Error when importing metaobject

Technical Q&A
1

Hi!

I am trying to import my products to shopify but whenever I try to do it i get this error message in my email:

Failed to import:

  • Line 2-9: Validation failed: Value require that you select a metaobject.

I do have some meta-objects defined but in my import file I do assign a value to all the columns. Has somebody faced something similar? What am i doing wrong?

“Importa dos.csv” is the file i am trying to import and the other file is the template shopify gives me.

TIA

2

Hello @jpcr92

That error means Shopify sees a metafield in your CSV that’s typed as a “metaobject” but the import can’t find a matching metaobject definition or handle to link against. In other words, you told Shopify “attach this metaobject here” but never told it which metaobject type or which existing record to use. Here’s what to do next:

1. Verify your metaobject definition
Go to Settings → Custom data → Metaobjects and confirm you have a definition (e.g. “Size Chart,” “Material Info”) and that each record you want exists with a unique handle.

2. Fix your CSV headers
In Shopify’s template, your column for metaobjects must follow this pattern exactly:

Metafield . (metaobject:<definition_handle>)

For example, if your definition’s handle is size_chart, your header should read:

Metafield details.size_chart (metaobject:size_chart)

3. Use the record handle as the value
In each row under that column, enter the exact handle of the metaobject record you want to attach (not its title). Handles are lowercase, hyphenated identifiers you set when creating the record.

4. Re-import
Save your CSV and run the product import again. Shopify will now recognize the column as “link a Size Chart metaobject” and succeed—no more “select a metaobject” errors.

3

Hi jpcr92,

This error happens because Shopify can’t find a matching metaobject. To fix it:

  • Go to Settings > Custom data > Metaobjects and make sure your metaobject definitions exist and have unique handles.
  • Check that your CSV headers follow the format: Metafield namespace.key (metaobject:definition_handle).
  • In each row, use the exact handle (not the name) of the metaobject you want to link.
  • Save and re-import the file.

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