Setting up an import with Options and Multiple...

I need help setting up the import (the .csv file) to import inventory into Hikashop. I was able to import seamlessly simple products, but have run into a roadblock when trying Here is this issue>

Product is Boots
Variant A - 8 different sizes
Variant B - 2 widths
Option A - chocolate
Option B - black

Each option is a unique sku.

Here are the headings I have.

product_code images parent_category categories product_name product_description price_value

How do I get the variances and options to load?

variants and options are products so you need to insert them as rows in your CSV.
Concerning the import of variants, it's all explained there: www.hikashop.com/support/documentation/7...shop-import.html#csv

Finally, you can also insert variants of products. You will have to specify in the product_parent_id column the product_code of the main product which must be inserted before the variants in the file. You will also have to have column names matching the characteristics in the store.
For example, suppose that you have a product with 1 characteristic being the size and two variants:
product_code,product_parent_id,size
main_product,,big
first_variant,main_product,big
second_variant,main_product,small

Concerning options, just add a normal product with its variants being the choices of the option. Then, add a column "options" in your CSV and you can add the product_code of the option in the product where you want the option and voilà. The option should be defined before the product using it on your CSV.

nicolas wrote:

variants and options are products so you need to insert them as rows in your CSV.
Concerning the import of variants, it's all explained there: www.hikashop.com/support/documentation/7...shop-import.html#csv

Finally, you can also insert variants of products. You will have to specify in the product_parent_id column the product_code of the main product which must be inserted before the variants in the file. You will also have to have column names matching the characteristics in the store.
For example, suppose that you have a product with 1 characteristic being the size and two variants:
product_code,product_parent_id,size
main_product,,big
first_variant,main_product,big
second_variant,main_product,small

Concerning options, just add a normal product with its variants being the choices of the option. Then, add a column "options" in your CSV and you can add the product_code of the option in the product where you want the option and voilà. The option should be defined before the product using it on your CSV.

I'm sure this is super clear to some people, but it's not to me. I reviewed the link and this is where I'm breaking down.

So i have the main products in the 1st three lines, then a column underneath with the 20 or so variants? I tried this and it wouldn't see the column "size" or "first_variant".

would it be possible to email me a sample spreadsheet? I then export the spreadsheet into a .csv file. So I have to set up the OPTION (in this case Chocolate or Black) BEFORE I can import the data.

You need to create the characteristics and theirs values via the menu Products->Characteristics BEFORE importing the CSV.

There is a sample CSV in the documentation:

product_code,product_parent_id,size
main_product,,big
first_variant,main_product,big
second_variant,main_product,small

You can create a characteristic of the name 'size' and with the values big and small and then import that CSV... That will generate a product with two variants.

I have tried 10 different ways and the data is importing but the variant option is not showing on the product page! Attached is a sample spreadsheet with only ONE variant. I need a SECOND variant. But If I can't get only ONE variant to import.....

You have several issues in your CSV:
- there is no product_parent_id column. This column is mandatory when importing variants as it's that column where you specify for which main product a variant is.
- you set the code of the main product in the images column (?)
- you set the price of variants in the categories column instead of the price_value column
- you didn't set any shoe size for your variants so the system doesn't know which variant is for which value of the shoe size characteristic.

I attach a new version which will work. Before importing it you need to create a "shoe size" characteristic with the values 29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40

STILL not showing up on the product page with an option for the variant. It IS showing the variant assigned to the product on the backend though.

That's probably because your previous imports messed up. Could you try by changing all the product_codes and product_parent_ids ?

Didn't work at first. Then I set the module to 2 columns and they variable appeared.

Well I take that back. I added a second variable and an image. IT IS NOT WORKING. I am VERY FRUSTRATED. The images won't import even though I uploaded them to the correct file and the variants show up on the back end BUT NOT ON THE PRODUCT PAGE.

I must be missing something somewhere and will create a temporary ID if I can get some help!

ETA - Got the image working. When I deleted test products it also deleted the image in the upload folder and I had to add them again.

And THIS is the error message when I tried to a SECOND PARENT CATEGORY.

"The column 'parent_category2' is not in the list of possible columns : product_parent_id | product_name | product_description | product_quantity | product_code | product_published | product_hit | product_created | product_sale_start | product_sale_end | product_delay_id | product_tax_id | product_type | product_vendor_id | product_manufacturer_id | product_url | product_weight | product_keywords | product_weight_unit | product_modified | product_meta_description | product_dimension_unit | product_width | product_length | product_height | product_max_per_order | product_access | product_group_after_purchase | product_min_per_order | product_contact | price_value | price_currency_id | price_quantity | price_access | files | images | parent_category | categories_image | categories | related | options | leg size | shoe size | boots size | boots width. The column data was ignored"

But in your documentation you showed to use 'parent_category2' as a column heading!

There is no parent_category2 column. Categories need to be entered in the categories column.
You can only have one category in the parent_category column.
If you need several category paths, you should create them beforehand in your CSV and just use the categories in your product information. For example:

parent_category,categories,product_code,price_value
products,"books,shoes,interior",,
books,"scifi,romance,classic",,
shoes,"men,women,children",,
interior,"desk,sofa,chair,table",,
price ranges,"0 to 100,100 to 200",,
,"children,0 to 100",my_snickers,50
,"table,100 to 200",my_super_table,150

Still having import issues.. now with MULTIPLE CHARACTERISTICS. Here is the situation.... client has multiple products with similar characteristics. For instance, he has 25 different shoe sizes. Every shoe will not have all 25 sizes. Also there are about 50 color options....some products only have 2-3 color options and so forth. So here is how I set up the file.

product_code,images,product_parent_id,parent_category,categories,product_name,product_description,price_value,shoe size,calf size,height
10000793,10000793.jpg,,Boots and Half Chaps,Tall Riding Boots,Ariat Women's Challenge II Field Boot Zip,"The Ariat Challenge II Field Boot pairs an updated, refined style with Ariat’s ATS Technology for ultimate flexibility and comfort. The boot features a high Spanish cut topline, swagger tab stitch detail, and elegant piping detail. A full-length back zipper gives easy on-and-off ability.",379.95,177,91,92
10005950,10005950.jpg,,Boots and Half Chaps,Tall Riding Boots,Ariat Women's Heritage Select Field Boot Zip,The Ariat Heritage Select Field Boot is made with full-grain leather and includes a leather cuff lining. The moderate Spanish cut topline and piping detail will have you ready for the show ring!,269.95,177,91,92
10005953,10005953.jpg,,Boots and Half Chaps,Tall Riding Boots,Ariat Women's Quantum Crowne Pro Field Boot Zip,The Ariat Quantum Crowne Pro Field Boot is the perfect performance riding boot. Ariat’s Cobalt Technology provides ultimate comfort and flexibility. Made from French baby calf leather.,569.95,177,91,92
first_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,5.5,249,,
second_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,6,250,,
third_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,6.5,251,,
fourth_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,7,252,,
fifth_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,7.5,253,,
sixth_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,8,254,,
seventh_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,8.5,255,,
eight_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,9,256,,
ninth_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,9.5,257,,
tenth_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,10,258,,
eleventh_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,11,260,,
first_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,5.5,249,,
second_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,6,250,,
third_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,6.5,251,,
fourth_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,7,252,,
fifth_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,7.5,253,,
sixth_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,8,254,,
seventh_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,8.5,255,,
eight_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,9,256,,
ninth_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,9.5,257,,
tenth_shoe size,,10005950,,,,,10,258,,
eleventh_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,11,260,,
first_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,5.5,249,,
second_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,6,250,,
third_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,6.5,251,,
fourth_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,7,252,,
fifth_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,7.5,253,,
sixth_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,8,254,,
seventh_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,8.5,255,,
eight_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,9,256,,
ninth_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,9.5,257,,
tenth_shoe size,,10005953,,,,,10,258,,
eleventh_shoe size,,10000793,,,,,11,260,,
first_calf size,,10000793,,,,,Slim,,159,
second_calf size,,10000793,,,,,Regular,,160,
third_calf size,,10000793,,,,,Full,,161,
fourth_calf size,,10000793,,,,,Wide,,162,
fifth_calf size,,10000793,,,,,Extra Wide,,163,
first_calf size,,10005950,,,,,Slim,,159,
second_calf size,,10005950,,,,,Regular,,160,
third_calf size,,10005950,,,,,Full,,161,
fourth_calf size,,10005950,,,,,Wide,,162,
fifth_calf size,,10005950,,,,,Extra Wide,,163,
first_calf size,,10005953,,,,,Slim,,159,
second_calf size,,10005953,,,,,Regular,,160,
third_calf size,,10005953,,,,,Full,,161,
fourth_calf size,,10005953,,,,,Wide,,162,
fifth_calf size,,10005953,,,,,Extra Wide,,163,
first_height,,10000793,,,,,Short,,,164
second_height,,10000793,,,,,Medium,,,168
third_height,,10000793,,,,,Tall,,,336
first_height,,10005950,,,,,Short,,,164
second_height,,10005950,,,,,Medium,,,168
third_height,,10005950,,,,,Tall,,,336
first_height,,10005953,,,,,Short,,,164
second_height,,10005953,,,,,Medium,,,168
third_height,,10005953,,,,,Tall,,,336


First of all, i set up the characteristics in advance...

Now I'm getting the following message:
"The default value of one of the characteristics of that product isn't available as a variant. Please check the characteristics and variants of that product"

and three price options appear!

In your main product information you define all three characteristics:

shoe size calf size height
177 91 92

Because of that, the system thinks that you want these three characteristics for the product.
But then, on the variants of your product, you only define one of the three characteristics.
Thus, the system is lost and display that error message.

No, I displayed all 3.

In fact in another version I moved the data to the actual columns (instead of the value column as shown in a spreadsheet sent to me) and the variants show up in the back end but not the specific ones...just one shoe size.

I've attached the spreadsheet the SET UP THREE WAYS. Please help me understand what I'm doing wrong. none of them work.

You need to group the variants together !
It should be :
product_code,product_parent_id,color,size
prod1,,blue,10
prod1_1,prod1,blue,10
prod1_2,prod1,blue,20
prod1_3,prod1,red,10
prod1_4,prod1,red,20

That will generate a product with two characteristics: color and size (you need to create the characteristics before importing)
and the color characteristic will have the values blue and red and the size one will have the values 10 and 20.

So I took a step back and decided to try to upload ONE product with THREE variables. Attached is the spreadsheet.

It uploaded the product and variables (yes, the characteristics are already entered).

I'm getting THIS error message:
The default value of one of the characteristics of that product isn't available as a variant. Please check the characteristics and variants of that product
The default value of one of the characteristics of that product isn't available as a variant. Please check the characteristics and variants of that product
The default value of one of the characteristics of that product isn't available as a variant. Please check the characteristics and variants of that product


2 of the 3 variables display correctly. Shoe size displays 3 DIFFERENT option drop down boxes, each with different variables inside them.


To recap, we have 24 different shoe sizes available. This shoe only uses 11 of them. That same concept applies to the Height - 5 available heights but only 3 are used. After the import the Height displays perfectly, the shoe size does not.

Site: 174.121.38.60/~hhware

You're still doing the same mistake.
You need to group the variants together !
In your latest CSV you should have 165 lines of variants (not 11+ 5 + 3 but 11 * 5 * 3).
One per combination of characteristics values.
When you sell boots, you don't sell boots of the size 5.5, then, boots of the height short, etc...
No, each item has the three characteristics.

Please provide an example in a spreadsheet. I am very confused as this is not how it was presented in a previous spreadsheet with the last spreadsheet I provided.

Here is an example of a product with your three characteristics.
It has only one value for the shoe size, five values for the calf size and 3 values for the height. Thus, it has 15 variants.
That will import OK.