Like Magento Product Import. It’s one of the most complex procedures. It involves certain technical skills and knowledge. In this piece of writing we will chat about possible ways of Product Import in Magento. There are a number of ways to have it done: do it manually or use certain script, module, or add-on. But all of these approaches are uncertain as they do not guarantee data security and there’s a opportunity of data damage, duplicate data entry and other mistakes.

Recently, I bumped into solution which, as for me, solves this trouble better than all the others. It’s called Store Manager for Magento. Let’s take a closer look. Import/Export wizard of Store Manager for Magento permits you to import your data from any .Csv file into Store Manager. Import is quite difficult procedure and it may be destructive if performed improperly. Therefore, you need to create database backup before products import, specially if you do it for the first time

First thing you have to do is get .Csv file ready for import. You ought to make sure it contains all the essential fields and that all data you intend to import is listed in tables. After you’re done with the .Csv file, pick “Import” from the selections present in the wizard. Then, identify the .Csv file path and name or use browse button to select one. You can as well load import settings to avoid arranging the settings every time you intend to import products from a .Csv file.

On the next step, Source file preview, you can see a part of .Csv file selected for import. The only thing you should do here is pay attention to delimiters and enclosure. You don’t have to go through all the document, just scan the first line and see if some words are enclosed in quotes (“) and are separated by comma (,) symbol.

Choose fields delimiter and quote character – delimiter character is used to separate one column from a different one. If you indicate incorrect delimiter, file will not be parsed properly and products will not be imported. Category delimiter character is used to separate category names and specify full category tree path for given category.

Next thing you have to do – Select store view. To which sore view the modifications should be applied to. It is advised to select [Default Values] Store view. The next step – Link columns from .Csv file to fitting database fields. Pick the matching Products Identification Method – import wizard will search for a product using preferred method of identification. The product will be modified if found, if not – new product will be added.

“Database Fields” pane shows the list of fields in your database that can accept import data. It is compulsory to assign .Csv columns to key fields. To assign .Csv column to database field you should pick a field at the left pane and then click a column at the right pane. Once you’re done continue to Base Formats and Separators. They can be set by default. On Import Preview page you can observe how .Csv file was processed using import settings, which you specified at preceding steps. Columns that were not assigned will not be imported due to the fact that empty values will overwrite existing.

Magento Import Options settings may influence import results if set wrongly. You should select import method (Add and Modify, Add only, etc.), moreover you can save import settings if needed. Import process will start, as you press “Import” Button. Advance only when all settings are set.

The last step – Procedure complete. Here you will see the detailed log of your current database details and errors which occurred in the course of product import if there were a few.

Hope this article has been useful for you. It is really not as complicated as it appears. It just takes some time and skills. Call on Store Manager for Magento for further information and screenshots.