Embedded Files
This section describes how to perform category import to osCommerce from .csv file - bulk update categories.
Pay attention to each step while importing osCommerce categories. Import is a rather complicated procedure and it may be destructive if performed incorrectly. It is strongly recommended to make database backup before importing categories, especially if you do it for the first time.
To import categories to osCommerce follow a few steps listed below:
1. First of all prepare a .csv file for further Import. Make sure it contains all the necessary fields and data you are going to import listed in the table.
If your vendor provides you product list in Excel, you can convert your Excel files to the CSV format within the Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice application by using the Save As option. You can then access the Save As dialogue box which contains a list of alternative file formats. Among the file extensions offered, you can find Text CSV file format. By saving your file into CSV format, Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice will export the first active worksheet with the correct delimiters.
2. Select "Import" and click "Next >" to proceed.
3. Specify the .csv file path and name or use browse button to select one.
4. Source file preview shows a part of .csv file selected to import. There are no options to set anything, but you should pay attention to this page.
If you carefully check the very first line of the example, you'll notice that some words enclosed in quotes (") and are separated by semicolon (;) symbol. There are two important options you have to pay attention to: Select fields delimiter and quote character (if any are used). The next step describes how to setup these options. Usually it is enough to see first line, no need to investigate the entire file.
5. Select fields delimiter and quote character. If you specify wrong values, import may not work.
- Delimiter Character. Most popular delimiters are comma (,), semicolon (;) and tab character ( ), however other symbols can be used as well.
- Note. CSV file contains data in row-column format and delimiter character is used to separate one column from another. If you specify incorrect delimiter, file will not be parsed properly and categories import to osCommerce will not be performed.
- Quote string values delimiter will be used to separate strings in .csv file. This delimiter can be disabled if no strings are used.
- On previous sample page we have noticed that semicolon symbol was used as delimiter and values were quoted with " symbol. Specify two first settings as shown above.
- Category delimiter. This is not native .csv setting, it is used only in Store Manager. As you know osCommerce categories are organized in a form of tree, where parent osCommerce category can contain one or more osCommerce subcategories, and subcategory can contain one or more other osCommerce categories.
- Category delimiter character is used to separate category names and specify full osCommerce category tree path for given osCommerce category. OsCommerce category path is very similar to directory path and is used to specify full file name in Windows, where every directory separated by backslash (\) character, like in the following example: C:\Program Files\eMagicOne\Store Manager for osCommerce\.
6. The next page allows you to Link columns from .csv file to appropriate database fields.
Specify the following options:
- First row in .csv file contains field names but not values - Obviously it should be unchecked if first row of .csv file contains data, otherwise check this option.
- osCommerce category Identification Method - this option allows you to search for a osCommerce category using selected method of identification. OsCommerce category will be modified if found, if not - new osCommerce category will be added.
Note: It is recommended to use Category Name + Category Path to identify your categories. As new osCommerce category IDs are generated automatically when you Import categories to osCommerce for the first time (import ignores your Category IDs). If you used to Export data to .csv file for further import, you may use Category ID identification method, otherwise use Category Name + Category Path.
Link columns from .csv file to appropriate database fields. The left pane "Database Fields" shows the list of fields in your database that can receive import data. So, to assign .csv column to database field you should select a field at the left pane and then click a column at the right pane.
Source .csv file can contain multiple records with identical Name values. All these osCommerce categories will be considered as one - currently imported osCommerce categories will overwrite previously imported with the same key field values. Note that sometimes one of key fields may be blank. Obviously blank fields contain the same value for all records. It is required to assign .csv columns to key fields.
Database Fields contain the following columns:
- Rec ID - contains database field ID.
- Field - contains database field name. Some values in this column contain actual field name, whereas other are "translated". Anyway these names are clear enough to figure out how to use them.
- csv col # - denotes the number of the column in .csv file corresponding to this field - the link between database field and .csv column.
- Set Null - indicates that this field should not contain any data, but should be set to Null. You can either specify column name or check this option, but not both at the same time.
- External - used to import external files to your store. If you have local images path like C:\Temp\imges\image_1.jpg specified in your .csv file or your vendor provides you an external image or description path like http://www.yourvendorswebsite.com/images/sample_image.jpg you may upload it to your site using external chack-box.
- Update - used to set some default value to the field. It is similar to Set Null, but in this case some value can be assigned to the field.
- Default value - enter the value assigned to a field (is used only if "Update" option is enabled).
[Auto Fill...] button - try to set correspondence automatically for all fields. Auto fill option will work only if .csv column name is the same as database field name ("translated").
[Clear] button - clear all "csv col" values at the left pane
7. Base Formats and Separators are used to convert text values from .csv file to numerical and date values. You can just set default values using an appropriate button.
8. Categories were not imported to your database yet. On Preview Import page you can see how your .csv file processed using all import settings. Check whether all columns that you want to be imported contain data. Some of them may be blank. It means that you haven't assigned them or they are empty in source (.csv) file. Unassigned columns will not be imported, whereas empty values will overwrite existing.
If red blinking arrow appears, it means that some errors occurred and have to fix them. Attention! Import process will start, when you press "Import" Button! Proceed only if all settings are made, otherwise press "Back" Button and check the settings once more!
9. In the last window of osCommerce Import Categories Wizard you can see if any errors occurred during import.
Most frequent import errors are date, time and number conversion issues, caused by improper format settings (specified at previous page) or improperly assigned column (i.e. if you assigned column containing category ID to parent_category database field).
Date/time conversion errors might be ignored, whereas other errors like this one (Could not find image: image_name.gif) need to be fixed.
Now the import of categories to osCommerce is completed.
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