How to update product data using a CSV file

In addition to the ability to add new products to your online catalog using the CSV file import feature, you can also use it to update the information about existing products. This method is faster and often more efficient (especially in case of a large number of products being modified) than editing each product's properties manually. It is quite often necessary to update such information as prices, descriptions and product photos. This article describes how to use the CSV import feature to update those fields in product properties.

1. Export the categories containing the products which must be updated to a CSV file in section "Products -> Export". E.g., if you would like to update products "iPhone 4" (in category "Mobile phones") and "HP Officejet H470 Mobile" (in category "Mobile printers"), check only the parent categories of these products and uncheck all other categories, then click "Export catalog".

Tip: If all products' parent categories are nested inside a common category (e.g., named "Mobile devices"), you will need to export such common parent category instead.


2. Download the exported CSV file to your computer and open it with an appropriate editor (e.g., OpenOffice/LibreOffice Calc or Microsoft Excel).

3. Remove lines containing products, which do not need to be edited, from the file.

   Tip: Doing so is not a requirement but this step will help you to avoid possible mistakes when editing the CSV file.

   Important: Lines containing names of categories must not be removed as it may corrupt the structure of your online catalog!

4. Apply necessary changes to the fields in the remaining lines; i.e., change prices, descriptions, or enter the file names of new product photos.

   If you change the file names of product photos in column "Picture", be sure to upload image files with the same names using section "Design -> Image Uploader -> Product pictures" (or via FTP into directory  published/publicdata/DATABASE_KEY/attachments/SC/products_pictures/). A failure to do so will result in product images not being visible in the storefront.

5. Save the edited CSV file and import it using section "Products -> Import".