File format for uploading catalog data

WebSphere Commerce provides sample files for uploading catalog business objects, such as categories, catalog entries, and attribute dictionary attributes. Use the samples as a starting point to create our own CSV files so that you follow the correct data format.

We can also load this data in XML format. If you choose to create and use an XML formatted file, ensure that your file uses the CSV column names as the XML element names.

When we are creating your CSV or XML file, ensure that you follow the tips and recommendations for CSV and XML files included in Data Load utility best practices.

Catalog business object keywords and column definitions

The following table lists the catalog business object types available for use.

Note: The sample files do not include all the available column or element names for the catalog business object types. For a complete list of the available columnor element names for the catalog business object types, see Data Load utility CSV column and XML element definitions.

To upload...	Keyword with CSV column and XML element definitions	Sample input file
Master or sales catalog, and optionally its description.	Catalog	CSV Catalog.csv XML Catalog.xml
Catalog descriptions in multiple languages.	CatalogDescription	CSV CatalogDescription.csv
Categories, optionally the categories description, and the parent and child category relationships.	CatalogGroup	CSV CatalogGroup.csv XML CatalogGroups.xml
Merchandising associations between categories.	CatalogGroupAssociation	CSV CatalogGroupAssociation.csv
Category descriptions (language-dependent).	CatalogGroupDescription	CSV CatalogGroupDescription.csv
Parent-child relationship between categories.	CatalogGroupRelationship	CSV CatalogGroupRelationship.csv
Catalog entries such as products, SKUs, bundle or kits, and optionally the catalog entries description. Also the product and SKU relationships.	CatalogEntry	CSV CatalogEntry.csv XML CatalogEntry.xml
Merchandising associations between catalog entries.	CatalogEntryAssociation	CSV CatalogEntryAssociation.csv
Multiple relationships between the parent kit (package, bundle, and dynamic kit) and its child catalog entries	CatalogEntryComponent	CSV CatalogEntryComponent.csv
Catalog entry descriptions (language-dependent).	CatalogEntryDescription	CSV CatalogEntryDescription.csv
(Enterprise) Catalog entry description overrides - this CSV creates catalog entry descriptions specific for an extended site store by overriding inherited asset store catalog entry descriptive information.	(Enterprise) CatalogEntryDescriptionOverride	(Enterprise) CSV CatEntryDescriptionOverride.csv XML CatEntryDescriptionOverride.xml
Descriptive attributes and values for a product or SKU (non-attribute dictionary).	CatalogEntryDescriptiveAttributeAndValue	CSV CatalogEntryDescriptiveAttributeAndValue.csv
Catalog entry offer price.	CatalogEntryOfferPrice	CSV CatalogEntryOfferPrice.csv
Parent-child relationships between categories and catalog entries.	CatalogEntryParentCatalogGroupRelationship	CSV CatalogEntryParentCatalogGroupRelationship.csv
Product and SKU relationships between catalog entries.	CatalogEntryParentProductRelationship	CSV CatalogEntryParentProductRelationship.csv
Updates to catalog entries. When you specify this keyword, the Catalog Upload updates only the new or changed information. The remaining catalog entry information is not changed during the upload operation. For example, use this keyword to update only the name for a catalog entry and do not want to change any other information. You do not need to include values for every field in your input file. The upload process does not change any field that does not include a value in the input file.	CatalogEntryUpdate When you specify this keyword, we can include values for the same catalog entry information that can be included in a file that uses the keyword CatalogEntry.	CSV CatalogEntriesUpdate.csv
Updates to catalog entry descriptions. When you specify this keyword, the Catalog Upload updates only the new or changed information. The remaining descriptive information for the catalog entry does not change during the upload operation. For example, use this keyword to update only the short description for a catalog entry and do not want to change any other information. You do not need to include values for every field in your input file. The upload process does not change any field that does not include a value in the input file.	CatalogEntryDescriptionUpdate When you specify this keyword, we can include values for the same catalog entry descriptive information that can be included in a file that uses the keyword CatalogEntryDescription.	CSV CatalogEntryDescriptionUpdate.csv
Attribute and allowed values for products (non-attribute dictionary).	ProductDefiningAttributeAndAllowedValues	CSV ProductDefiningAttributeAndAllowedValues.csv
Attribute value for SKUs (non-attribute dictionary).	SKUDefiningAttributeValue	CSV SKUDefiningAttributeValue.csv
Attribute dictionary attribute and allowed values.	AttributeDictionaryAttributeAndAllowedValues	CSV AttributeDictionaryAttributeAndAllowedValues.csv AttributeDictionaryAttribute_fr_FR.csv Loads attributes in French. XML AttributeDictionaryAttributeAndAllowedValues.xml AttributeDictionaryAttribute_fr_FR.xml Loads attributes in French.
Attribute dictionary attributes allowed values (in other national languages).	AttributeDictionaryAttributeAllowedValues	CSV AttributeDictionaryAttributeAllowedValues_fr_FR.csv Loads attribute allowed values in French. XML AttributeDictionaryAttributeAllowedValues_fr_FR.xml Loads attribute allowed values in French.
Attribute dictionary attribute value for SKUs.	CatalogEntryAttributeDictionaryAttributeRelationship	CSV CatalogEntryAttributeDictionaryAttributeRelationship.csv CatalogEntryAttributeDictionaryAttributeRelationship_fr_FR.csv Loads descriptive attribute values in French. XML CatalogEntryAttributeDictionaryAttributeRelationship.xml CatalogEntryAttributeDictionaryAttributeRelationship_fr_FR.xml Loads descriptive attribute values in French.
Attribute dictionary attribute and attribute folder relationship Note: The attribute and the folder must exist within your system before we can load this relationship.	AttributeDictionaryAttributeFolderRelationship	CSV AttributeDictionaryAttributeFolderRelationship.csv XML AttributeDictionaryAttributeFolderRelationship.xml
We can also upload the following catalog business object types. However, the business objects are not visible within the Catalogs tool unless your business customizes the Management Center to display these business objects.
Catalog entry search engine optimization (SEO) URL and page information.	CatalogEntrySEO	CSV CatalogEntrySEO.csv
Category search engine optimization (SEO) URL and page information.	CatalogGroupSEO	CSV CatalogGroupSEO.csv
Catalog entry calculation code. There are calculation codes for different calculation usages. The provided calculation usages include discount, shipping, sales tax, shipping tax, coupon, surcharge, and shipping adjustment. (Enterprise) Note: In an extended sites model, we must load catalog calculation codes into the appropriate asset store. Catalog calculation codes are stored in the Storefront Asset store.	CatalogEntryCalculationCode	CSV CatalogEntryCalculationCode.csv
Category calculation code. There are calculation codes for different calculation usages. The provided calculation usage includes discount, shipping, sales tax, shipping tax, coupon, surcharge, and shipping adjustment. (Enterprise) Note: In an extended sites model, we must load catalog calculation codes into the appropriate asset store. Catalog calculation codes are stored in the Storefront Asset store.	CatalogGroupCalculationCode	CSV CatalogGroupCalculationCode.csv
Catalog entry inventory (non-ATP).	CatalogEntryInventory	CSV CatalogEntryInventory.csv XML CatalogEntryInventory.xml
Catalog entry inventory (ATP).	CatalogEntryATPInventory	CSV CatalogEntryATPInventory.csv XML CatalogEntryATPInventory.xml

Notes:

• If we are loading attributes for the first time, we must log out of the Management Center and then log in again to see the attribute dictionary attributes.

• If we are loading attributes in a different language for the first time, we must log out of the Management Center and then log in again to see the attribute dictionary attributes allowed values. Also, ensure that the store supports the language.

• The Catalog Upload feature does not support synchronizing data across linked categories. Do not use Catalog Upload to change the parent or child categories for a category that is a linked category. We can use Catalog Upload to add or remove catalog entries from a category. When you load changes to the catalog entry assignments for a category, the load process does synchronize the changes across any linked categories.

• (Enterprise) If we are working in an extended site store, we cannot use Catalog Upload to load data for creating, updating, or deleting catalog objects that belong to the catalog asset store. To load data for catalog objects that belong to the catalog asset store, we must switch the store that we are working in to be the catalog asset store.

Related concepts
Catalog Upload