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Batch Item Import

Batch Item Import

Owned by Perry Tew
Last updated: Apr 16, 2025 by Tyler Johnson
4 min read

Introduction

The Batch Item Import tool enables merchants to efficiently create or update multiple items in their UltraCart store using a CSV or Excel file. This is particularly useful for bulk item management, whether you're adding new products or modifying existing ones.

Navigation

Items → Tools → Batch Item Import

Step 1: File Import

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Begin by uploading your data file:

  • Accepted Formats: .csv or .xls

  • Minimum Required Columns: Item ID and Price​
    These two fields are sufficient to create new items or update prices of existing ones.​

 

Sample File Provided:
We've included a sample CSV file to help you get started. This file includes basic headers like Item ID, Description, Price, and Cost.
You can open it in Excel or Google Sheets and modify it to include your own product data.



How to use the sample effectively:

  1. Replace the sample rows with your actual item information.

  2. Add or remove columns based on which fields you want to import or update.

  3. Make sure the Item ID is included for all rows (required for both creating and updating items).

  4. Save the file as .csv or .xls before uploading.

Once your file is ready, click Upload File on the Batch Item Import page to begin the field mapping process.

Note: If you attempt to upload an unsupported file type, you'll receive an error message:​
UltraCart cannot understand the file of type [file-type] you transferred. Please contact customer support for assistance.

Step 2: Field Mapping

During this step, you’ll match the columns from your spreadsheet to the corresponding item fields in UltraCart. This ensures that the data is imported into the correct locations within your store’s catalog.

How to Map Fields

  1. Upload your CSV or Excel file — The system will display the first row (typically column headers) and a few sample rows of data to help guide your mapping.

  2. Use the dropdown menus under “Field Mapping” to assign each column to an UltraCart item field.

    • For example, if your first spreadsheet column is “Item ID,” choose Item ID from the dropdown.

  3. Use the blue buttons on the right to speed up the process:

    • Match Row: Attempts to match that row’s column title to the correct UltraCart field.

    • Reset Row: Clears the mapping for that row.

    • Match All Rows: Automatically attempts to match all columns based on header names.

    • Reset All Rows: Clears all field mappings.

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Pro Tip: If your file includes a header row (e.g., “Item ID,” “Price,” etc.), make sure to check the box labeled: “Click this box if the first row contains field names.”
This step is required if you're importing single-column attribute files or want accurate auto-matching.

Note on Updating Existing Items

If you're looking to update existing items, simply include the Item ID column and only the fields you wish to update.
UltraCart will match the Item ID to your existing catalog and modify only the specified fields.
Any fields not included in your file will remain unchanged.

For example:

  • Upload a file with Item ID, Price, and Description.

  • Map those fields accordingly.

  • Upon import, UltraCart will update only the price and description for each matching item, leaving all other attributes untouched.

Unmatched import fields: If your file includes columns that aren’t used for imports (e.g., system-generated or read-only fields from exports), you can leave them unmapped. Some common fields that are not importable and will appear as unmatched include:

  • Creation Date

  • Has Multimedia

  • Inventory Level (Allocate to Carts)

  • Inventory Level (Allocate to Orders)

  • Inventory Level (Available to Allocate)

  • Item OID

  • Multimedia Height 01

  • Multimedia Width 01

  • Skip Shipment Notification

  • Search ("Exclude from Search")

Step 3: Import Source Name (Optional)

If you're importing files from multiple sources, assigning a unique source name to each can help in tracking and managing imports.

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Step 4: Options

Configure additional import settings as needed. These options allow for customization of the import behavior to suit your specific requirements.

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Step 5: Save Import Mapping (Optional)

To streamline future imports, you can save your current field mapping configuration. This is especially beneficial if you regularly import files with the same structure.

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