Update Products Or Delete And Re-Import

If I want to change the values of some product fields I can do it in a CSV file, delete all old product from CS-Cart and then re-import the new CSV files. This seems like the wrong way to do it since it's not practical to delete all products manually and product image CSV would then need to be re-imported as well.



Is it possible to update the products by importing a CSV file which contains a key field (Product id or Product code?) and only the field or fields to be updated? For example, if I wanted to change the Status of some products, could I do a CS-Cart export of only “Product code” and “Status” fields, edit the Status of desired products in the exported CSV file, them re-import the edited CSV back into CS-Cart? IS “Product code” (which comes from my POS system) the field I should use for a key in this process or would it be Product id?



In case I need to delete all products at any time, there must be a way to delete them all at once but I can't find it.



Thanks for any answers.

[quote name='merchantman' timestamp='1390553912' post='175927']Is it possible to update the products by importing a CSV file which contains a key field (Product id or Product code?) and only the field or fields to be updated? For example, if I wanted to change the Status of some products, could I do a CS-Cart export of only “Product code” and “Status” fields, edit the Status of desired products in the exported CSV file, them re-import the edited CSV back into CS-Cart? IS “Product code” (which comes from my POS system) the field I should use for a key in this process or would it be Product id?[/quote]



Yes, that's how the system works.




[quote name='merchantman' timestamp='1390553912' post='175927']In case I need to delete all products at any time, there must be a way to delete them all at once but I can't find it.[/quote]



The easiest way to delete all products at once in the admin section is to delete all of the categories.

[quote name='The Tool' timestamp='1390569838' post='175957']

Yes, that's how the system works.

[/quote]



Thanks. Wanted to be certain. I had heard that many shopping carts, including several I considered before deciding on CS-Cart, had a problem with updates in a key field, and that if not doing it frequently a re-import saved headaches.


[quote name='The Tool' timestamp='1390569838' post='175957']

The easiest way to delete all products at once in the admin section is to delete all of the categories.

[/quote]



Ok, simple enough. I looked around to see if there was the ability to import-export categories in the backend and didn't see anything except the database backup. So to restore categories easiest way is just save a category backup and restore?

You can just import the categories with your products. If they aren't there, they will be created.

[quote name='The Tool' timestamp='1390580744' post='175970']

You can just import the categories with your products. If they aren't there, they will be created.

[/quote]



Great. Makes it simple.