What product fields does Shopify require for import/export?

[Tony_Vodicka]

Hi, I am looking to build a Shopify store. I already have a website with many products for sale. I was wondering what fields are required by Shopify in order to export and import my product feed from the old site to Shopify? (product name, price, description, image, SKU... needed?)

[Nick_Marketing]

Take a look at this sample .CSV product export file that you can follow.

https://help.shopify.com/csv/product_template.csv

[Shay]

Hi @Tony_Vodicka 

Great question! Shopify supports importing products through a CSV file, which will probably be the easiest way to transfer your existing product list from your old store to your new one on Shopify. 

Alternatively, if the original platform is supported, you may be able to import your products through the Store Importer app.

You can review our video on importing products through a CSV file by follow this link: Importing products with a CSV file · Shopify Help Center.

And you can see a clear breakdown of the required CSV fields for reference on this page; Using CSV files to import and export products · Shopify Help Center.

If using a CSV file it is important to note that format, layout and order of the columns in the CSV must align with our template file. You can find the template file linked in the pages above. Also, I strongly recommend keeping a backup copy of your CSV file, especially if you are importing in batches or importing a new CSV to update information. Once an import is started, it cannot be stopped and the changes cannot be undone. This is where the backup CSV file can be very beneficial. 

If you have additional questions about CSVs please let me know! 

[Tony_Vodicka]

Hi, thanks for your response. Is the Handle required when we upload our CSV? Or is that created by shopify based off of the Title?

[Shay]

Hi @Tony_Vodicka 

The column for "Handle" does need to be present but if no data is filled in the admin will automatically assign a product handle based on the product name. 

Spaces in the product name will be converted into dashes and will also become the default URL handle for the product as well. Example:

Apple Bottom Jeans > apple-bottom-jeans > www.mystore.com/products/apple-bottom-jeans 

You can edit the handle and the product URL from within the SEO section of the product details after uploading. But prepping this before hand will save you a lot of time and energy if you want the look to be specific. 

[Marco_M]

Thanks for the answer... but you still haven't answered the question asked by @Tony_Vodicka

Which columns are mandatory when importing products through the CSV template?
Or... which columns can I delete from the CSV file without affecting the import?

Or... can I update the SKU of products by sending a CSV file with just the "Handle" and "Variant SKU" columns?

Thanks

[Shay]

Hi @Marco_M 

I did share a link to our Help Center that has a full breakdown of the required fields for a product CSV import on this page; Using CSV files to import and export products · Shopify Help Center. Our platform is always updating, so our Help Center is always the best source of information in cases like this. 

As noted on that page: 

Required columns in the product CSV file

These columns must be present under the following conditions:

• When you create a product CSV file to import new products, the only required column is Title. If you're adding variants for a product, then the Handle column is also required.
• When you update products using a CSV file, the only required columns are Handle and Title.

If what you are editing is related to information stored in other columns though, you may need to include additional column information in your CSV import. So if you wanted to update the SKUs for your variants, you would also need to have the columns denoting those variant names and their options. 

For safety measure, since CSV imports can't be cancelled or reversed, we ALWAYS recommend creating a CSV export of all your products before importing a new CSV. This way you always have a safe recovery point to fall back to if the CSV has any mistakes or issues importing. 

[Marco_M]

Thanks @Shay 

[fleshandblood]

Hold on a minute. My parent rows have handle and title and SKU but the variant "child" items only have handle and SKU (along with pricing information etc.), they inherit the title of the parent rows. So how can I ever update the SKU's on my variant items since they dont have a title of their own? I think the answer you have given might be incorrect.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I am just about to try to update my items SKU's and came looking for this information but your answer worries me! I need a definitive answer, taking into account what I have said here.

[fleshandblood]

And what about if I only want to update the prices using a csv? Same thing. parent and child items. Parent rows have handle and title, child row only handle. Both have a price.

[fleshandblood]

I have tested importing parent and child items and the child items are importing fine, so it is not the case that rows MUST have handle + title. I would love to know the truth about this. This thread is not the final word on this.

[fleshandblood]

Ok I've nailed it down. To update prices *ONLY* where you have parent and child rows where the parent row has all the product information and Option1 Name is Variant, Option1 Value is X and price is Y and the child row has no title or Option1 Name (inherited from parent row) the only columns we MUST have in the import to update prices are

Handle, Title, Option1 Value and Price.

I have tested this extensively. You can't do it in less rows which makes sense when you think about it. This is the minimum information shopify *would* need to be able to differentiate between different items and update things.