How to import list data using General Excel import

Import data

In a previous tutorial, How to import list data using List property import, we imported data into a list property. In this tutorial we will show an alternative way to import the same data into the same list. This way of importing is limited to always overwriting data in a list, but it can be good if you want to import single entity data as well as lists in the same import.

To do this we will be using the excel spreadsheet shown below. The first line contains the headers ProductName, Color, Color Area and Writing which will be used to map to the product and List property.

This data is formatted in a very different way from the earlier list import tutorial where each row of the list had its own row in the spreadsheet. When importing list data using the General Excel import we use the pipe symbol, |, as a separator for rows. Since the list we are importing to is a List with a complex and three subattributes, each subattribute has its own column. Since the text "Cool skiing saying", in D2, should be on the second row of the list, it starts with a pipe symbol, |, meaning the first row will be empty.

Starting the import

To start importing you choose the excel spreadsheet with the data you want to import, in this tutorial the spreadsheet is called "ColorListImportForJackets_Alt.xlsx".

Next you need to choose the correct Import type. When importing data into list properties on products, variants, variant groups or categories the 'List property import' type is typically used. In this tutorial we show an alternative way using the General Excel import type however.

While it is possible to include media assets when importing, this will not be covered in this guide. For this reason we leave 'Upload assets' untoggled.

Having chosen the correct file and import type you can click the "Start upload"-button to start the import.

Mapping your data

Having clicked the "Start upload"-button you are presented with a new page. This is where you will map your excel columns to data fields on entities.

You will need to choose the correct Entity type; Categories, Products, Variants or Variant groups.

In this guide we are importing data into List properties on products, so we choose 'Products' in the 'Entity type' dropdown, but the process for all entities are almost entirely similar from here.

Next is mapping the actual data. The import function will try to automap the data from the file by matching the name of the excel column to the name of an attribute in the PIM.

This is not always possible or what you want, in which case you can manually select the correct attribute to map to in the 'Select field' dropdown in the 'Map to' column. We map ProductName to Name (en-GB) and choose this field as key. The list we import to is called 'Design' and has the three subattributes 'Color', 'Color Area' and 'Writing'. So we map the correct columns to the corresponding subattribute of 'Design'.

Approve changes

At this point you are shown a 'Review changes'-page. This page will show you the amount of new and updated list attributes. Subattributes that will be changed are colored green to easily distinguish between attributes that will remain the same and attributes that will change.

It can be hard to visualize how this data will look in a list, but each pipe symbol, |, show where a new row will be added.

Having reviewed the changes you can choose to approve the changes you are satisfied with. Only approved records will be commited.

When you have approved the records you want to keep, click the "Commit Import"-button in the bottom-right corner to finalize the import.

Example of a resulting list in the PIM

This is how the resulting list, Design, on the product 'Summer jacket' looks in the PIM.