Items, a type of product, are objects sold individually as simple SKUs or as the parent to a variant. This document covers the process of importing multiple items using a CSV file. You can also add items individually.

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CSV File Guidelines

You can import products using CSV files only; no other data or file formats are supported. Here are the key points to consider:

  • Formulas in formula-driven attributes are executed automatically after items have been imported.
  • If the CSV file doesn’t have an attribute that’s added to the category, you can add a new column in the CSV with the attribute name in the header. The upload process will populate the value for this attribute.
  • Empty rows and columns are ignored.
  • Each item should include a category node. If the category node is missing, the item won’t be created.
  • Use the -> delimiter for category nodes. Incorrect mapping or absence of category nodes may result in item creation issues.
  • The headers, represented in the first row of the CSV file, should match the attributes of the item. While attribute titles aren’t case-sensitive, maintaining case consistency with the original attribute titles is recommended.
  • The Action field determines what action is being taken for that row of data.
  • When updating or upserting items, entering NULL in a spreadsheet cell will override existing values with blank values.

We recommend that you download the template file to use as a guide when creating your own CSV file for import to minimize errors during the import process.

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Supported actions

ActionDescription
UPSERTCreates a new product if it doesn’t exist, or updates an existing product.
CREATECreates a new product.
UPDATEUpdates an existing product.
PUBLISHPublishes an existing product that’s in draft state to the storefront.
UNPUBLISH_KEEP_DRAFTUnpublishes an existing product. If a draft exists, the live version is deleted and the draft is retained. If no draft exists, the live version is saved as draft.
UNPUBLISH_KEEP_LIVEUnpublishes an existing product and moves it to draft state. If a draft of that item already existed, it’s deleted.
DELETEDeletes the existing product.
ATTACH_VARIANTAdds variants to an existing parent product. Specify the variant SKU in the variant column.
DETACH_VARIANTDetaches existing variants and converts them to items. The variant column specifies the variant to be detached from the SKU.
CHANGE_CATEGORYUpdates the category of an existing product. Depending on how your storefront is configured, this may change where or how your product is viewed by the customer.

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Attribute data format

When preparing your CSV file for import, ensure that the attribute data format aligns with attribute type requirements. Different attribute types have specific formatting criteria:

Data TypeFormat Rule
TextProvide data in text string format.
NumberUse numerical data only. All non-numeric data is ignored.
BooleanUse TRUE or FALSE only. All other values are ignored.
DateMatch the date format specified during attribute creation.
List of valuesThe value you enter must match one of the predefined values you set up when adding a list of values attribute.
SerialLeave this field blank; fabric automatically generates the serial number during import.
SKUProvide the SKU for the item.

The status attribute is imported as live only when all mandatory attributes are provided for the item. Otherwise, the status is automatically updated to draft, regardless of the value you provide in the file.

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Prerequisites

Before initiating the item import, ensure that:

  • Ensure that you have created at least one leaf category with attributes assigned to it to add items to. For more information about creating categories, see the Categories section.
  • The CSV file adheres to the guidelines.

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Procedure

  1. In the left menu, click Product Catalog > List > Items.
    The Items page is displayed.
  2. Click Import.
    The Select a leaf category window is displayed.
  3. Select a Leaf to which you want to import items.
    The Select a leaf category window is displayed. This window displays the root categories and leaf categories that are configured in Categories.
  4. Click Next.
    The Import CSV file window is displayed. This window provides a link to download an example template for the CSV file.
  5. To import a CSV file, do one of the following options:
    • Drag and drop the CSV file into the window.
    • Click Select a File.
  6. Click Import file.

The CSV file is imported and the items are added to your product list.

fabric stores the CSV files you upload to your account. You can view the status of the import and re-download the original files by visiting the Import History page.

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Troubleshooting

Refer to the following table for a list of common errors when importing and how to correct them.

Error MessageWhat it means?What happens to the item?How to resolve?Comment
Category Node not foundThe category node name is incorrect or missing.An item can’t be created without a proper category node given.Verify the name of the node and the delimiter.
Internal Server ErrorServer issuesThe item isn’t created or updatedTry againThis is an intermittent issue.
Attribute Name not foundThe attribute mentioned in the CSV header isn’t added to the category. The attribute name must be an exact match.The item is created, but this specific attribute will be ignored.Check the name of the attribute and ensure that the attribute is added to the category you are trying to import items to.
Attribute Name value is invalidThe value provided has some flaws or validation issues.The attribute value won’t be saved to the item.Provide the correct attribute value.Example: If you add text for a number type attribute, you will receive this error.
Status Mandatory attributes requiredTo set the status of an item to live, all mandatory attributes are required.The item will be created and the attributes will be updated. However, the item can’t be set to live; its status will default to draft.Ensure that all mandatory attributes have a value in the CSV you are trying to import.When doing a delta import, it is required to have all mandatory attributes and values added to set the item’s status to live.
Some mandatory attribute values are missing.There are some mandatory attributes that don’t have values in the CSV file that was uploaded. These are either global mandatory, which are set at the attribute level, or category mandatory, which are set at the individual category level.The item is created with errors. Only the values in the CSV will be added.Include values for all mandatory attributes.Items can be created with errors, but they can’t be set to live unless all mandatory attributes have a value.

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