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Note: This article applies only to Store v.1 stores that don't have a Catalog Manager. If you have the Catalog Manager link available in the Store Manager, please use the Catalog Manager to upload products.
Merchant Solutions offers a powerful feature that lets you create or update items for your site in just two steps:
Although this page describes the file format for database uploads in detail, you usually won't have to think about it unless an error occurs. Most spreadsheet or database programs (such as Microsoft Excel) can generate a correct CSV file for you automatically; generally, you just need to go to the File menu, choose Save As, then select CSV.
The file format for database uploads has two parts:
Here is an example of a small database file:
The first (header) line states that the rest of the file will contain records of four fields each: The first field will be the path (the name of the section(s) containing the item); the second will be the code (e.g. SKU); the third will be the name; and the fourth will be the price. See this Help Page for a list of all supported field names you can use in your CSV file.
When uploaded, this file will yield a store with one section, called Cookies, containing two items: Chocolate Chip Cookies at 4.95, and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies at 3.95.
It does not matter what order in which you put the fields, so long as the field names in the first line match the records in the remaining lines.
This file would have exactly the same effect as the preceding one:
Note that records don't have to contain values for all the fields in an item. The examples so far do not include the caption field, for example. Here is a version of the same file that does include captions:
This example demonstrates two things:
A quoted string is a series of characters beginning and ending with the double quote character ("). For example, when you edit an item by hand, you need to surround multiple-word options with double quotes, this can be seen in the example below where Sea Green is the color option. Since double quotes are already meaningful in the CSV format, begin and end the options field with a double quote, and use two adjacent double quotes wherever you need to include double quotes for multiple-word options. In general, blank lines, commas, and other punctuation must be between quotation marks for the entry to be read correctly.
Notice in the following example how the options for the Polo Shirt begin with a double quote. This allows you to separate different options with blank lines (as with Size and Color below) and to include multiple-word options (Sea Green). Sea Green has three quotes following: two to signal the end of a multiple-word option, and one to end the quoted string.
path,code,name,options,price
Shirts,F23,Polo Shirt,"Size S M L XL Color Marigold Taupe""Sea Green""",22.95
Pants,P12,Chinos,"Waist 32 34 36 Inseam 30 32 34",34.95
This yields a site with two sections, Shirts and Pants, each with one item, and each item with two options. When uploading a CSV file with an options field, make sure that all of the options are enclosed in double quotes. Also, remember that if you use multiple-word option names or values, these strings must be wrapped in sets of two double quotes ("").
You don't have to create sections to contain the items described in your file. They will be created automatically from the names you give in the path field. If you want to create a site that is several sections deep, you can do it by separating section names by colons in the path field. For example:
path,code,name,price
Nonfiction:Computers:Web,0-201-42379-1,HTML for Bozos,19.95
Nonfiction:Cooking:Vegetarian,0-201-41379-1,Turnips Galore,29.95
The CSV file above will create a section called Nonfiction which has two sections called Computers and Cooking, with subsections called Web and Vegetarian respectively, each containing one book.
Before you upload CSV files, we suggest you check your data for these common mistakes:
Now that you have a completed CSV file, it's time to upload it to your store:
Note: Depending on your internet connection and the size of your CSV file, the upload may take a few minutes.
When the file has been uploaded, you will see the Database Upload page again. It will tell you how many records were in the file, any warnings or errors that occurred, and the contents of the first record. You can check other records by entering a number in the Jump to record # box and clicking Go!; this will help you see any errors in context, as well as spot-checking any records you are unsure of.
To complete your upload, you must click the Add or Rebuild button:
If you find an error after going through all of the above, don't worry you can still get your old site back. Just return to the Database Upload page and click the Revert button.
Warning: The Revert button only works once. You can't go back to how your site was two or more uploads ago, so make sure to check your site after each upload.
We recommend that you begin by generating a small CSV file with just a few records in it. Then look at the file to make sure it is correct; for example, check that the first line has the correct field names. When it looks correct, try uploading it as a test. Once you have uploads working for a small file, you can go ahead and upload your real data. Also, using a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel to create your items is much easier than trying to write a CSV file by hand.
The field names (header) may be missing or not all on one line.
No. Items are identified by their ID fields, which can be specified in the CSV; if an ID is not specified, one will be created based on the code. You can have two items with the same name; however, adding an item with the same ID as an existing item will update the matching fields on the existing one, and add any fields that aren't.
Yes, you can upload a ZIP file containing multiple images.
No, but legacy store owners can contact support and request a CSV of their products.
Our software will work for files up to about 14 MB, but some browsers may impose a lower limit. If you try uploading a large file and the browser seems to finish immediately, it was probably not sent. Try breaking your CSV file into multiple smaller files, or you can also try uploading data using Store FTP.