Bulk import (CSV)
Available on Startup and above
Create many products from a CSV file: the template, the row limit, and how errors are shown.
Bulk import creates products from a CSV spreadsheet. It is the fastest way to load an existing catalogue. A file with any error creates nothing, so you never end up with half a catalogue.
Who can do this: importing is its own permission, separate from creating one product at a time. The Administrator and the Admin and Inventory Manager roles have it. It also depends on your plan (see the badge at the top of the page).
Before you start#
- Download the template. The page says: "New here? Start from our template. The 16 columns and their order must match."
- A file can have up to 500 data rows (the header row does not count). Split a bigger catalogue into several files.
- Only standard and serialized products can be imported. Build composite, pre-order and customized products in the app.
Import a file#
- Go to Products > Manage products and select Bulk add.
- Select Download CSV template and fill it in with your spreadsheet program.
- Drag the file into the upload box, or click the box to choose it. CSV only, up to 10 MB.
- The page checks the file and shows Review catalog to import. Tick the products you want to import. All are ticked at first.
- Select Import catalog.
The columns in short#
The page's Template columns and Formatting guidelines sections explain every column with an example. The full list is on CSV templates.
| Column | Rules |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Required. Rows with the same name become one product with variants. Each of those rows then needs its own Variant Name. |
| Product Type | standard or serialized only. |
| SKU | Optional, 6 digits. Created for you when empty. |
| Unit and Unit Value | A unit code in lower case, such as piece, kg, g, l or box, and a number above 0. |
| Price, Cost, MSRP | Normal amounts in your currency. Write 1450.00. A price of 0 makes the product Open price. |
| Track Inventory, Batch Tracking, Expiry Tracking | true or false. Batch tracking needs tracking. Expiry tracking needs batch tracking. Serialized products always track. |
| Barcode, QR Code | true or false. |
| Global Identifier Value | Optional, 13 digits. Created for you when empty and Barcode or QR Code is true. |
Codes you type must be unique in the file and in your catalogue.
Behind the scenes#
The whole file is checked before anything is created. Each problem names the row, the product and the column, for example:
Row 12 | Product "Red rice 5kg" (Column: SKU): SKU must be exactly 6 digits.
The page lists every problem in a table under Validation errors. Fix them in your spreadsheet, then upload the corrected file. Only a file with no errors creates products.
Watch out#
- The file has no column for fractional quantities. To sell an imported product by weight or length, open it after the import and turn on Allow fractional quantities. See Creating a product.
- Imported products are not linked to any store yet. Link them on Link products.
Troubleshooting#
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Invalid CSV structure". | A column is missing, renamed or moved. | Start again from the template. Do not change the header row. |
| The file is refused as too large. | It has more than 500 data rows. | Split it into smaller files. |
| A product type is refused. | Only standard and serialized can be imported. | Create other types in the app. |
| An SKU or barcode is refused. | It is used twice in the file or already exists. | Change it, or leave it empty. |