CSV

Import product data from a CSV feed and map fields to project fields.

A CSV file is a simple text file used to store tables of data, like spreadsheets or databases. Each line corresponds to a row, and values are commonly separated by commas. Opening CSV files directly in Excel can result in disorganized data, as Excel might not separate columns correctly. Understanding how to open CSV files properly in Excel ensures your data is displayed accurately and is easy to work with.

Note: CSV is currently the best-optimized path to get data into Channable and using this format will result in the highest import speed.

Example CSV file

CSV.png

Before you start

Important: Before importing, ensure your data file meets the requirements for import files.

Good to know

• Your data feed URL must be in an accessible online location.
• CSV, TXT, XML, and JSON importers support compressed .gz and .zip files.
• The data feed has to be updated on the same URL, preferably at least once a day, with the latest product information such as stock and prices.

Your data source and Import settings

1. In Channable, go to Setup > Import and click + Choose import method.
2. Select the CSV file type.
3. Provide the requested information:

   • For Name, give your import a descriptive name (e.g. "Webshop CSV import").
   • For CSV file url, add the URL to fetch your live product data.
   • For Authentication, select your authentication type (if using one).
   • For Encoding, select your encoding type.

     • Automatically detect: Channable will attempt to automatically identify your coding type.
     • If your file is encoded with a specific type, select it from the list.
4. Click Run import.

Import mapping

This page displays fields retrieved from your data feed (e.g. price, description, title).

• Imported data field: Fields from your import data.
• Project field: Corresponding project fields in Channable. Our system will automatically detect and link most fields to standardized fields.

Match (map) your imported fields to a corresponding project field. Channable does most mapping automatically, but it's important to review and adjust before importing.

Note: We create new project fields if we can't assign your import field to a standardized field. These fields will have a project field with the same name as your import field.

Before you continue

• Compare and adjust mapping:

  Review your Imported data fields against Channable's matched Project fields. If a field was matched incorrectly, click on the field to select a different field.
• Check and correct field types:

  Check that the right field type is assigned to your project fields. If a field has the wrong type, click Edit next to the field, select the correct type in the dropdown, and click Save & Import.
• Exclude fields (optional):

  To exclude a field from being included in your product data, click the checkbox in the Select column for that field and click Do not import selected fields.

Once you've finished mapping, click Save & Import to start importing your product data. Depending on how much data you're importing, it can take a while to finish.

Note: Check the Status column in Setup to check your import progress. Your product data is fully imported when the Status is Finished.

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Overview

• Go to Overview to view your imported products.
• After your product data has finished importing, click on an item to see detailed information.

Your import is now successfully set up! You can now use this product data to create and optimize Feeds, Marketplaces, Shopping Ads, and more in Channable.

Opening a CSV file in Excel

Follow the steps below to open a CSV file in Excel.

1. Open a new Excel file.
2. Navigate to the Data tab and choose From Text/CSV.
3. Set File Origin to 65001: Unicode (UTF-8).
4. Determine the delimiter used in your CSV file (e.g., comma, semicolon or tab) and select the value for the Delimiter option.
5. Click Load in the bottom right corner to correctly open the CSV file in Excel.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your CSV files open correctly in Excel, preserving the data's accuracy.