WooCommerce powers shops that vary from one product to hundreds. However regardless of the scale of your retailer, you might end up needing to import and export merchandise and orders. Copying data manually, one merchandise at a time, may be tedious. The power to import and export this information in bulk could make retailer administration extra environment friendly and fewer irritating.
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When ought to I import or export merchandise?
Unsure for those who want import and export performance on your retailer? There are fairly just a few situations the place importing and exporting merchandise in bulk can be helpful to simply about any on-line store. It’s possible you’ll want to do that if:
You’ve numerous merchandise that have to be transferred or up to date
Should you’re organising your retailer for the primary time and you’ve got a big catalog of merchandise, are importing a brand new batch of stock into an current retailer, or are updating product data in bulk, you would possibly profit from a bulk import/export.
You must ship product information to warehouses
Should you’re organising a relationship with a warehouse for the primary time, they’ll need data on all of your merchandise — together with product identify, description, SKU, delivery technique, and prices. Should you don’t have already got a spreadsheet with this information, you’ll need to have the ability to export that data instantly out of your WooCommerce retailer.
You must export your product catalog to a market like Amazon
Should you’ve primarily run your retailer on WooCommerce and at the moment are starting to department out to Amazon, Etsy, Fb/Instagram, and different marketplaces, you might discover it useful to easily bulk export your merchandise out of your WooCommerce retailer right into a CSV or XML file. You possibly can then add this file to {the marketplace} you’d wish to work with.
Should you solely have 4 or 5 merchandise, you would most likely add them manually, however for those who’ve received a catalog of tons of or hundreds, you undoubtedly don’t need to spend days or even weeks attempting so as to add these one-by-one.
You must import merchandise from one other eCommerce platform to WooCommerce
Should you’re transferring from BigCommerce, Shopify, Magento, or another eCommerce platform, with the ability to import your product catalog in bulk is a large time saver.
You must replace product data in bulk
Should you embody the identical data in each product description and instantly discover that this modifications, you’ll both must replace every product individually or discover a technique to change all of them without delay.
Let’s say your retailer affords 200 t-shirt designs and each one has a colour choice of blue, black, and crimson. You obtain a notification that your producer will now not provide crimson shirts. Now you must replace 200 merchandise to mirror this modification. As an alternative of going into each individually and eradicating the crimson variation, you would bulk export your merchandise, delete the crimson choice, after which import the revised data again into WooCommerce.
You need to create a printed product catalog
Up to now, firms led with printed catalogs and finally got here round to creating eCommerce shops. However nowadays, the price of creating a web based store is exponentially extra reasonably priced than designing, printing, and mailing catalogs. It’s more likely {that a} store would begin with eCommerce after which later determine to create a printed catalog. If so on your retailer, with the ability to export all of your product information instantly out of your on-line store will help expedite your catalog design course of.
When ought to I import and export orders?
Importing and exporting orders is important for environment friendly administration of medium to giant eCommerce shops. However even smaller shops would possibly want import/export performance for WooCommerce every now and then. Beneath are some instance situations:
You’re sending orders in batches by way of a CSV file to your warehouse
Should you don’t have a direct integration between your WooCommerce retailer and your warehouse, you might have to ship orders in a CSV or Excel file. Whilst you may transcribe order data manually into your CSV file, it might be fairly time consuming and susceptible to errors. As an alternative, you would do a day by day export of orders that you simply ship to your warehouse, which might prevent time and cut back the potential of typos and missed orders.
You want particular information to run stories
Whereas WooCommerce has plenty of completely different reporting capabilities, you might need to generate stories distinctive to your organization. As an example, in order for you one which reveals what number of of a selected product is offered in a selected nation, state, or province per yr, you’ll have to create this your self. Exporting full product gross sales and order information offers your analyst the information they should make this occur.
You’re importing orders in bulk that have been positioned manually by way of electronic mail, over the telephone, or in particular person
Should you take numerous orders by way of channels apart from your web site, you don’t need to spend hours including each individually to your retailer. Should you can centralize your offline orders to a single CSV file that’s uploaded in bulk, you’ll save plenty of time.
You need to retailer order historical past off-site
Should you delete order information periodically in WooCommerce, you would possibly need to again up historic orders in a CSV file someplace in case you want to entry them sooner or later.
The way to import and export merchandise and orders
There are just a few methods to import and export merchandise and orders relying on the kind of data you want:
- Constructed-in product import and export instruments: Nice for importing and exporting product information for easy and variable product varieties
- The built-in analytics device, WooCommerce Analytics: A superb choice for exporting some sorts of fundamental product and order information
- The WordPress native Import and Export device: Nice for importing and exporting extra detailed information. Nevertheless, the outcomes will probably be in an XML file and so they look a bit messy. Additionally they don’t export or import full order information.
- An import/export extension: The quickest and easiest technique right here. That is additionally nice for customizing the data you need to import/export and dealing with detailed information.
- Database guide import and export: Good for coping with full or detailed product and order information. Nevertheless, this requires some improvement expertise.
Hold studying for detailed directions.
Importing and exporting merchandise with the built-in Product Import/Export device
WooCommerce comes with the flexibility to bulk import just a few several types of merchandise, together with:
- Easy
- Variable
- Subscription merchandise
- Product bundles
- Composite merchandise
NOTE: If you want to import or export WooCommerce Bookings, WooCommerce Manufacturers, or different customized product varieties, you’ll want to make use of a premium extension like those we talk about under.
Importing merchandise
Earlier than importing your merchandise, you’ll want a CSV file with all of your product data, formatted in order that WooCommerce can correctly interpret the information. One of the best ways to generate that is to obtain the pattern CSV file on Github. From there, you may change the pattern information with your personal.
You too can create a CSV file from scratch utilizing the Product CSV Import Schema. If you wish to import merchandise from an current WooCommerce retailer, you may export them from the present retailer and alter any vital data earlier than importing it into the brand new one.
Which CSV editor ought to I take advantage of?
Google Sheets, Open Workplace’s Calc program, and LibreOffice’s Calc program are all nice software program for enhancing your CSV information. Should you’re on a Mac, you can too use Numbers. Keep away from Microsoft Excel on account of formatting and character encoding points.
How ought to I format my CSV file?
There are just a few formatting and data-related stuff you’ll want to concentrate to in your CSV file. Should you don’t comply with these guidelines, you would possibly find yourself with a failed import or incorrect data in your retailer.
- CSV information needs to be in UTF-8 format.
- Use your retailer’s native timezone for dates.
- For true/false values, use 1 for true and 0 for false.
- A number of values in a area needs to be separated with commas.
- Wrapping values in quotes means that you can insert a comma.
- Prefix the id with id: if referencing an current product ID. No prefix is required if referencing a SKU. For instance: id:100, SKU101
- Customized meta is supported however solely plain textual content. There’s no help for JSON or serialized information.
- Taxonomy time period hierarchy is denoted with > (e.g. T-shirts>Youth>Licensed Cartoon Tees). Phrases are separated with commas (e.g. short-sleeved,long-sleeved,cap-sleeved).
- Merchandise which are in draft standing usually are not exported, solely revealed and privately revealed merchandise. Nevertheless, you may import a product with a draft standing.
- It’s not potential to assign a selected put up ID to a product on import. Merchandise will at all times use the subsequent accessible ID, whatever the ID included within the imported CSV.
- Photographs have to already be uploaded to your web site or accessible by way of a publicly accessible exterior hyperlink to be imported to your retailer. Some cloud storage providers use redirect scripts that forestall the picture file from being imported, so make it possible for your picture is offered on the precise hyperlink you specify.
- If the product picture already exists within the Media Library, you may merely enter the file identify as a substitute of the whole file path.
Import new merchandise or replace current merchandise
You should use the Import characteristic to import new merchandise or replace current ones.
1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to WooCommerce → Merchandise.
2. Choose Import on the high of the Merchandise web page. You’ll be taken to a multi-step web page, step one of which is Add CSV File.
3. Choose Browse to decide on the CSV you need to use.
4. Should you’re updating current merchandise, examine the Replace current merchandise field.
5. CSV delimiter: Usually CSV components are separated by a comma. If you’re utilizing a special delimiter in your file, you may set it right here.
6. Column mapping preferences: Should you’ve set column mapping preferences prior to now and need to use them, you may examine this field.
7. Click on Proceed. It will take you to the Column mapping display screen.
WooCommerce will robotically try and map the Column Title out of your CSV to Fields.
8. If there are any fields you don’t need to import, you should utilize the dropdown menus beneath Map to area to point ‘Don’t import.’ You too can choose the sector you need your column identify mapped to. Any unrecognized columns or unmapped fields won’t be imported by default.
9. When you’ve mapped all of your fields, click on Run the Importer.
10. You’ll see a display screen that claims “Importing. Your merchandise at the moment are being imported.” Wait till the Importer is completed. Don’t refresh your browser whereas it’s in progress. When your import is full, you’ll be taken to the Achieved! display screen and from there you may click on View Merchandise to evaluate them and make sure that they have been imported accurately.
Exporting merchandise
If you want to export merchandise out of your retailer, the method is pretty easy.
1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to WooCommerce → Merchandise and click on Export on the high of your display screen.
You’ll be taken to Export merchandise to a CSV file. From right here, you may choose which columns, what product varieties, and what product class you need to export.
2. Make your picks, then click on Generate CSV.
3. Wait on your export to complete and obtain your file.
WooCommerce Product Import & Export
For extra detailed data on importing and exporting merchandise with the default WooCommerce Product Import and Export instruments, learn the WooCommerce Getting Began Documentation.
Exporting product and order information with WooCommerce Analytics
WooCommerce Analytics gives reporting particulars about your retailer’s gross sales, merchandise, and orders. Exporting this information is helpful if you wish to evaluate greatest promoting merchandise, evaluate income for various time intervals, get an summary in your inventory ranges, or determine your most loyal prospects. Whilst you can’t import exterior information on to WooCommerce Analytics, for those who’re utilizing a model of WooCommerce older than 4.0 and are upgrading to 4.0 or above, you may import historic information out of your earlier model of WooCommerce.
Remember the fact that WooCommerce Analytics is restricted to pretty high-level information and doesn’t import/export full product or order data. Should you want detailed data like what number of gross sales have been made in a selected nation over a sure time period or need to bulk edit product descriptions in your retailer, you’ll have to export that information instantly out of your database or utilizing an extension like Import Export Suite for WooCommerce.
Exporting product analytics
In your Product Analytics view, you may select a date or date vary after which view all merchandise, see a single product, or select a product comparability view.
Product stories can embody:
- Product title
- SKU
- Variety of gadgets offered
- Web gross sales
- Variety of orders
- Classes
- Variety of variations
- Inventory Standing (In Inventory, Low Inventory, Out of Inventory, N/A)
- Inventory Amount
To filter your outcomes for particular information columns, click on on the vertical ellipsis on the high proper of your product outcomes view.
You possibly can toggle on or off the SKU, Orders, Class, Variations, Standing, and Inventory columns. When your report displays the data you want, click on the Obtain button on the high proper of your product outcomes view. Your information will probably be downloaded as a CSV file.
Exporting order analytics
In your Order Analytics view, you may select a date or date vary after which view all orders or select from some superior filters like:
- Order Standing
- Merchandise
- Variations
- Coupon Codes
- Buyer Sort
- Refunds
- Tax Charge
- Attributes
Order stories can embody:
- Date
- Order quantity
- Standing
- Buyer identify
- Buyer kind
- Product(s) bought
- Variety of gadgets offered
- Coupon(s) used
- Web gross sales
To filter your outcomes for particular information columns, click on on the vertical ellipsis on the high proper of your product outcomes view.
You possibly can toggle on or off the Standing, Buyer, Buyer kind, Product(s), Objects offered, and Coupon(s) columns. When your report displays the data you want, click on the Obtain button on the high proper of your product outcomes view. Your information will probably be downloaded as a CSV file.
WooCommerce Analytics
WooCommerce Analytics is a reporting and information evaluation device that comes with model 5.3 and above of WooCommerce. The suite consists of superior filtering and segmenting instruments on your stories, report downloads in CSV format, and a customizable dashboard to observe key metrics of your retailer. Be taught extra
Exporting product and order information with WordPress’ Export device
WordPress natively means that you can export completely different put up varieties as XML information. This characteristic is positioned in Instruments → Export in your WordPress dashboard.
WordPress’ Export device can export customized put up varieties like:
- Merchandise
- Variations
- Orders
- Refunds
- Coupons
Word: Select Merchandise or Orders as a substitute of Product or Order when exporting.
Remember the fact that for order exports, the outcomes are considerably restricted in that it does not embody the names of the merchandise or the amount offered in every order.
The WordPress Export device’s formatting might not be ideally suited on your functions, both. The info will probably be exported as an XML file, so except you intend on importing this information instantly into one other WooCommerce web site, you’ll most likely need to view the outcomes as a CSV file. To do that you’ll both have to convert it to a CSV file utilizing Notepad++ (Home windows) or a free on-line conversion device. The ensuing formatting isn’t fairly and generally is a bit messy to type by way of. Should you want order particulars like which merchandise have been ordered and what number of, you’ll nonetheless must export that data instantly from the database or use a plugin to deal with your exports.
Importing product and order information with the WordPress Import device
To import product or order information utilizing the WordPress Import device, you’ll have to make it possible for your file is formatted similar to the export file for whichever put up kind you’re importing. Exporting a put up kind first may give you a template for tips on how to arrange your import file.
This exported file may even outline what sorts of information may be imported. That is particularly vital relating to order data for the reason that Orders put up kind doesn’t embody full order data.
Whilst you can edit your file as a CSV, as soon as your file is configured you need to be sure to put it aside as an XML file.
When your file is prepared and saved in XML format, open your WordPress dashboard and go to Instruments → Import.
Scroll to the underside of the subsequent display screen till you discover the WordPress choice, then click on Run Importer.
Choose your XML file utilizing the Select File button, then click on Add file and import.
Utilizing WooCommerce extensions to import and export merchandise and orders
The quickest and least error-prone technique to import and export WooCommerce merchandise and orders is to make use of an extension. This protects time and reduces the potential for errors. Relying on the information you want, there are just a few nice options to select from — Import Export Suite for WooCommerce, Product CSV Import Suite, Buyer/Order/Coupon CSV Import Suite, and WooCommerce Buyer/Order/Coupon Export.
Import Export Suite for WooCommerce
With Import Export Suite for WooCommerce, you may import, export, migrate, and replace all of your WooCommerce information in bulk utilizing both a CSV or XML file. All WooCommerce product varieties are supported, together with:
- easy
- grouped
- exterior
- variable
You too can import and export orders, product evaluations, coupons, subscriptions, and prospects.
Import Export Suite for WooCommerce consists of a number of different helpful options, like:
- Scheduled imports and exports. You possibly can automate your imports and exports on a schedule you select. These processes run within the background so you may proceed to work on different areas of your web site.
- Import/export historical past. The suite shops your whole import and export historical past and consists of the choice to re-run the identical import/export once more.
- Knowledge and debug logs. You possibly can view all the information associated to your import/export processes and examine debug logs if a course of fails and you want to troubleshoot the difficulty.
- Import and export customized fields and hidden metadata.
- Create customized exports utilizing filters. You possibly can specify the overall variety of merchandise to export, skip first n exports, embody or exclude merchandise by class, and specify particular merchandise to export by product identify.
Product CSV Import Suite
Product CSV Import Suite is particularly geared towards importing and exporting merchandise. Along with with the ability to import and export the identical product varieties that WooCommerce does by default, it’s additionally set as much as deal with data from WooCommerce Bookings, Product Distributors, WooCommerce Manufacturers, Google Product Feed, and WooCommerce Pictures.
Product CSV Import Suite is ready to seize customized area and taxonomy data that you may embody in your imports and exports. It is going to additionally import customized information from extensions like Product Add-Ons and Dynamic Pricing.
With Product CSV Import Suite, you’ve got extra granular management of what product information you export out of your retailer. You too can export merchandise in draft mode.
Buyer/Order/Coupon CSV Import Suite
Buyer/Order/Coupon CSV Import Suite is simply an importer. It doesn’t create exports. You’ll have to buy its companion plugin WooCommerce Buyer/Order/Coupon Export or one other order export plugin if you wish to export order data.
The importer can deal with a number of completely different import codecs, and columns may be mapped to the suitable WooCommerce fields to merge or create orders. Your information may be imported as a file, copy and pasted, or added by way of a URL.
Along with importing and merging orders, you may import and merge prospects and coupons. This extension additionally means that you can import customized fields and taxonomies related to orders, prospects, and coupons.
A number of delivery strategies per order are supported and order information imports within the background so as to import giant information units with out risking timeouts.
WooCommerce Buyer/Order/Coupon Export
WooCommerce Buyer/Order/Coupon Export is an export device solely that outputs information in CSV and XML format. If you want to import buyer, order, or coupon information, you should utilize its companion extension, Buyer/Order/Coupon CSV Import Suite.
With this extension you may export particular person orders, prospects, or coupons and automate your exports with information transfers by way of FTP, HTTP POST, or electronic mail. The export course of runs asynchronously within the background in your web site so you may proceed working in different areas of your retailer whereas your export completes.
Different useful options embody:
- Customized codecs that embody buyer and order meta. You too can customise exports to fit your CRM or order achievement system — rearrange and add new fields and embody customized meta information and static values.
Which answer is best for you?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for each import and export requirement. It’s possible you’ll have already got what you want from the built-in WooCommerce Import and Export instruments and WooCommerce Analytics. In case you have a extra distinctive state of affairs, a premium extension like Import Export Suite for WooCommerce is likely to be your best choice.
Take the time to think about what import and/or export information you want to effectively and successfully run your retailer and select the answer that greatest helps your targets.
