HTML in "Body (HTML)" field breaks during CSV import – how can I safely upload complex HTML?

HTML in "Body (HTML)" field breaks during CSV import – how can I safely upload complex HTML?

mdglobal
Visitor
2 0 0

Hello,

I'm trying to bulk upload using a CSV file. Each product needs rich HTML content in the "Body (HTML)" field, including <button> and nested <a> tags with styles and links.

The problem is that after importing, the HTML structure gets badly broken:

  • <a> tags get embedded inside style attributes

  • & characters are auto-converted to &amp;, causing links to break

  • Closing tags like </a> are missing or misinterpreted

  • In Shopify, the button/link no longer works as intended

Here’s what I’ve already tried:

  • Replacing all double quotes (") with single quotes (')

  • Escaping ampersands (& → &amp;)

  • Flattening the HTML into a single line

All of these methods still result in broken HTML upon import.

I’m aware that Shopify has limitations when importing HTML via CSV, and that metafields or APIs may be a better option. But before I go that route, I’d like to know:

  1. Is there a known safe way to embed full HTML (including nested <a> tags) in the “Body (HTML)” field during CSV import?

  2. Are there Shopify apps or recommended workflows for handling this kind of use case (e.g. Metafields Guru, Admin API, etc.)?

Any advice or real-world examples would be greatly appreciated. I just want a scalable way to manage this without manually editing 1,000+ products.

 

Thank you!

Replies 5 (5)

jimy980
New Member
5 0 0

You're right—Shopify's CSV import often breaks complex HTML, especially with nested links, buttons, and special characters. Even with escaping characters or flattening the code, it still misinterprets tags. Unfortunately, there's no fully reliable way to include rich HTML like that in the "Body (HTML)" field via CSV. For better results, using the Shopify Admin API or an app like Metafields Guru is recommended. These tools let you upload clean, structured HTML at scale without the formatting issues that happen with CSV imports.

pawankumar
Shopify Partner
755 111 128

Hi @mdglobal 

Instead of opening it in local excel, upload it in Google sheets, make edits there and then download it back, it should fix your issue

 

Thanks!

- Need a Shopify developer? Chat on WhatsApp +91-9467121281
- Coffee Tip: Buymeacoffee  | Email: thepkpawankumar@gmail.com
- Was my reply helpful? Click Like to let me know!
- Was your question answered? Mark it as an Accepted Solution
Best regards,
Pawan
mdglobal
Visitor
2 0 0

Thanks for the answer, but I've already been using Google sheets and it didn't fix the problem. 

tim
Shopify Partner
4765 589 1718

Agree with @pawankumar -- this is not a Shopify import, rather the way Excel creates CSV files. Google Sheets are much safer.

Also -- Matrixify (https://apps.shopify.com/excel-export-import) makes a lot of import/export tasks easier.

If my post is helpful, hit the thumb up button -- it will help others with similar problem to find a solution.
I can be reached via e-mail tairli@yahoo.com

Ablestar_Daniel
Shopify Partner
156 28 58

Hi @mdglobal,

Would you be able to share the first couple rows of the CSV file here? That might make it easier to see exactly what's going on?

You should be able to embed the HTML in the CSV file but things like escaping, line breaks and character encodings can make it a little tricky.

Best,
Daniel

Founder @ Ablestar ✦
Manage product data, spreadsheets, Google Shopping data, and metafields with Ablestar Bulk Product Editor. Use previews, undos, and automations to be confident your product data is correct.
Please don't forget to Like and Mark Solution to the post that helped you. Thanks!