Learn more about importing new products with HTML formatting.

If you want to add the same formatting for all your product content, you can obtain the HTML code and import if for all of your products. To do so:

1. Manually create a product in your eCom Back Office by clicking Products > New product.
2. In the CONTENT section, add placeholder content into the text editor. For example, if you type the placeholder text HEADER for the title and the placeholder text CONTENT for where you'll be adding the content. This will make it easier to replace quickly in your data file.
3. Use the buttons in the text editor to format the text as you require.
4. In the text editor menu, click the Source Code button, [<>].
5. Copy the source code.
6. Paste the source code in the Content column for all products you want the content to be formatted.
7. When entering your content for the rest of your products in your worksheet, make sure to only edit the placeholder content (HEADER or CONTENT), without changing the HTML tags.

For example, this HTML can be imported to create the effect in the image:

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #3f4c6b; text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="color: #d9534f; text-decoration: underline;">L</span></strong></span></span><span style="color: #3f4c6b;"><em>orem ipsum</em></span></h1>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3f4c6b;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3f4c6b;">Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Sit amet porttitor eget dolor morbi non arcu. Mi tempus imperdiet nulla malesuada. Eget nunc scelerisque viverra mauris in.</span></p>

Images

If images are already uploaded on the internet and you have the web address of each image, it is possible to use the import tool to upload images. For example, if you've exported products from another Lightspeed eCom store, you can use the data file to upload images to your new eCom shop.

If you don't have your images web addresses yet, it is recommended to manually upload images instead of using the import tool.

• Images Images- Pictures that will appear on your website to help visualize each product.
  • Images cannot be uploaded directly from the data file, instead the web address of each image should be entered in this column.
  • The web addresses should always start with http:// or https:// and each web address should be separated by a comma.
  • The web addresses should end with file extension.  For example, .jpg, .png, etc.
  • Images must be publicly accessible. Local file paths cannot be used.

Shipping

In your data file, you can add columns for weight, dimensions like depth, width, height and volume as well as matrix and Colli (Paazl shipping integration) columns.

The shipping columns may appear to have duplicate columns for the dimensions, yet these are used for two different purposes. When adding the weight, depth, height, width and volume columns to your data file, you can choose to add one column where the system assumes a unit of measurement or you can choose to add two columns, one to specify the unit of measurement and another to specify the weight value.

For example, by adding a weight column with values for each product in your data file, the system will import the values assuming grams as the unit of measurement. Whereas by adding a weight value and a weight unit column in your data file, you can specify the weight values are in pounds.

To import weight values to your existing products, follow the instructions found in Editing products via import. While following the instructions, you will use these column titles in your worksheet.

• Internal_ID
• Internal_Variant_ID
• XX_Title_Short
• Weight_Value
• Weight_Unit

• Weight Weight - Add this column in your data file if you want to import the weight in grams (g)
  • Enter a numeric value without units.
  • Only in grams (g), to import other units, use weight value and size unit columns.
  • Whole numbers only, no decimals.
  • Will be ignored if the weight value column contains data in the worksheet.
• Weight value Weight_Value - Add this column in your data file if you want to import the weight in pounds, ounces, kilograms or grams.
  • Enter a numeric value
  • Accepts decimals values
  • Make sure to also add the Weight unit column to specify it's unit of measurement.
  • Overrides any existing values in the Weight column
• Weight unit Weight_Unit - Add this column in your data file if you want to import the weight in pounds, ounces, kilograms or grams.
  • Make sure to also add the Weight value column to specify how much the product weighs.
  • For each product, enter:
    • lb to set the units to pounds.
    • oz to set the units to ounces.
    • kg to set the units to kilograms.
    • g to set the units to grams.
• Depth  Size_Z- Add this column in your data file if you want to import the depth in centimeters (cm)
  
  • Enter a numeric value without units.
  • Only in centimeters (cm), to import other units, use depth value and size unit columns.
  • Whole numbers only, no decimals.
  • Will be ignored if the depth value column contains data in the worksheet.
  • Only visible to customers when comparing products but also relevant for some shipping integrations.
• Depth value  Size_Z_Value- Enter this column in your data file if you want to import the depth in centimeters or inches.
  
  • Enter a numeric value without units.
  • Accepts decimals values.
  • Make sure to also add the Size unit column to specify it's unit of measurement.
  • Overrides any existing values in the Depth column
  • Only visible to customers when comparing products but also relevant for some shipping integrations.
• Height Size_Y- Add this column in your data file if you want to import the height in centimeters (cm)
  • Enter a numeric value without units.
  • Only in centimeters (cm), to import other units, use depth value and size unit columns.
  • Whole numbers only, no decimals.
  • Will be ignored if the height value column contains data in the worksheet.
  • Only visible to customers when comparing products but also relevant for some shipping integrations.
• Height Value Size_Y_Value - Enter this column in your data file if you want to import the height in centimeters or inches.
  • Enter a numeric value without units.
  • Accepts decimals values.
  • Make sure to also add the Height unit column to specify it's unit of measurement.
  • Overrides any existing values in the Height column
  • Only visible to customers when comparing products but also relevant for some shipping integrations.
• Width Size_X - Add this column in your data file if you want to import the width in centimeters (cm)
  • Enter a numeric value without units.
  • Only in centimeters (cm), to import other units, use width value and size unit columns.
  • Whole numbers only, no decimals.
  • Will be ignored if the width value column contains data in the worksheet.
  • Only visible to customers when comparing products but also relevant for some shipping integrations.
• Width Value Size_X_Value - Enter this column in your data file if you want to import the width in centimeters or inches.
  • Enter a numeric value without units.
  • Accepts decimals values.
  • Make sure to also add the Width unit column to specify it's unit of measurement.
  • Overrides any existing values in the Width column
  • Only visible to customers when comparing products but also relevant for some shipping integrations.
• Size Unit Size_Unit - Add this column in your data file if you want to import the width in centimeters (cm), or inches.
  • Make sure to also add the Depth, Height and Width value columns to specify the product dimensions.
  • For each product, enter:
    • cm to set the units to centimeters.
    • in to set the units to inches.
• Volume Volume - Add this column in your data file if you want to import the volume in ml.
  • (ml) 
  • Only in milliliters (ml), to import other units, use volume value and volume unit columns.
  • Whole numbers only, no decimals.
  • Will be ignored if the volume value column contains data in the worksheet.
  • Only visible to customers when comparing products but also relevant for some shipping integrations.
• Volume Value Volume_Value - Add this column in your data file if you want to import the volume in centimeters (cm), or inches.
  • Enter a numeric value without units.
  • Accepts decimals values.
  • Make sure to also add the Volume unit column to specify it's unit of measurement.
  • Overrides any existing values in the Volume column
• Volume Unit Volume_Unit - Add this column in your data file if you want to import the volume in centimeters (cm), or inches.
  • Make sure to also add the Volume value column to specify how much the product weighs.
  • For each product, enter:
    • ml to set the units to milliliters.
    • fl_oz to set the units to fluid ounces.
• Matrix Matrix - These are visible in your online store if customers compare products. Use the Matrix option only if you use Paazl for shipping. Each matrix can have its own price group. If a product is very light in weight, but requires a sizable package due to its dimensions, you can use a different matrix than with regular packages.
  • Enter a letter from A - Z.
• Colli - Colli (plural form colli), is the individual packaging unit for a shipment. Configure this if you need several units to ship a given product. Colli is used only in combination with Paazl.

SEO

Add product SEO information when you create a data file so that the SEO information is immediately set as soon as the products are imported. This includes the product's Meta title, Meta keywords, Meta description, URL and Google Category.

• Meta title  XX_Meta_Title- The title as displayed in search engine results.
  • Limited to 70 characters.
• Meta keywords  XX_Meta_Keywords- The keywords some search engines use to index your product pages in search engine listings.
  • Limited to 160 characters.
  • Separated by a space. For example, key1 key2 key3.
  • Meta keywords are no longer used by Google.
• Meta description  XX_Meta_Description- The description displayed under your product title in some search engine results.
  • Limited to 255 characters.
  • Use a natural flow of text and avoid merely putting words separated by commas.
• Product URL XX_URL - The URL that will be displayed when the customer visits the product on your webpage.
  • Limited to 50 characters
  • When you are importing new products to eCom, if this column is left blank, the product name will define the product's URL.
• Google Category *No system column name, map manually - A specific number or category required for integrating your products with Google Shopping.

Price

Columns for the Price, Old price, Price cost, Unit price, unit measurement and taxes can be added to your data file. When entering a value with currency, the currency is dependant on your default currency in your eCom Back Office > Settings > Store Country > CURRENCIES.

For example, to import discounts, follow the instructions found in Editing products via import. While following the instructions, you will use these column titles in your worksheet.

• Price Price - The selling value of the product.
  • Add a numeric value, if blank the product will be displayed at 0 euros, dollars or pounds etc. depending on the currency.
  • Do not include the currency symbol.
• Old price Price_Old - When the product is discounted online, add the previous price of the product. Most themes will visually enhance the sale by displaying a strike through the old price and displaying the new discounted price.
  • Add a numeric value
  • Do not include the currency symbol.
• Price cost Price_Cost - The amount you paid to the vendor or supplier.
  • Add a numeric value
  • Do not include the currency symbol.
• Unit price  Price_Unit- The price of the product per unit.
  • Add a numeric value
  • Do not include the currency symbol.
• Unit Measurement Unit - Add a unit measurement column to specify the units for the product.
  
  • If you add a unit of measurement for your products that are sold by the unit, use one of these options.
    • Acre
    • Are
    • Capsule
    • Carat
    • Centimeter
    • Cubic centiliter
    • Cubic centimeter
    • Cubic decameter
    • Cubic decimeter
    • Cubic feet
    • Cubic inch
    • Cubic meter
    • Cubic millimeter
    • Cubic Yard
    • Deciliter
    • Decimeter
    • Foot
    • Gallon
    • Gram
    • Hectares
    • Hectometer
    • Inch
    • Kilogram
    • Kilometer
    • Liter
    • Meter
    • Micrometer
    • Mile
    • Milligram
    • Milliliter
    • Millimeter
    • Ounce
    • Pair
    • Piece
    • Pound
    • Square centimeter
    • Square feet
    • Square inch
    • Square kilometer
    • Square meter
    • Square mile
    • Square millimeter
    • Square yard
    • Stone
    • Tablet
    • Ton
    • Tones
    • Yard
• Tax Tax - If you use manual taxes, you can add a tax column and enter the tax percentage for each product. If you are using automatic taxes (North America), this column isn't used.
  • Enter the numeric percentage value, For example, if the tax rate is 23%, enter: 23.
  • Do not enter the percent symbol.

Inventory

When you create your data file, you can add columns for the product visibility, inventory level, inventory minimum and warning level for visual notifications, backorder settings and minimum/maximum order quantity.

• Visibility  Visible- Whether the product is visible on your eCom store's website. For each product, enter:
  • Y to set the product as Always Visible.
  • N to set the product as Hidden.
  • S to set the product as Visible when in stock.
• Inventory level Stock_Level - The stock level of this product or variant.
  • Enter a numeric value
• Inventory tracking enabled  Stock_Track- Add this column to configure eCom to track the inventory of a product's variant. Enable it to prevent out of stock purchases. Only disable it when the stock level for this variant is unimportant or nonexistent. For each product, enter:
  • Y to prevent an out of stock purchase.
  • N to allow an out of stock purchase.
• Inventory minimum Stock_Min - The amount of stock that is reserved and prevented from being sold.
  • Enter a numeric value
• Inventory warning level Stock_Alert - Alerts Back Office users when a product’s stock is low. When the value is below the inventory warning level, the inventory level will be colored yellow.
  • Enter a numeric value
• Inventory disallow backorders Stock_Disable_Sold_Out - Add this column to enable or disable backorders for your products. Disabled it to prevent the purchase of out of stock products. Only enable it to allow the purchase of products that may become temporarily out of stock. For each product, enter:
  • N to enable backorders for your products.
  • Y to disable backorders for your products.
• Maximum order quantity Buy_Max - Add this column to set a limit on how many products a customer can purchase in one order. For example, maximum of 5 per order.
  • Enter a numeric value
• Minimum order quantity Buy_Min - Add this column to set a limit on how few products a customer can purchase in one order. For example, you must purchase at least 3 of these products.

Organization

Categories, brands, suppliers and tags can be added to your data file to organize your products once they are imported. If the category, brand, supplier or tag exists in eCom with a name that matches in your data file, it will be added to the product. If it doesn't exist, it will be automatically created.

For example, to import categories to your existing products, follow the instructions found in Editing products via import. While following the instructions, you will use these column titles in your worksheet.

Learn more about Categories, Brands, Suppliers, and Tags.

• Internal_ID
• Internal_Variant_ID
• XX_Title_Short
• XX_Category_1
• XX_Category_2
• XX_Category_3

To import categories to your existing products, follow the instructions found in Editing products via import.

• Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3   XX_Category_1 XX_Category_2 XX_Category_3- The name of the main category, subcategory and sub-subcategory. Customers will use categories as navigation on your website.
  • Categories are nested when imported. For example, category 1 is the main category, category 2 is imported within category 1. Category 3 is imported within category 2.
  • Each variant of a product must have the same category structure.
  • Limited to 255 characters each.
  • The category name cannot be edited or overwritten when importing. Edits to category names must be done manually.
• Brand  Brand- You can organize your products by brand. Some themes can automatically create a page for customers to find products by brand.
  • Limited to 255 characters.
• Supplier  Supplier- This is not visible to your customers and is a way for you and your staff to organize your products in the Back Office.
  • Limited to 255 characters.
• Tags  Tags- Customers can sort products by tags. They also contribute to SEO.
  • Tags should be comma-separated. For example, tag1, tag2, tag3.

Identifier codes

Products have a variety of identifiers which can be organized into 2 groups based on behaviour:

• Internal - Internal IDs and internal variant IDs are used by the system as unique identifiers for each product.
• Industry - Industry IDs numbers are used in the industry, including SKUs, Article codes, Barcode/EANs and HS codes.

Internal

• Internal ID Internal_ID- The behaviour of the Internal ID changes depending on whether you're importing new products or editing products via import.
  • When creating a data file to import new products, you use the Internal_ID column to specify that a product has multiple variants like size or color / etc. by entering the same number in the Internal_ID column. The system will interpret this as a single product with multiple variants. Once imported, a unique internal ID is permanently set when a product is created. For more information about creating variants manually, click here.
  • When editing products via import, the Import tool uses the Internal_ID and the Internal_Variant_ID to identify contents. That's why it is required to have the internal IDs and internal variant ID in your worksheet. Do not change the Internal ID or the system will not be able to locate that product.
• Internal variant ID Internal_Variant_ID - When importing products for the first time, you don't need an Internal Variant ID column in your worksheet because the system will automatically assign a unique value once imported to eCom. This column is only required when editing products via import.

Unlike industry IDs, internal ID cannot be used to locate products in your eCom Back Office.

Industry

When creating your data file to import new products, you can add industry identifiers like article codes, SKUs, barcodes(EAN) and HS codes.

You can also use article codes, SKUs, barcodes or EAN codes to create variants the same way as you can use internal IDs, as long a unique article code/SKU/barcode(EAN) is used for each variant row of a product in your data file. Learn more about product identifiers.

• Article code  Article_Code- A custom stock keeping unit (SKU) you assign to products so you can identify them in your online store. The article code is optionally visible on invoices and packing slips and can be used to search your online store and the Back Office.
  • Alphanumeric
  • Limited to 255 characters.
• SKU  SKU- Stock keeping unit (SKU), the number of the warehouse where products are stored. It is printed on the packing slip.
  
  • Alphanumeric
  • Limited to 255 characters.
• Barcode/EAN  EAN- European Article Number (EAN), also used as a barcode. Useful if you use a barcode scanner.
  • Alphanumeric
  • Limited to 255 characters.
• HS code HS_Code-  Harmonized System code. Most shipping companies require HS codes for international shipments. To turn on HS codes, in your eCom Back Office, click Settings > Advanced > Scroll to the STORE section and enable the switch under HS codes.
  • Numeric, specified by the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System.
  • Limited to 255 characters.

Data

Additional template data are used to specify certain elements of your online store at the product level. What you enter here will depend on the connection terms entered in the Template Editor. To enable custom template data, in the left-hand menu of the Back Office, click Settings > Workflow > In the BACK OFFICE section, enable to switch beside Custom template data.

• Data 01 Data_01
  • No format, depends on theme or app requirements.
• Data 02 Data_02
  • No format, depends on theme or app requirements.
• Data 03 Data_03
  • No format, depends on theme or app requirements.