3.4.2. Import Virtual Products

If you want to import virtual products from a separate file and create them at your store, please press [Import/Export Products] button on the Product Page, which will launch a wizard window.

Store Manager for Prestashop allows you to import products from files of various formats, such as: csv, xml, xls, xlsx, ods, txt and xml.

Welcome to Products Import/Export Wizard

Select [Import] in the first window of the wizard.

Select File

Choose file to import, using [Browse] button or type it manually in the field.

To simplify the settings while importing, you can use a previously saved file of the import configuration. To do this, click the button [Load Settings] or choose necessary saved configuration from the drop-down list.

Choose the necessary source for import procedure:

- if you select a file from your local disk, it must be openable and readable;

- if you choose one from HTTP URL, it should open in your web-browser;

- if you want to use a file from FTP URL, you must have the acceptable settings of FTP connection.

Select Fields Delimiter and Quote Character

In the following step of import, the procedure requires selecting delimiters, that will separate values and fields between data. You can choose from three proposed variants: comma (.), semicolon (;) and tab (<tab>).

But remember, if you choose the wrong delimiter then the data will be incorrectly processed and imported. You can leave this options without changes and click [Next] to proceed.

In the case, if you have to import images or downloadable files, you should check the fields in the bottom of the window. The basic condition for this is the presence of the correct FTP settings to enter the path to these files. For easy selection, you can use the [Browse] button and incrementally select the folder with the necessary data.

Depending on which delimiter you choose, the table of data below will become in different forms.

Choose the most acceptable separator and click [Next] to continue.

Base Formats and Separators

"Base Formats and Separators" window allows setting date and time formats. In most cases, you may leave these configurations without any changes or use for this [Set Default] button and click [Next] to proceed.

Assign .csv Columns to Database Fields

In the window "Assign .csv Columns to Database Fields" you have to customize fields of data to import. Data from importing file are linked to the corresponding fields of your database. Select a necessary field on the left and double-click column to the right to assign it to this field.

Identify Methods:

• "Identify products by" - this is an important step as import wizard will search products using the selected authentication method.

• "Identify combinations by". If you have combinations of data to be imported, you should select required method depending on the available combinations. You can choose one of the five options, or select recommended one, or skip this step, selecting the "Skip combination import" from the drop-down list.

You can manually select one of the five proposed variants. Choose the recommended one or skip it, checking the "Skip combination import" variant.

For more extended data display in the certain fields or to summarize values in this fields (for example calculation of product price, available quantity etc) use the expression editor.

In the Expression column opposite the selected database field in the left pane press [Editor] button to call "Expression Editor" form. To verify that entered expressions are correct press the [Execute Expression] button or press F9 on your keyboard.

You have to assign fields required for import identification. If you do not specify all necessary fields, when you click [Next] button the following message will appear:

If columns from the import file are identical to the fields of your store database, you can use the option [Auto Fill] in the bottom of the window.

[Clear] button enables you to clean columns of CSV file on the left side.

If you did all operations click [Next] button.

Preview Import Data

"Preview Import Data" is the penultimate step towards import where you can see the data fields. Some of the fields can be blank, this means that you have not assigned the proper column of the file that is importing or it is empty in the original file. Columns that are not linked will not be imported while empty values are overwriting the existing one.

Import Options

Options on "import Options" page can influence the outcome of the import process. Select the fields cautiously.

In "Category Option" section you can specify the name of the category in which these products will be imported. If you ignore this option and select the field below, the products will be listed in the most acceptable category of your store.

Finish

The last window of the import displays the outcome of the import process: the number of products that are added to the database, the total number of imported products, the number of categories in the database, etc., and the presence or absence of errors during import.

Press [Finish] button to close Import/Export Wizard.