backup products
Upload/backup products
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FAQs |
What is a CSV? (eCommerce packages only)
Tip: Add products fast!Using a CSV can save you a lot of time when adding over ten products. |
CSV stands for Comma Separated Values. It describes the method that is used to store the data of a database. The easiest way to think of a My Shop CSV is that it represents all of the information entered for your products written on a single line. CSV documents are mostly opened and edited using Microsoft Excel.
The easiest way to use the CSV function is to export a CSV and then treat that as a template to populate the database with new or edited products.
Exporting a CSV from My Shop (eCommerce packages only)
In order to upload or edit a large number of products at once, it is recommended that you use a CSV spreadsheet. You can export a CSV from My Shop and then use it as a template to add more products or make edits to existing products.
For an explanation of the column names in the CSV, please see the article Editing a My Shop CSV in Microsoft Excel.
- Go to My Shop.
- Click Export Products.
- Save the file to your computer.
Editing a My Shop CSV in Microsoft Excel (eCommerce packages only)
Tip: Save the file as a CSVIt is essential that you save your .csv as a .csv. If you change the file extension to .xls My Shop will not be able to read your data. |
To add details for more than five to ten products at a time it is efficient to upload a spreadsheet containing all of the required information directly into My Shop. The advantage of this process is that it allows you to add many products in one step.
You are able to upload all of the same fields as you would normally enter into the Site Builder, such as general details, file links, image references, descriptions and cross-sell links.
See related articles What is a CSV?, Exporting a CSV from My Shop for more information.
- Open the file in Microsoft Excel.
- Edit the data for each product. One product per row. Enter new products into new rows. See the explanation of each column name below.
- Save the .CSV as a new file.
- Upload the new CSV to My Shop (please see article Uploading multiple products to My Shop using a CSV ).
IMPORTANT: Do not change the column names. Ensure that the document is saved as a .csv
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category_name |
The name of the primary category the product belongs to. |
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category_name2 |
The name of the secondary category the product belongs to (optional). |
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category_name3 |
Thename of the third optional category the product can also belong to. |
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name |
The name of the product. |
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code |
The product code or identification number of the product |
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price1 |
The base value of the product, that is before tax or options are applied. |
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price2-price5 |
Not required, to be used for future features. This field should always have a value of ‘0'. |
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short_description |
Text entered in this column will appear in a shop category page on the site. |
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long_description |
Text entered in this column will appear on the product page. |
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status |
The availability of the product. The only values accepted in this column are: available, out_of_stock, back_order, pre_order or inactive. (the terms must have underscores ("_") instead of spaces between words) |
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weight |
The shipping weight of the product. That is, the weight including packing materials. Enter only the number of kilograms in this column. (Note: Do not add ‘Kg') |
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height |
The shipping weight of the product. That is, the weight including packing materials. Enter only the number of centimetres in this column. (Note: Do not add ‘cm') |
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width |
The shipping width of the product. That is, the weight including packing materials. Enter only the number of centimetres in this column. (Note: Do not add ‘cm') |
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depth |
The shipping depth of the product. That is, the weight including packing materials. Enter only the number of centimetres in this column. (Note: Do not add ‘cm'). |
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apply_tax |
This option enables you to charge GST on the shipping rates. This field is expressed in ‘Binary' 0=No, 1=Yes. |
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free_shipping; |
This option enables you to exempt this product from any shipping charges. This field is expressed in ‘Binary' 0=No, 1=Yes. |
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Shipping: |
This option enables you to charge a shipping rate specifically for this item. Enter only the number of dollars you wish to charge for shipping in this column. (Note: do not add ‘$') |
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meta_keywords |
Enter the keywords for the product in this column. Remember that keywords need to be separated by a comma and a space. |
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meta_description |
Enter the description in this column. The description should only be 1-2 sentences long. |
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option_name1 |
The name of the first group of options for this product. |
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option_value1 |
This column contains all of the information about the options of option group 1 and how it affects the base price of the product. Options are written like so: 43 cm|+|5.00|$|rb-43cm;50 cm|+|15.00|$|rb-50cm; This example lists two options for sizes of bikes, one for 43cm and the other for 50cm. Options are separated by a semi colon ( ; ) The information is written in the same order it is entered into the options for each product in the Site Builder. The pipes ( | ) are used to separate one field from the next. So that the option reads: Option Name = 43cm, Option Effect = increase price (+), Amount of Effect = 5.00, Variance Type = dollars ($), Option ID Code = rb-43cm, end option ( ; ). This is then followed by the 50cm option written in the same format. All options added to a CSV must comply with this format. |
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option_name2-etc |
If you have additional groups of options, the details will appear here. |
Uploading multiple products to My Shop using a CSV (eCommerce packages only)
Tip: Add products fast!Using a CSV can save you a lot of time when adding over ten products. |
To add details for more than five to ten products at a time it is efficient to upload a spreadsheet containing all of the required information directly into My Shop. The advantage of this process is that it allows you to add many products in one step.
You are able to upload all of the same fields as you would normally enter into the Site Builder, including general details, file links, image references, descriptions and cross-sell links.
See related articles Exporting a CSV from My Shop and Editing a My Shop CSV in Microsoft Excel for more information. Once you have edited the CSV and/or added new products, categories or details, upload it to My Shop.
- Go to My Shop > Upload Products.
- Select how you would like the file to be added to the Shop database
- Add products to the existing shop replacing products with the same product code: This option will upload the CSV, add any new products and replace any existing products that have identical product codes (product code is found in column five of the CSV). This option is best used when updating your current inventory, such as when you have downloaded the existing database and made changes to current products.
- Add products to the existing database: This option will add the products in the CSV to the shop without changing any of the existing product information. This option is best used when you have a CSV with new products in it that you want to add to the shop database.
- Replace all existing products: This option will replace your entire current shop database with the products in the CSV. This option is best used when you have downloaded the current database and made extensive alterations/additions, or when you want to change your entire inventory.
- Click on the Browse button.
- Locate the file (CSV) that you want to upload.
- Click on the Upload Products button.
My Shop will be populated with all of the new/edited details. Images will need to be added to each product record separately.
Creating a backup of My Shop products (eCommerce packages only)
Tip:Make regular backups of your catalogue. |
You can make a voluntary backup of your product inventory before you make extensive changes to it. This ensures that you can revert to a recent version of your catalogue in the event that you make a lot of mistakes.
- Go to My Shop > Upload products.
- Enter a name for the catalogue backup in the Label field i.e. Before catalogue edits May 08.
- Click the Backup Catalogue button.
Recovering a backup of My Shop products (eCommerce packages only)
Tip:Create a backup of your My Shop products before making extensive edits. This will provide you with a version you can revert to it if you accidentally make changes you do not wish to keep. |
You can recover a backup of your product inventory in the event that you have made a lot of changes that you do not wish to keep.
- Go to My Shop > Upload Products.
- Select the backup version that you wish to return to from the drop-down list.
- Click Recover Catalogue.
Can I change the name of the columns in the csv file?
It is absolutely essential that you do not change the name of the columns in the csv. The Site Builder imports data by matching field names between what already exists on the website and what is in the csv. Different column names will cause an error to result. Check the explanation of field names in the article Editing a My Shop CSV in Microsoft Excel.