Importing Product Data from a CSV file

How to import product data from a CSV file into Plytix

In this article, you will learn how to import a CSV file into Plytix. This includes import settings, how to match existing data, and how to create new attributes from the importer.

 

ℹ️ If you would like to know how to import data via an automated scheduled CSV feed, check out this article

ℹ️ If this is your first import, check out how to prepare your CSV for a successful import. We'll show you required fields and how to format your data correctly.

 

Importing a file

File preview and settings

Import overview

Data Matching

 

*Skip to any section in this article by clicking on the links above

 

 


Importing a file

To import product data: 

  1. Go to the navigation menu and click "Products".
  2. Then click "Import" from the dropdown and you will be taken to the import area.
  3. To import a new CSV file, just drag and drop a file into the space provided, or click the box to see the file selector.

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Here you can also:



File preview and import settings

The first thing you will see when you have imported a new file is a file preview of about 15 rows. This lets you confirm if the file has been read correctly by Plytix. If you are happy with your preview, click "Next" to continue.

import-settings

ℹ️ If the preview does not look correct, try changing the file settings. All file settings are auto-detected and sometimes the system doesn't guess correctly.

File settings

Column separator

CSV files have a separator character in their format, this is traditionally a comma, but in some cases we see other separator characters. From here you can choose between:

  • Comma (,)
  • Semicolon (;)
  • Pipe (|)
  • Tabulator ( )

Text delimiter

As CSV files are using normal text characters to separate data values, a text delimiter is introduced to encapsulate your content in case your content uses the Column separator. You can choose between single or double quotation marks.

Charset

At its core, all content is encoded into numbers when you save a file. The Charset defines what system/dictionary the PIM uses to translate the encoded numbers into readable text. Today, almost everyone uses UTF-8 to ensure worldwide compatibility.

* This setting is auto detected, but you have the option to change it.

Import Options 


In the next window that appears you have a couple of settings that will decide how products and assets included in your file will be processed on import:

 

💡 For your very first import, it's not necessary to change these settings.



screely-1658225155908

The "Import Products" dropdown lets you choose the following options:

  • Add new products & update existing products (default)
  • Only add new products
  • Only update existing products



The
"Status for New Products" dropdown lets you choose the following options: 

  • Draft
  • Complete

Learn more about product statuses and how to use them.

 

The "Decimal Separator" dropdown lets you choose the following options for decimal values in your data:

  • Point (.)
  • Comma (,)

The "Import Assets" dropdown lets you choose the following options:

  • Skip existing assets
  • Import all assets

 

The checkbox allows you to import the products from the file into a static product list that will be named with the file name plus a timestamp in UTC.  This can be useful if you want to maintain a list of products from each time you import.

Once you have defined all options, you can go to the matching process. 

 


Import overview

After you have configured your import settings, you will see a new screen. This is where you can define how your information will be imported into Plytix. 

File name and status

At the top of the screen, you will see the file name of the CSV you are importing and its status. 

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The status area identifies how ready your CSV is for import and will check the following things: 

  1. That you have identified an SKU column (required)
  2. How many columns out of the total are matched to data in the PIM
  3. If there are any duplicate attributes detected

ℹ️ You do not need to match all columns to start your import. Columns that are not matched will be ignored and can be matched for import later on.

File Settings

These are the file settings as mentioned in Step 1. You can modify them here as well.8

Import Settings

These are the import settings that you have previously defined and that tell Plytix how to ingest the data coming in. At this point you can change the import settings if needed. 

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⚠️ If you change the file settings, you may distort or modify how your data is understood by Plytix.

Import Profiles

If you have any saved Import Profiles, click on "Load profile" to automatically apply the settings and data matching you have set up for a particular data set. 

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You can also save a new profile by clicking "Save profile". 

 

Learn more about Import Profiles and how to use them. 

 

ℹ️ Don't save a new Import Profile until after you have completed the Data Matching section

 


 

Attribute Matching

This is the part of the Import Overview where you can map the data from your CSV into data you have in Plytix. 

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In Data Matching, you will see a list of all the headers in your spreadsheet, that will appear as matched or unmatched. To sort these attributes, select which ones you want to view from the dropdown on the right. You can also view any attributes that have been matched to the same column by selecting 'Duplicated.'

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Auto-matched attributes

Plytix will automatically match attributes in the system with column headers in your spreadsheet. Automatic matches will happen when the name of the header and the name of the existing attribute are an exact match (case sensitive). 

Matched attribute columns will appear like this: 

auto-matched-attributes

You can unmatch these columns by clicking the "Unmatch" button on the top right. 

 

⚠️ Unmatched columns will not be imported.

 

In the top left-most section, you will find the header from your spreadsheet.

attribute-column-original

Next to that will be the matched attribute or relationship.

pim-column-name

Below this, you will see different advanced settings for how to translate and ingest your data. These vary based on the attribute type.

matching-advanced-settings

Empty Values

In case the incoming data value is blank when updating an existing product, you can choose if the PIM should 'ignore' and leave the existing value untouched (if any), or 'erase the existing' value.

 

New Values

Some attribute types can hold multiple values, for example Categories and Multi-select attributes. When these types of attributes receive new data from an import, you can choose to add the new data to the attribute, or replace the old data.
 
By default, empty values are ignored and new values will overwrite the existing ones. Other settings include choosing different separators for multi-value or hierarchical attributes.

 

To the far right, you will see the preview data from your file. This helps you choose the right attribute type.

file-data-preview

Unmatched attributes

If an attribute does not have an exact match in Plytix, it will not be matched automatically. You will have to either match your data to an existing attribute or create a new attribute or relationship. 

Unmatched attributes columns will appear like this: 

unmatched-attribute

You can match the data to an existing attribute or relationship by clicking "Match existing" or create a new attribute or relationship to match to by clicking "Create new"

 

How to match existing data: 

  1. Click "Match existing"
  2. Choose if you want to match an attribute or relationship
  3. Choose the element you want to match
  4. Click "Match"

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How to create new data matches for attributes

  1. Click '+Create new'
  2. Choose the attribute type you want to create
    Import Data (1)
  3. Review and change the name if necessary
  4. Click 'Match'

ℹ️ The system will automatically import all multi-value options for Multi-select and Dropdown attributes that are included in the spreadsheet. You do not need to add any options in order to match them. 

 

Learn more about attribute types and how to choose the best one for your data.

 

How to create new data matches for relationships

  1. Click '+Create new'
  2. Choose the option for "Relationship"
  3. Review and change the name if necessary
  4. Choose the direction
  5. Click 'Match'

Learn more about product relationships and how to set them up.

 


 

What's Next?

Now that you know how to import product data:

 

Is there anything you were hoping to find in this article that is missing? Did this article answer the questions you had? Let us know in our Help Center feedback form! 🙌

 

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