8.7 Import Manager

Overview:

 

The Import Manager can be used to import large quantities of data from text files. The types of data which can be imported currently include:

 

There are 3 steps to importing data from a text file which we will detail in the sections below:

  1. Upload your data file to the server.

  2. Create a mapping file to map the fields in your data file to the associated fields and attributes in Elastic Path 3.

  3. Import data from your data file using the mapping file created in step 2.

 

Uploading a data file:

 

  1. Create your data file from existing data. This data may come from an external database, a previously prepared data file or spreadsheet, or manual data entry. There are some guidelines to follow when creating your data file:

sample data 1|sample data 2|sample data 3|sample data 4

ID|first name|last name|email|password

  1. Click the checkbox next to "Overwrite existing file" if you want the new file to overwrite an existing file with the same name.

  2. Click "Browse..." to choose the file to upload and click "Open" to select it.  

  3. Click "Upload Data File" to upload the file.

 

Figure 8.7.1 - Import Manager homepage

 

Creating a mapping file:

 

  1. Choose the type of data you wish to import from the "Import Types" picklist (guidelines are discussed below):

Figure 8.7.2 - Choose Import Type

 

  1. Choose the data file from the "Data Files" picklist for which you would like to create a mapping.

Figure 8.7.3 - Choose Data File

 

  1. Click "Generate Fields and Attributes". On the left side of the screen, you will see a list of all available Elastic Path 3 attributes (with data type in brackets) for the selected type of data. Next to each Elastic Path 3 attribute is a picklist containing all possible column names in the data file you chose to map.

  2. For each Elastic Path 3 attribute on the left, choose a corresponding column from the picklist on the right. For example, if you are mapping Customer data to a data file, you will likely choose a column in the data file called "email" to map to the Elastic Path 3 Customer data type "email (Text)" as seen below:

Figure 8.7.4 - Map Elastic Path 3 attributes to data file columns

 

  1. In the text box at the bottom of the screen, enter a filename to save the mapping file:

Figure 8.7.5 - Generate Mapping File

 

Field Descriptions, Restrictions and Guidelines for creating mapping files:

 

  1. Customer data: (Required fields: NONE)

 

  1. Customer address data: (Required fields: NONE)

 

  1. Category data: (Required fields: NONE)

 

  1. Product data: (Required fields: name)

 

  1. Product Variation data: (Required fields: product code, name, price shipping weight)

 

  1. Product / Category data: (Required fields: NONE)

 

  1. Customer / Customer Group data: (Required fields: NONE)

 

  1. Cross-selling data: (Required fields: NONE)

 

Importing data from a data file:

 

  1. Click the "Import" tab to return to the Import Manager homepage.

  2. Click the "Edit" button next to the "Importing Data" action.

  3. Choose a data file from the list on the left.

  4. Choose a mapping file from the list on the right.

Figure 8.7.6 - Choosing data file and mapping file

 

  1. Click "Import Data". A pop-up window will open which updates the import status every 2 seconds. This status window indicates the current record being imported and the number of records failed (if any).

  1. Any records that cannot be imported are written out to an exception data file with the current date/time and the file extension of ".exception". These exception files can be downloaded from the server (ask your system integrator how to do this). This exception file can then be cleaned up and uploaded to be used as the data file for a subsequent import. This process should be repeated until there are no exceptions.

 

Elastic Path