Importing a CSV for a mass edit on product descriptions, the File is over 6k lines. I’ve included the format of 1 item below, each time I upload I receive the same error in the summary. Line 2-6: You need to add option values for Size. Any suggestions?
Topic summary
A user is attempting to mass-edit product descriptions for 1,386 products via CSV import but encounters errors during upload.
Initial Problem:
- CSV file contains over 6,000 lines
- Error message indicates: “You need to add option values for Size” (Lines 2-6)
- User receives the same error with each upload attempt
Root Cause Identified:
- The CSV structure was incorrect for products with variants
- Additional image rows contained data in variant-related columns (S/T/U/V/Y) that should have been cleared
- When updating existing products, all columns present in the CSV require values, even if unchanged
Recommended Solution:
- For description-only updates: delete all columns except Handle, Title, and Body (HTML)
- Enable the “Overwrite any current products” checkbox during import
- Existing values will be preserved for missing columns
- For products with variants: ensure variant options (SM/M/LG) appear in Option 1 columns, not as separate products
Current Status:
A corrected sample CSV with one product and three variants was provided, with problematic image rows removed due to inaccessible URLs.
In your sample CSV - You indicate you have one parent product with three variant options. You then have two additional rows, which I assume are to add additional images.
If the additional rows are to add additional images, then you need to clear out data in columns S/T/U/V/Y - Rows created to add additional rows should not have values in columns other than handle, image columns and image position column.
More information on CSV’s can be found here.
Trevor thank you, Brand new to Shopify. If I’m trying to only update the short description for 1386 products, can I clean up the excel to only include the handle and short description? Leaving all other fields blank?
Does this look correct? Still not importing the variants
Unfortunately not - If the column exists in the CSV and is required, then a value will need to be in the row. Assuming your products already exist in your admin, then you could delete all columns other than
- Handle
- Title
- Body
Check the “Overwrite any current products that have the same handle. Existing values will be used for any missing columns. Learn more” box and click import. That should work - At least it did when I tested it
Just seeing your other reply here with the CSV - Is this suppose to be one product or four products?
If one product, then it is setup incorrectly as the SM/ME/LG should be in the Option 1 columns - If four, then it looks correct - You’d need to check the email the system sends you to determine the error
Trevor,
It’s one product with three variants. . The variants are small, medium and large. I exported the file from Shopify, made one spelling change in the short description, saved, and attempted to upload.
