Collections - Export and Import

Topic summary

Main issue: Creating hundreds of new collections via CSV and organizing multi-level categories after migrating from BigCommerce.

Key guidance/limitations:

  • You can create collections during a product CSV (comma-separated values) import by using the “collection” column exception. If a collection doesn’t exist, a manual collection is created. If an automatic collection already exists, products must meet its conditions to be included.
  • Shopify does not support a collections-only CSV import/export. A sample product CSV is available; adding the collection column to it is supported. A “dummy” product per collection can be used to bulk-create manual collections.
  • Using tags can power filters but does not itself create collections.

Multi-level categories/navigation:

  • Shopify collections have no hierarchical levels or folders. Multi-level structures are achieved via Online Store navigation (drop-down/mega menus). You can still assign up to ~200 collections via the collection column and build menus to mirror levels like Level1/Level2.

App/migration notes:

  • Matrixify was used for BC migration; ongoing subscription isn’t required if you’re not using the app (uninstall or switch to Demo). Collections should migrate if returned by the BC API; contact Matrixify support if they didn’t.

Status: Feature request for collection import/export noted; screenshots were shared for CSV/menu navigation. Thread ends with acknowledgments.

Summarized with AI on January 16. AI used: gpt-5.

Got it, thanks