Loaded 7 provides you with a powerful way to import and import Option Groups through a tab delimited CSV file.

You can also Import and Export Categories and Products. These will be covered in separate articles.

In this guide we will:

1. Show you how to export Options Groups or a sample file that you can use to add Options Groups from another source.
2. What each field means in the CSV so you can properly input information.
3. How to import your Options Groups and review the results.

Step 1: Exporting Products or Sample File

To Export your Options Groups or sample file, login to your Administrative Tool and click Products

Then Click on Products Import/Export

If you would like to export Options Groups click the button denoted by the red arrow (Full Data Set)

To download a sample file, click the button denoted by the blue arrow (Get Sample File)

Remember your download location.

Step 2: Working with your data file

You can work with this file in any spreadsheet or notepad program. Spreadsheets are preferred as they have an easier view.

Open your spreadsheet program and open the file that you downloaded, you may see a few boxes as shown below.

Ensure Delimited is selected, Import is at column 1 and that the File origin  is correct. Click Next

On the next box, ensure that Tab is selected and leave the text qualifier unchanged. Click Next.

In the final box, Make sure the Column data format is General and click Finish.

Now that our file is open, it will look like the image below, we are ready to edit Options Groups

.

You will see a number of fields and they are explained below.

• Id – This is the unique product identifier in the database. You cannot have duplicate Id’s. Also, do not change this identifier.
• languages – System default. Do not change.
• sort_order – The priority in which options will be displayed. Lower number is first
• module – How the option is displayed
  • pull_down_menu – pull down menu
  • radio_buttons – displayed as radio buttons
  • text_field – Allows entry of text

Editing an Options Group

Now that you have your file, you can make changes to any field in the sheet. Keep in mind you should never change the id field.

Once you have made the changes, save the file. You will be presented with a few popups during this process as seen below.

You will want to click the Yes box. You may be presented with this box again when saving, just click yes again.

When you exit your spreadsheet program you may see this message, click save and choose the location in which you would like the file if it has changed.

Step 3: Importing your Changes

We are now ready to import your changes. Navigate to the Products Import/Export page.

You click on the Upload a File button.

Once you click, you will be presented with a file box. Navigate to the location of the file. Select the file and click open.

You will now see the file ready to be imported. To start the import, click Import.

After the import is completed, you will see the results. It will show you the number of items imported and the number updated. If you are adding new items as well, you would see the number added.

Adding New Items

You can add items in 2 ways. You can add them to your full product set data file, or start with an empty sample file. The sample file includes the required headers.

The biggest change when importing new items is that the id column MUST be blank.

Ensure that you fill in all information for the new items.

When you are done creating the file, the file and you are now ready to import.

Follow the same steps as above:

1. Click the Upload a file button
2. Select the correct file and click open
3. Click the import button

When finished, your dialogue box will look a bit different, you will see it will show you the number of new items imported.

Trouble Shooting

If you do not see the new products or other changes reflected on your storefront, you will want to clear the store cache files. See the steps below.

1. Click the Settings/Menu Button

1. Click on System Tools

1. Click on Cache Control

1. There are 4 steps on this screen:
   1. In the show box, select all
   2. To the left of the Cache Blocks, Click to select all
   3. Clock on the With Selected and choose delete.
   4. Confirm the deletion.