Save time and ensure consistency by importing product information from CSV files to create stock
This help article is written for our suppliers and will not be relevant if you are an Avasam seller. To access seller-specific articles, please follow this link.
The most efficient way to create products in Avasam is via CSV file import.
Avasam can import product information from a CSV file. This is a text file, but can also be opened and edited in a spreadsheet such as Excel.
To import this information, you must provide it in a form that Avasam can understand. This file can be uploaded on a regular basis to an FTP server, and imported into the Avasam database from that file. The Avasam team can provide more detailed information to you about accessing an FTP space to upload your CSV files.
Creating new products
Creating brand new products requires a product feed file. This contains all the information that Avasam needs to add the product(s) to its catalogue under your supplier account. To use a product feed file, you will need to create an import configuration to ensure Avasam correctly imports the information into the right fields.
Please note - when importing product information, please ensure your text is saved in the UTF-8 text encoding method or 'character set'. This ensures that special characters, such as ' (inverted commas/single quotes) are properly displayed in web browsers. Otherwise these characters may be rendered as ▢s or �s.
Creating a new import configuration
To create a new import configuration for a new import file type or source, you will need an example file to use in the process.
- In Avasam, open the settings menu.
- Select 'imports'.
- Click on the 'add configuration' button.
- Provide a name to identify the import by and select the import type 'product basic detail'.
- You can select either 'FTP' or 'file' from the drop-down list labelled 'type'.
- 'FTP ' allows Avasam to access the CSV file from a remote/web file server provided by Avasam. You will be provided with your access details by the Avasam team and will then be able to manually or automatically add your files into this location by completing the following fields:
- Server
- Port
- User name
- Password
- File path
- File name
- Use SSL (yes/no)
- 'File' allows you to collect and upload a CSV file from the PC or device you are using at the time.
- Click the 'upload' button.
- Locate and select the file, then click 'open'.
- Click on the button marked 'analyse and map' to review the fields in the file specified.
- A data preview will be loaded. If this shows the data in the file correctly, then move to the field mapping section below it. If not, then contact support via the ticket system.
- The left-hand column lists the column headings in the file you uploaded and the right-hand column shows which Avasam field they have been matched to. Avasam will automatically match fields if their name matches the name of the field exactly.
- To create a mapping:
-
- Select the name of the CSV heading in the CSV field drop-down.
- Select the Avasam field you want to map it to in the map to drop-down list.
- Click 'map field' to create the mapping.
- Both fields will be removed from the drop-downs, and the list will be updated.
- If you want to remove a mapping:
- Locate the line in the list of fields.
- Click on the 'x' to the right then confirm that you want to delete the mapping.
- Both fields will be come available in the relevant drop-down lists.
- When you are satisfied that all fields have been mapped, click on the add configuration button before being returned to the 'imports' screen. It will now show your newly-added import configuration. In the 'import type' list. Select 'save' to continue.
-
- The system will either queue and import the new information (If 'file' was selected) or check the FTP folder for a new file.
- 'FTP ' allows Avasam to access the CSV file from a remote/web file server provided by Avasam. You will be provided with your access details by the Avasam team and will then be able to manually or automatically add your files into this location by completing the following fields:
Reusing an import configuration
If you want to update existing product listings, or add further products using the same file format, you can reuse the same import configuration.
- In Avasam, open the settings menu.
- Select 'imports'.
- Locate the import configuration you want to use. It should show the status as 'ready to import'.
- Click on 'ready to import', then locate the relevant file to import (if required) and click on 'open'. Its status will then change to 'import in queue'.
- While the file is being imported, you can check its progress by looking at the logs. To do this, click on the logs link.
- A list will then be shown that gives you the dates and times the import has been run. Click on 'view' to open the selected import log.
- When you have finished reviewing the logs, click 'cancel' to return to the list, and 'cancel' again to return to the main import configurations screen.
Managing attribute data for live products
To optimise our catalogue data integrity we do not permit changes or updates to product data attributes (other than stock levels, price and RRP) by suppliers directly for existing live products. Therefore, changes to such attribute data made within your own system will not sync to Avasam.
Categories
The following categories are currently supported by Avasam for use in the category field (use category code):
Avasam category name | Category code |
Adult | 39 |
Automotive | 10 |
Baby & Children | 11 |
Books | 14 |
Computers & Electronics | 18 |
DIY and Tools | 19 |
Fashion & Lifestyle | 17 |
Food & Drink | 13 |
Health & Beauty | 12 |
Home | 22 |
Jewellery & Accessories | 26 |
Misc (Hidden in backend) | 40 |
Packaging | 42 |
Garden | 43 |
Pet Supplies | 32 |
PPE | 41 |
Sports, Leisure & Hobbies | 35 |
Stationary & Office | 36 |
Product feed columns
Column name | Description | Mandatory? |
ProductId | Internal identifier/SKU for product | Yes |
Category | Category name, see below | Yes |
Title | Product title | Yes |
Condition | "New", "A", "B" or "C" (in descending order) | Yes |
Brand | Product brand | Yes |
MPN | Original part number | MPN OR Barcode Mandatory |
Barcode | UPC or EAN number | MPN OR Barcode Mandatory |
StockQuantity | Current available stock level | Yes |
PriceExclVAT | Net price to seller. Ex VAT | Yes |
RRPExclVAT | Recommended Retail Price, ex VAT | No |
VAT%Rate | VAT rate to apply to product as whole number (eg. "20", "0") | Yes |
Model | Product Model number, if appropriate | No |
Colour | Product colour, if appropriate | No |
Size | Product size, if appropriate | No |
WeightUnit | Units used for item weights in file eg. "mg", "g", "kg", "lb" | No |
SizeUnit | Units used for item size in this file eg. "mm", "cm", "in" | No |
ShippingWeight | Total weight inc packaging | No |
PackageHeight | Shipping unit height | No |
PackageWidth | Shipping unit width | No |
PackageDepth | Shipping unit depth | No |
ProductWeight | Product weight (without packaging) | No |
ProductHeight | Product height (without packaging) | No |
ProductWidth | Product width (without packaging) | No |
ProductDepth | Product depth (without packaging) | No |
ProductType | Producttype tells us if the product is a main product, (a parent), or a variant (a child). It is left empty if the product is not part of a variation. Main products don't need a variantsize or variantcolour. They also don't have prices or stock quantities. | No |
ParentProductId | Parentproductid is only needed by variants. It should contain the productid/SKU of the main product this variant belongs to. | No |
VariantSize |
Any product in the catalogue can have a size and/or colour, but only variants have a variantsize and/or variantcolour as well, telling Avasam how to organise them. No two products in the same variation can have the same values in both fields: | No |
VariantColour | No | |
VariantType | Can be size, colour or both | No |
CountryofOrigin | For any product that can be listed on Amazon , must be full Country name (eg "United Kingdom", "Germany"). | No |
ImageURL1 (to 6) | You can supply URLs to download up to 6 product images. Image 1 will be the Main Image | No |
Product URL | URL (if available) of the product information page | No |
ProductPDFURL | URL (if available) of the product information as a PDF file | No |
ProductVideoURL | URL (if available) of the product information video | No |
ShortDescription | Short description of the product | No |
LongDescription | Long description of the product | No |
AttributeName1 (to 9) | Add in pairs. Creates extended property if does not exist for product. Name of property. | No |
Attribute Value1(to 9) | Add in pairs. Information to be stored for this product in extended property. | No |
You can use quotes around the information in individual fields, but it's not compulsory.
For example:
"10.99" is the same as 10.99
"Sony" is the same as Sony
Prohibited Items