IMPORT MODEL: ATTRIBUTES

Attributes are used to add filtering to your products, and can be imported in a combination of formats. The table below can be used as a reference to assist you in using the data import feature properly and effectively when importing attributes.

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Overview

Let’s say that you have a large amount of products that you would like to add Year, Make and Model too so you can have a lookup system on your website. You can either enter each attribute value separately and manually and then add them to each product or create a spreadsheet that would allow you to import them all in just a few clicks. I would venture a guess that you would pick the latter of the two. By utilizing the product data import fields, you will be able to upload a virtually unlimited amount of products attributes in a tidy way with minimal setup. 

Steps

When using the attribute import feature you will need to first create a spreadsheet indicating all of the values that you would like to used for filtering as well as the Unique Identifer for your product. These values usually consist of the item# and columns for each attribute you want to filter on, i.e. Year, Make, Model. Once you have created your spreadsheet and saved it as a CSV file you can begin to set up the back end of WSM to allow importing of your attributes.

The table below will help to determine which values and definitions each of your fields require. You will utilize this chart to create your CSV Attribute profile, once your attribute profile is created you will begin to add fields to allow for your csv product spreadsheet to be imported.

To assist you with creating your Attributes profile we have created an example that you may copy and edit. To perform this:

  1. Hover over Data
  2. Click CSV Profile
  3. Locate profile name"WSM (COPY ONLY) Product Attributes (IMPORT ONLY)"
  4. Click the copy button for that profile
  5. Now that your profile is created locate the new Copy of version and click edit
  6. Rename to match your site
  7. Click Fields icon to change any fields based on your site and the information provided below

Important Notes

  • Attributes is part of the Products Model
  • Products must exist in WSM before you can import Attributes
  • The Attribute group, label, and one value must be added to WSM before you can import Attributes
  • An Attribute Label cannot be used more than once on your site, not even in a different group
  • When importing Attribute group (attributes with multiple labels) you cannot have an empty value in your spreadsheet
  • When importing Attributes you must always check force update
  • If adding additional Attributes to products check Append New to preserve the existing assignments
  • After your import is completed it will state that items were Unchanged; however if all the steps were followed correctly your items did change. Please view a sampling of your products to confirm the change.

Definition of Terms

  • Default:The value which is automatically displayed if you have not designated a value on your import file.
  • Values:Indicates how you must enter the text for that particular field category.
  • Delimited: Indicates what you must use for your Multi-Value Delimiter when having multiple cells load into one profile field. This feature is most commonly used when loading product images, as many times clients wish to show multiple product images for each item. If tehe MVD was a - your VALUES would read as the following: ${column header1}-${column header2}-${column header3}
  • Force Update:Indicates whether a force update must be clicked to have the new data load over the existing data. A force update is needed when an existing field’s information does not automatically update with the new csv file’s data.
  • Character: Either a restriction or recommendation for this field.
  • Special Notes:See special notes section for any additional details that may need to be referenced.

*see the “Added” field below as a good example for each category.

*Advanced File Only
**Advanced and Best Practice Files
***Minnimum, Advanced and Best Practice Files

Field Names Defined:

Attributes Default: N/A
Values: Text, No HTML
Delimited: Use a comma space in your file. For the field, enter ,  ; (comma space space semi-colon) in the Compound-Value Delimiter field. Leave the Multi-Value Delimiter blank.
Force Update: Yes
Character Limit (Values and Labels): 254
Special Notes: IMPORT ONLY. This must be used with an Expression in the Source Type. See below for an example of how to enter an expression into the Source Value.
Attribute-Set Default: N/A
Values: Text, No HTML
Delimited: Use a comma space in your file. For the field, enter ,  ; (comma space space semi-colon) in the Compound-Value Delimiter field. Leave the Multi-Value Delimiter blank.
Force Update: Yes
Character Limit: N/A
Special Notes: EXPORT ONLY. This must be used with an Expression in the Source Type. See below for an example of how to enter an expression into the Source Value.
DealerID Default: Blank
Values: Text, No HTML
Delimited: N/A
Force Update: No
Character Limit: 255
Special Notes: Required only if it is your Unique Identifier. Usually provided by the product manufacturer.
StockID Default: Blank
Values: Text, No HTML
Delimited: N/A
Force Update: No
Character Limit: 255
Special Notes: Required only if it is your Unique Identifier field.

Expression Instructions

Example of the Expression that imports 4 labels in an attribute group:
Year, ${Year} ; Make, ${Make} ; Model, ${Model} ; Engine, ${Engine}

Example of the Expression that imports 4 labels in an attribute group:
ATTRIBUTE LABEL NAME1, ${COLUMNNAME} ; ATTRIBUTE LABEL NAME2, ${COLUMNNAME} ; ATTRIBUTE LABEL NAME3, ${COLUMNNAME} ; ATTRIBUTE LABEL NAME4, ${COLUMNNAME}

Summary

Importing attributes is an important aspect of your data import process because it has an effect on your customer's shopping experience. If an attribute does not exist and you are importing them, the value will be automatically added to the assigned label. This model will allow you to add attributes to your product pages in a mass upload. This content will then be used to filter what products are displayed o the customer.

For additional assistance with importing please complete our support request form.