Importing a Catalog from Excel

The Import data section allows you to upload a catalog from an Excel file (or a folder containing the file and images): the wizard parses the columns, gathers categories, and creates products with data, attributes, and images. The configuration can be saved as a template and reused for subsequent imports.

The wizard consists of four steps: Choose Files → Choose Data → Settings → Import. Below, each parameter is explained using a men's clothing file as an example.

Upload Limitations

• Main files — up to 20, additional files — up to 1000.
• Individual file — up to 10 MB, all files combined — according to the stand limit.
• The maximum number of records per import is limited (the value is shown in the Attention! block).
• Columns without data are ignored during import.

Step 1. Files and Processing Type

1. Open the Import data section in the left menu.
2. Type of processing — format of the source data:
   • Excel files — .xlsx files;
   • CSV files — .csv files;
   • XML files — .xml files;
   • Local files and folders — import from local files and folders.
3. Data storage type — where the data will go. For the catalog, select Catalog.
4. Templates — a dropdown list of saved templates. Selecting a template automatically fills in the processing type, storage type, and all column settings from Step 2 (see the "Editing Template" section).
5. What are you uploading? — what you are uploading:
   • Main files (with the option for additional) — main files (plus the option for additional). Default mode.
   • Only additional files — only additional files. Available only for templates that allow the upload of additional files.
6. Loading Main Files — drag the folder with the Excel file into the upload area or click Choose File. You can also upload an archive — the wizard will unpack it automatically. For large sets, use a compact folder — this speeds up the upload.
7. Loading Additional Files — if necessary, add a folder with images (when the images are separate files, not embedded in Excel).
8. Click File upload, wait for processing, and click Further.

On the right, you can see Import history (a log of past imports) and Templates (a list of saved templates; the "×" icon deletes the template).

Step 2. Selecting and Configuring Columns

The master table shows all the columns of the file. Check the necessary columns with a checkbox in the header — a settings card will appear below the table for each.

General Column Parameters

In the card, set the name of the attribute (the marker is generated automatically), data type, and the role of the column:

Parameter	Purpose
Type	Attribute type: String, Text, Integer, Float, Image, Group of Images, List, etc.
Name	The column contains the product name.
Collect categories from the values of this column	Categories for the catalog are gathered from the values of the column.
Contains price	The column is the price (used with the Float type).
Contains currency	The column is the currency.
Includes SKU	The column is the SKU.
Unique key	The value is the unique identifier of the product: during re-import, products with matching values are updated, not duplicated.
Is record ID	The column is the record identifier.
Multi-select	Allow multiple list items in the value (for the List type).
Divider for multi-select	The delimiter character for values in multi-select (in the example — a comma ,).

Example of Column Configuration

In the example of the men's catalog, the columns are configured as follows:

Column	Type and Parameters
Category	Collect categories from the values of this column
Product Name	checkbox Name
Style, Details	List + Multi-select + delimiter ,
Product Description	Text
Brand, Gender, Size, Country, Label	List
Color, Material, Lining, Insulation, Care Instructions, Season	List + Multi-select + delimiter ,
Units, Stock Qty	Integer
Price	Float + Contains price
SKU	String + Includes SKU + Unique key
Pictures	Image (see below)
Status	conditional mapping to product statuses (see below)

Column with Images

1. Type — Image.
2. Select the mode Search pattern for filenames and in the template field specify *#attr#* — the wizard will find images among the additional files based on the column value.
3. Optimize uploaded images — optimization of uploaded images (enabled by default).
4. Check Use as a preview in the product list — a Preview templates selector will open; choose a preview template.

Conditional Mapping to Product Statuses (Status Column)

The status column can be imported "as is," or you can map its values to product statuses based on conditions:

1. Check Attribute contains status values, then Convert value and Use special values — in this order (the special values type selector appears only after the third checkbox).
2. Special value type — select Product Statuses.
3. Set the mapping conditions. For each condition:
   • comparison column (by default — the Status column itself);
   • operator — for example, equal to. Other options include contains, does not contain, not equal to, more, less, comparison with a pattern, with another attribute, with the current date/time, etc.;
   • value for comparison (for example, In Stock);
   • target status of the product from the Product Statuses list.
4. Use the Add condition button to add the next condition (for example, Out of Stock → another status).

In the example: the value In Stock and the value Out of Stock are mapped to the product status demo_status_update.

If multiple tables are linked, specify a common key (usually SKU) through the column mapping fields. Once you finish the configuration, click Further.

Step 3. Categories for Import

Categories are gathered from the values of the column marked with the checkbox Collect categories… in Step 2. If necessary, enable the selection of a root category (Choose Parent) into which the imported catalog will go. Click Further.

Step 4. Starting the Import

1. Process records — the number of records to be processed (can be reduced from the found amount).
2. Load files — whether to load files (images) along with the data.
3. Selection of language — the locale into which the values are imported.
4. Save as template — save the current configuration as a template; in the appearing field Template name, provide a meaningful name (for example, Men catalog Excel import) to reuse it later.
5. Click Start import and wait for completion.

After the import, categories and subcategories will appear in the catalog, and products will be created with data, attributes, statuses, and images.

Templates: Saving and Editing

The import configuration can be saved as a template and reused later — and if necessary, supplemented with a new column and re-imported, updating already created products. The video below shows the entire cycle: first a simple import with template saving, then editing it.

Saving a Template

1. Perform the import (in the example, two columns are checked: Category — Collect categories… and Product Name — Name).
2. On Step 4, check Save as template, provide a name in the Template name field (in the example — Mens clothing) and click Start import.

The template will appear in the Templates list on the right (the "×" icon next to it deletes the template).

Editing a Template

1. On Step 1, select the saved template from the Templates list — the processing type, storage, and column settings will be filled in automatically.
2. Check the Edit template checkbox — this enables editing mode (otherwise, the template is applied without changes).
3. Upload the file. In editing mode, the wizard immediately opens Step 2 with the columns of the template already checked.
4. Check the new column (in the example — Style) and set its type (List).
5. Proceed to Step 4. Here, two buttons are available:
   • Save template only — save changes to the template without importing;
   • Save template and import data — save changes and re-import the catalog with updated data.
6. Click Save template and import data.

After re-importing, open any product in the category and check the Attributes tab to ensure that the new attribute (Style) has been added.