I sell plants. These plants are sold by pot size. Plant name “A” has an inventory total of 10. There are 3 plants in a pot size called “2.5 inch pot” and 7 plants in pot size called “4 inch pot”.
I want to be able to import a thousand or more plants, each with different pot sizes and totals per pot size.
I created a test product and exported it to see what these fields would look like so I could set up an import file to pull all the plants and pot sizes and inventory totals into the cart database at once.
The option field from the exported file confused me. It looks like this
Options
{737}Pot Size: R[{3053}2.5 inch pot,{3058}4 inch pot]
I can not tell from this output how to format an imput file for import. Can somebody help me or point me to a solution in the knowledgebase. I have had no luck.
I found this file in the knowledgebase
[url]CS-Cart Documentation — CS-Cart 4.15.x documentation
but it does not explain what the numbers inside the {} mean and how they relate to inventory totals. However, i now understand the “R” means radio button.
I am using CS-CART: version 2.0.11 and am quite new to the program. So far I like it. But it is top heavy with choices from the humble point of view of being a new user. I disabled most of them until I could figure out the most important stuff.
[url]http://www.orchidexchange.com/Cart[/url]
I think I figured the most important part out: I can’t import or export inventory totals that I am tracking by individual options using the cs-cart v 2.0.11 import/export abilities.
It probably can be done by going directly into the MySQL database. (I am afraid of the MySQL database. I will break it if I try to make changes directly to it.)
The numbers inside the {} are variant id numbers inside the MySQL database and look to be similar to an access database “primary key” field. They helped me find the tables where the option inventory totals are kept. But that’s as close I am going to get to a global import of inventoried option totals on my own. 
[quote name=‘alpickrel’]I think I figured the most important part out: I can’t import or export inventory totals that I am tracking by individual options using the cs-cart v 2.0.11 import/export abilities.
It probably can be done by going directly into the MySQL database. (I am afraid of the MySQL database. I will break it if I try to make changes directly to it.)
The numbers inside the {} are variant id numbers inside the MySQL database and look to be similar to an access database “primary key” field. They helped me find the tables where the option inventory totals are kept. But that’s as close I am going to get to a global import of inventoried option totals on my own. [/QUOTE]
I am trying to do the same thing as you…I cannot figure out how to import the options…it would be great and save so much time…can someone help? Not all of us know how to go in the database and poking around in there is not a good idea…
any suggestion?
{737}Pot Size: R[{3053}2.5 inch pot,{3058}4 inch pot]
when importing the above you import it like this
Pot Size: R[2.5 inch pot,4 Inchs Pot]
get rid of these {xyz}
and R -= Radio button if you want drop down the use S: select.
The {xyz} id the database reference for that option.
Dunno if tere is a better way but I do this in exel and works OK.
JOhn
[quote name=‘johnbol1’]{737}Pot Size: R[{3053}2.5 inch pot,{3058}4 inch pot]
when importing the above you import it like this
Pot Size: R[2.5 inch pot,4 Inchs Pot]
get rid of these {xyz}
and R -= Radio button if you want drop down the use S: select.
The {xyz} id the database reference for that option.
Dunno if tere is a better way but I do this in exel and works OK.
JOhn[/QUOTE]
Hi John thanks for the reply
When you talk about {xyz} database id what do you exactly mean? How do I get the id if the product and its options are not there yet…I am sure I am missing something…I work with Excel too to create my csv files for import
Would you be so kind to post a sample line of an Excel file to import product options too?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you trying to import the price adjustments with the options?
[quote name=‘tbirnseth’]Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you trying to import the price adjustments with the options?[/QUOTE]
Yes, I would like to import the price adjustments that come with the products…
however, I would also like to see a sample line of excel to learn how to setup the file to import options…I dont understand the {xyz} database…do I have to input something in the {xyz} ?
Do I just leave it black?
the [zyz] you are referring to is a database key.
Because cs-cart does not have a name and a title for options, many options can have duplicate names. For instance, Colors = red, green, blue for product 1 and Colors = red, brown, white for product 2. Both products would display their options with the name “Colors”. So to get around this, cs-cart exports the database key with options when you export. You can import without it but you might duplicate it by creating a new copy of options for a product. So to keep things clean and tidy (since they do NOT lookup the options for a product before import to match the name) you should use the database key from the export to use in your import. But as John said, it’s optional.
Hope that clarifies a little bit.
Hi Cheru, I meant anything betwen the curly brackets can be deleted in excel { } Ijust put xyz in there for reference.
as Tony said “optional” but I had problems with mine back in 2.12 and just stuck with it.
you may wanna see here [url]http://forum.cs-cart.com/showthread.php?t=19563[/url]
for importing the price modifiers at the same time.
Thanks
John
[quote name=‘tbirnseth’]the [zyz] you are referring to is a database key.
Because cs-cart does not have a name and a title for options, many options can have duplicate names. For instance, Colors = red, green, blue for product 1 and Colors = red, brown, white for product 2. Both products would display their options with the name “Colors”. So to get around this, cs-cart exports the database key with options when you export. You can import without it but you might duplicate it by creating a new copy of options for a product. So to keep things clean and tidy (since they do NOT lookup the options for a product before import to match the name) you should use the database key from the export to use in your import. But as John said, it’s optional.
Hope that clarifies a little bit.[/QUOTE]
I understand better now, but I do not have any export file to reference to. In my case I am creating my import excel file so my question is how do I setup the options in my excel file? I can just use random number in the [zyz] or that would not work? Sorry if my question may sound stupid…I just started to get my hands into this…
The best thing to do is to set up 1 product in your store with what options you want then export that 1 product. (search the product, tick the box next to it in search then select other action at the bottom of screen the click export selected.)
In the export window change semi colon to comma, then export it. Open in excel as csv and copy the format. But decide whether to remove the { blah blah}or not when re inporting with correct data.
JOhn
[quote name=‘johnbol1’]The best thing to do is to set up 1 product in your store with what options you want then export that 1 product. (search the product, tick the box next to it in search then select other action at the bottom of screen the click export selected.)
In the export window change semi colon to comma, then export it. Open in excel as csv and copy the format. But decide whether to remove the { blah blah}or not when re inporting with correct data.
JOhn[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the reply John
I was testing some imports and I found out that if I leave the {} empty, then the options are displayed in the front store with the {} added…
For example imported product 1 leaving {} empty and I get a drop down menu like this:
{}small
{}medium
{}large
I haven’t tried import the prices adjustments yet, just wanted to test the system to understand how it works…
if I remove the {} in the options then the product is imported correctly and the drop down menu is displayed like this:
small
medium
large
I looked at your contribution John, but I think on the board they said it does not work with 2.1.3 which is the latest updated version I am using…
I subscribed to the post in case there will be any updates from someone that knows how to code
UPDATES:I tried to do an export of an existing product with options and price adjustments: the prices adjustments are not displayed at all in the csv file even if I know they exist in the store…only the size options are displayed…
Think I am missing something…can someone hep me?
oh one last question: if I omit the {} the store db will automatically assign values…and they may be duplicates of already existing options? is that what tbirnset was talking about?
Go too the knowledge base (kb2.cs-cart.com) and look up product options. The input format is clearly defined there for all fields.
If after reading that, you still have questions, then feel free to ask.
You get rid of the whole ‘{xyz}’, not just the ‘xyz’ portion…
price differences do not import or export thats what the other thread is about and it does say in that thread that someone is having a quote from CS to get it ready for 2.1.3
john