Importing Products

The Import Products feature lets you mass create or update a large number of blank custom products by importing pre-configured data and image files into DecoNetwork.

The import process uses a collection of files in different formats. Each file provides part of the configuration data required to build a product, including SKU information, colors, sizes, images, categories, and related product assets.

Details and examples of the required import files, along with instructions for their use, are described in the article Required Files for Importing Products.

In This Article

• Prerequisites
• Why Import Products
• To Import Products
• Step 1 of 5: Welcome
• Step 2 of 5: Upload Files
• Step 3 of 5: Options
• Step 4 of 5: Check
• Step 5 of 5: Review
• Best-Practice Tips
• Troubleshooting
• FAQs
• Additional Resources

Prerequisites

Why Import Products

Importing products helps you create or update product data in bulk instead of configuring each product manually. This is useful when adding large product ranges, updating supplier catalog information, refreshing SKU data, or maintaining product availability as supplier information changes.

The options you choose during import act as instructions that DecoNetwork applies to the imported product data. These settings affect how products are matched, updated, discontinued, categorized, validated, and made available after the import is complete.

• Create multiple products from structured import files.
• Update existing products by matching supplier product data.
• Discontinue products or SKUs that are no longer included in supplier data.
• Refresh color values, size ordering, categories, and related product assets.
• Validate product data before completing the import.

To Import Products

1. Log into your DecoNetwork Website.

2. Browse to Admin → Products.

   

   

3. Click Import, then click Import Products.

   

   You will see a list of previous product imports.

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

4. Click Start New Import to launch the import wizard.

   

   Start a new import to upload and process product import files.

5. Follow the wizard steps to complete the import.

Step 1 of 5: Welcome

1. Name your import

2. Click Next.

   
   A name is generated by default for the import. You can use the default name by leaving the Name field unchanged, or you can enter a custom name.

Step 2 of 5: Upload Files

Step two of the wizard lets you upload the files required to configure your products. Different component file types need to be uploaded separately.

Upload the required files by selecting the component you want to upload:

• Auto: The system analyzes the uploaded file and detects the included data components. This can be an individual file or a ZIP archive.
• SKU CSV file: Product SKU data in CSV format containing all product information. For an example, see the Product Data file in the Required Files for Importing Products article.
• Product Image: Used when uploading individual JPG or PNG image files that are used as sales images, product view images, lifestyle images, size chart images, product information images, or thumbnail images.

• Color Palette: Color data in CSV format containing the color values for the product. These values can be defined in RGB or hex format and are used to generate a color swatch for each color. For examples, see the Product Data file in the Required Files for Importing Products article.

  You can also associate a swatch image with a color by specifying a file name in the SwatchImage column. The file name references the image file that will be uploaded during the product import. Using a swatch image is especially helpful for representing patterned colors, such as Camo. The image will be displayed instead of the standard color box.
• Size Chart: Size chart data in CSV format containing size information for products. For an example, see the Product Data file in the Required Files for Importing Products article.
• Spec Sheet: A file containing product information that is usually supplied by the product vendor. This should be a PDF file. This file is made available to customers when viewing the details page for a product or in the design tool by clicking Product Information.
• Zip File: A compressed archive consisting of multiple files. DecoNetwork unzips this file and treats each file as an Auto file. This is often the most manageable way to run the import.

To Upload a File

1. Select the appropriate component file type.
2. Click the Browse... button.
3. Select and open the file you want to import.
4. Click the Upload button.

5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 for each file you want to upload.

   A completely uploaded set of files still requires decoration area configuration before the product can become available for sale. This configuration is carried out manually on a per-product basis from the product list screen.

   If parts of the configuration data or component files are missing from the upload, an incomplete product will be built. This can also be fixed through manual product configuration from the product list screen.

   A summary of the files that have been uploaded for the import is presented in the Uploaded Files section at the bottom of the screen.

   

   The Uploaded Files section lists the files added to the product import.

   Once all files are ready to import, confirm the system is ready to accept them by scanning the lower part of the screen and making sure no error messages exist.

   If there are error messages, the format of one or more uploaded files is incorrect. To fix this, cancel the import, check and fix the relevant file, and restart the import.

6. When ready, click Next.

   If the Product SKU file is missing, the Next button will not be enabled.

   A popup will be displayed containing a progress bar showing the import progress. When the import is completed, click the Continue button.

Step 3 of 5: Options

The options set on this page determine how the import handles the imported data. By default, the settings on this page treat the import information as new product data and add it to the existing product range available for sale.

The importer can also be used to update existing products, add new products, discontinue products that are not re-imported, and remove categories that are not imported.

1. Configure the import options as required:

   Matching Options

   • Match products: If ticked, this overwrites existing product information based on the existence of VendorProductCode, size, and style information. Products in the system with this same combination of data will have all their SKU data updated to match the data in the SKU CSV file. If "Match products" is not ticked, duplicate entries will be made instead of updating or overwriting existing products.
   • Restore matched deleted products: If ticket, this restores deleted products that are matched with items in the SKU CSV file.
   • Discontinue unmatched products: If ticked, this deletes any product not included in the SKU CSV, using VendorProductCode as the matching criteria.
   • Discontinue unmatched SKU: If ticked, this removes any SKUs from products for which data was not included in the SKU CSV file.
   • Update color values: If ticked, this overwrites existing color data values with the new imported values provided in your color palette CSV file.
   • Update order of sizes: If ticked, this updates the sort order of sizes on existing matched products to reflect the order in the SKU CSV file.

   During supplier catalog updates, DecoNetwork validates existing SKU combinations against the latest supplier data.

   During supplier catalog updates, DecoNetwork automatically detects default size and color combinations that are no longer valid because a supplier has discontinued sizes, removed SKU combinations, or changed SKU formatting.

   Invalid supplier combinations are excluded from the available default options. If a product's current default size and color combination is no longer valid, DecoNetwork automatically assigns the next available valid SKU combination as the new default.

   This helps prevent products from entering an invalid state after supplier catalog updates and ensures products remain available using valid supplier inventory combinations.

   Category Options

   • Create missing categories: This builds a new category for a product if categories contained within the uploaded file are not found within your site. If the category information is new and this option is set to off, or the category information is missing, then the product will be placed into the default category for the product based on the product group specified in DNProductType. (Visit the Product Groups menu item for a list of existing defaults).
   • Remove categories from products if missing from SKU data: If ticked, this removes any categories not present in the imported SKU data.

   Validation

   • Allow products with no views: If ticked, this allows products to be imported if their view information is not set or product view files are not uploaded.
   • Allow missing files: If ticked, this allows a product to be imported if it is missing some of its configuration files. These can be manually repaired via that product's configuration page. If un-ticked and files are missing, the product will not be imported.

   Initialization

   • New products marked as configured: If ticked, this put products that do not have errors up for immediate sale at the end of the import.
   • Create missing brands: If ticked, the import creates new Brands if they appear in the import files but are not already in the system. Otherwise, you will get an error when importing, letting you know that some products are not imported due to missing brands.
   • Don't assign default decoration areas to product views: If ticked, the system skips the step of adding decoration areas during the import.
2. When ready click Next.

Step 4 of 5: Check

DecoNetwork runs a check on the files to be imported. Any issues discovered can be reviewed before completing the import.

If you are not happy with the results, doing the following:

1. Click Back, which goes to the previous step, or click Cancel.

   You cannot unload files from the import after moving forward. If the files need to be corrected, click Cancel, fix the relevant files, and restart the import.
2. When ready, click Complete.

Step 5 of 5: Review

The product import is completed and a review page is available to check the results.

You should view the configuration of each imported product, as each product will need to be completed by setting up decoration areas at a minimum.

Best-Practice Tips

• Review all required import files before starting the import to reduce validation errors.
• Use Match products carefully when updating existing products, as matched SKU data will be updated based on the imported SKU CSV file.
• Use Discontinue unmatched products and Discontinue unmatched SKU only when the SKU CSV file represents the current product and SKU range you want DecoNetwork to retain.
• Check products after import to confirm decoration areas, product views, categories, and supplier SKU combinations are correct.
• When importing supplier catalog updates, review the results to confirm that discontinued SKUs and default size/color selections have been handled as expected.

Troubleshooting

The Next button is disabled

The Product SKU file may be missing. Upload the required SKU CSV file before continuing.

The import shows file errors

One or more uploaded files may be incorrectly formatted. Cancel the import, correct the file, and restart the import.

Products were imported but are incomplete

Some configuration data or files may be missing. Open the affected products from the product list and complete the missing configuration manually.

A supplier SKU is no longer available

If supplier catalog data removes a SKU that was previously available, DecoNetwork validates the remaining SKU combinations during synchronization or import processing. If the removed SKU was used as the product’s default size/color combination, the system automatically falls back to the first available valid SKU combination where possible.

FAQs

Can I use product import to update existing products?

Yes. Use the Match products option to update existing product information based on matching VendorProductCode, size, and style information.

What happens if products are not included in the import file?

If Discontinue unmatched products is ticked, products not included in the SKU CSV file are deleted using VendorProductCode as the matching criteria.

What happens if SKUs are not included in the import file?

If Discontinue unmatched SKU is ticked, SKUs that are not included in the SKU CSV file are removed from matched products.

What happens if the default size/color SKU is discontinued by the supplier?

If the supplier discontinues the SKU used for the product’s default size/color combination, DecoNetwork automatically falls back to the first available valid SKU combination. This keeps the product in a valid state and helps ensure the product can continue to use available supplier inventory combinations.

Can exported product files be used for importing products?

At present, exporting products does not create the correct files for an import.

Additional Resources

• Required Files for Importing Products
• Product Pricing
• Inventory Settings