How to properly build an import file?

Creating a well-structured import file is essential for the proper functioning of your store. Let's discover together how to proceed!

To access it: Advanced settings > Import

What is an import file?

PrestaShop allows you to import several data files. Customers, categories, products: all of this data can be easily imported into PrestaShop thanks to a text file using a data format of the CSV type ("Comma-Separated Values"), and the related file extension .csv.

How to create your import file?

However, it is preferable to use a spreadsheet and then save your work in CSV format. Compared to a text editor, a spreadsheet will allow you to work more quickly and visually.

You can use the paid software Microsoft Excel or the open source software OpenOffice.org. LibreOffice is also an interesting alternative, as it is more modern and often updated.

Here is an example of a file ready for import, here for a list of products:

We recommend that you use the example files made available by PrestaShop to import your data. Download them in Advanced Parameters > Import.

Building your data

The first line of your file is used to designate your columns. Please note that:

• The price column uses the default currency of your store.
• Categories are indicated using their existing identifier (so you must import them first), and are separated by commas.
• The web address of the images must be an absolute link.
• In other words, you must use the address that the browser must call to display the image. For example, http://www.monprestashop/images/produitXXX.jpg - prefer UTF-8 data encoding. Otherwise, use ISO-8859-1 and validate the "file encoded in ISO-8859-1" option.

How to import your file?

Once you have all your data in CSV format, you can import the file into your back-office using the form on the Advanced Settings > Import page.

To add files to import, follow these steps:

1. Click on the "Choose the file to import" button.
2. Select the data type of your file using the drop-down list titled "What do you want to import?".
3. Select the language of the imported content.
4. Select the field separators. We suggest you leave the default values ("field separator" with a semicolon, "multiple value separators" with a comma).
5. Once all your choices have been made, click on "Next step".

Once you have finished matching your columns, click on the "Import" button at the bottom right of the page so that PrestaShop starts the import process. When the process is complete, you will be redirected to the main page where a notification should confirm the success of the import.

When you click on the "Next step" button, the page is reloaded with the data matching tool. This interface helps you map the data columns of your file with those required by PrestaShop.

[metatitle:]How to correctly build your import file - PrestaShop Help Center[:metatitle]

[metadescription:]Discover how to correctly set up your import file for your PrestaShop store.[:metadescription]