Product import via CSV file

How can I Import a bigger amount of products if I don't want to do it manually?
Written by Dennis
Updated 11 months ago

First import of products

You would rather want to skip creating every single prouct manually? The product import feature is waiting for you (and don't be scared, it just looks mean at first sight)

Under "products" > "import" we are providing you with a sample file which should serve as a template for you.

  1. Download the sample file here. Or even easier you create manually some of your "more complicated" products (with variants, pictures, categories, description etc.) and then download your CSV file under "Products" > "Export". With that sample template of your products you can go on with creating the rest of your products

  2. Open google spreadsheets https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets (with excel a tabular, clear overview is not always possible) and import the CSV file.

3. Now you can fill in all the product details of the products you want to import.

All the column names in a nutshell (mandatory fields bold)

type: enter product or variant depending on what you want to create
product_id: ID-number of your product (ATTENTION: Please leave out these fields, the system will automatically fill in product IDs)
product_title: title of your product
product_short_description: short description of your product
product_long_description: long description of your product
product_published: TRUE/FALSE depending on if you want your product to be published yet or not
product_tax_rate_id: enter tax rate
product_meta_description_int: meta description
product_meta_title_int: meta title
product_net: net price? Fill in FALSE if this is not the case otherwise fill in TRUE
product_track_inventory: activate automatic inventory track? Yes--> TRUE
product_google_category: google shopping category (list with all the google shopping categories here https://www.google.com/basepages/producttype/taxonomy.de-DE.txt )
product_valid_from: enter date from which on the price discount is valid, format: year-month-day 00:00:00 UTC
product_valid_to: enter date, to which price discount should be valid, format: see above
product_promoted: should the product be promoted (in case your design template is supporting this feature)? TRUE/FALSE
product_highlighting_text: the text which whom your product should be promoted(-10% or titles like "bestseller")
product_original_price_title: explain why your product is not sold for the orignial price anymore (e.g. winter sale or bfcm sale)
variant_id: ID-number of the variant
variant_product_id: ID-number of the product of the variant
variant_default: TRUE if standard variant (if product has no variant also enter TRUE)
variant_price: price in format 10.99 or 10,99 (no currency symbol)
variant_original_price: original price which should be presented crossed out (enter nothing if product price is not reduced)
variant_base_price_description: base price, format 0,95/100g (it's always cut down to gramm --> 4,99€ per kilogram is to be typed in as 4,99/1000g)
variant_weight: weight in gramm
variant_sku: item number
variant_inventory: inventory
variant_gtin: barcode
option1_id: ID-number of the option
option1_title: title of the option (e.g. colour or size)
option1_value_id: ID-number of the value
option1_value: value (e.g. XS or pink)
categories: You can create new categories and address existing ones
images: Insert image link, if you want to upload multiple images per product, just separate the image links with a comma. If you don't have image links, you can generate them online.

4. Download the file as "comma seperated value" format file (.csv, current table)

5. Go to "products" > "import" and click on the box to upload your CSV file and you are done :-)

Uploading product variants

When adding product variants, please note that you have to fill out the line below the master product (the original product that is displayed first) plus that not all fields have to be filled in. The following fields have to be filled in like explained:

type: Enter variant instead of product here
variant_default: Enter FALSE instead of TRUE
variant_price: Enter a price if it's not the same price as the master product
--> This also applies to original_price, base_price, weight & inventory
variant_sku: Enter a different SKU, so that you can differentiate between the orders
option1_title: Enter the same variant title as used at master product, e.g. size or color.
option1_value: Enter the value, for example S for master product and M for variant 1.

The option2_title and option2_value are necessary to fill out if you have multiple prouct options and characteristics, e.g. not only size but also colour and material etc.

Changing product details

In order to make changes to products, the system needs the product IDs already generated by branchbob. If you only edit and upload your old CSV file, all products will be twice in your shop. Therefore you proceed like this:

  1. Download your personal CSV file with your products under "Products" > "Export".

  2. Make changes and re-import the file 

You still have questions about the product import? We will be happy to help you if you send us an email to support@branchbob.com .

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