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Import / Export Overview

Updated

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Pulse Commerce's Import/Export functionality. Import and Export tools allow you to manage bulk data operations efficiently—from adding products and updating inventory to migrating customer data and generating reports. Whether you're setting up your store for the first time or managing ongoing operations, these tools streamline data management across your entire catalog.

Important: The Import/Export functionality is accessed by clicking Import/Export from the top navigation bar, then selecting either Import or Export from the options.

When to Use Import

Import functionality allows you to add or update data in bulk using CSV files. Use imports when you need to:

  • Initial Store Setup: Load your complete product catalog, customer base, or vendor information.
  • Bulk Updates: Update pricing, inventory levels, or product details across hundreds or thousands of items.
  • Data Migration: Transfer data from another platform or system.
  • Regular Maintenance: Perform daily or weekly stock level updates from external systems.
Import Size Limits: For best performance, keep each import file under the smaller of 5MB in size or 250,000 cells (rows × columns). Larger files should be split into multiple imports.

When to Use Export

Export functionality extracts data from Pulse Commerce into CSV files. Use exports when you need to:

  • Data Backup: Create snapshots of your product, customer, or order data.
  • Analysis & Reporting: Extract data for business intelligence tools or spreadsheet analysis.
  • System Integration: Feed data to accounting software, ERPs, or third-party tools.
  • Bulk Editing: Export data, make changes in Excel, then re-import the updated file.
Performance Tip for Large Catalogs: If your catalog contains more than 5,000 products, use the "Filter by Category" option to export one or two categories at a time. This prevents timeout issues and ensures successful exports.

What Are Simplified Imports?

Many specialized import types are condensed versions of the full Product Import. Instead of managing all 80 fields, these focused imports contain only the fields relevant to a specific task—making them faster to process and easier to use.

Key Benefit: Simplified imports let you update specific product data without the complexity of the full Product Import. The files are smaller, process faster, and allow you to work with more records at once (within the overall 5MB / 250,000 cell limit).

Examples of Simplified Imports

  • Product Options Import (9 fields) - The full Product Import includes product options, but this focused import makes it much easier to manage variations like size, color, and style without dealing with 80 columns.
  • Product Description Import (16 fields) – Update product descriptions and SEO content without touching pricing, inventory, or images. Perfect for content teams who don't need access to other product data.
  • Product Custom Attributes Import (flexible fields) - Manage custom attributes for Amazon integration or other channels without modifying core product data.
  • Inventory Import (5 fields) – Adjust stock levels across warehouses with just a few fields instead of the full Product Import.
Limitations: Simplified imports cannot create new SKUs (they update existing data only), and empty fields may overwrite existing values depending on the import type and column type. Refer to each import’s Legend for the exact behavior.

When to Use Simplified Imports vs Full Product Import

Use Full Product Import When: Use Simplified Import When:
  • Setting up initial product catalog
  • Migrating from another platform
  • Updating multiple different fields at once
  • Creating completely new products
  • Daily/weekly inventory updates
  • Content-only updates (descriptions, SEO)
  • Managing product variations (options)
  • Updating one specific aspect (attributes, bundles, etc.)
  • Working with large datasets (1000+ products)

Performance Advantages

Simplified imports offer significant performance benefits:

  • Faster processing: Fewer fields mean faster import times.
  • Larger batches: Import 1000+ records vs 500-750 for full Product Import
  • Lower error rate: Fewer fields = fewer opportunities for data errors.
  • Easier maintenance: Smaller CSV files are easier to work with in Excel
Pro Tip: Use the Export feature to see the exact structure of each import type. Export your current data, make changes in Excel, then re-import. This workflow prevents formatting errors and ensures all fields are correctly mapped.

Pulse Commerce offers multiple specialized import types, each designed for specific data management needs. Review the import Legend for any import type below to view its field guide and required columns.

Product & Catalog Imports

  • Product Import (80 fields) - Add or update complete product information including pricing, descriptions, categories, and attributes. This is the most comprehensive import type.
  • Product Options Import (9 fields) - Manage product variations such as size, color, or style options
  • Product Bundle Components Import (6 fields) - Define which products are included in bundle packages
  • Product Description Import (16 fields) - Update product descriptions, short descriptions, and SEO content in bulk.
  • Product Group Import (51 fields) - Create and manage product groups for bundling and organization
  • Product Group Description Import (15 fields) - Update descriptions for product groups,short descriptions, and SEO content in bulk
  • Category Import - Create category hierarchies and manage category settings.

Inventory & Warehouse Imports

  • Inventory Import (5 fields) - Update stock levels, costs, and inventory actions—the most frequently used import for daily operations
  • Product Warehouse Import (10 fields) - Manage inventory across multiple warehouse locations

Customer & Pricing Imports

  • Customer Import (40 fields) - Import customer records including contact information, addresses, and account settings
  • Customer Group Pricing Import (6 fields) - Set special pricing for specific customer groups or wholesale tiers
  • Favorites Import (8 fields) - Import customer favorite product lists

Order & Fulfillment Imports

  • Sales Order Shipment Import (10 fields) - Import tracking information and shipment details for orders
  • Drop Ship Vendor Purchase Order Fulfillment Import (9 fields) - Process drop ship purchase orders from vendors

Vendor & Supplier Imports

  • Vendor Import (34 fields) - Add or update supplier information and settings
  • Manufacturer Import (9 fields) - Manage manufacturer records and associations
  • Product Vendor Import (10 fields) - Link products to their vendors with cost and lead time information
Import Types Screenshot

Export functionality mirrors the import structure, allowing you to extract the same data types you can import. Each export includes filtering options to narrow your results.

Product & Catalog Exports

  • Product Export - Export complete product catalog with optional category filtering
  • Product Options Export - Export product variations and option configurations
  • Product Description Export - Extract product content for SEO audits or content management
  • Category Export - Export category structure and settings

Inventory & Warehouse Exports

  • Inventory Export - Export current stock levels across all locations
  • Product Warehouse Export - Export warehouse-specific inventory data

Customer & Order Exports

  • Customer Export - Export customer records and account information
  • Sales Order Export - Export completed order data for accounting or analysis
  • Incomplete Sales Order Export - Export pending or abandoned orders
  • Customer Return Export - Export return and refund data

Vendor & Supplier Exports

  • Vendor Export - Export supplier information
  • Product Vendor Export - Export product-vendor relationships and costs
Export Types Screenshot

Follow this workflow for any import type in Pulse Commerce:

1 Navigate to Import/Export from the top navigation bar → Select Import.

2 Choose the import type that matches your data (e.g., Product Import, Customer Import, Inventory Import).

3 Download the CSV template for your selected import type by clicking Download Template.

Template Requirements: Each import type has a specific template with pre-defined column headers. Do not modify column headers or add/remove columns, as this will cause import errors.

4 Open the template in Excel or Google Sheets and fill in your data.

Excel-Specific Issues:

  • Scientific notation: SKU or barcode values like 810098572774 may display as 8.10099E+11. Format these columns as "Text" before entering data.
  • Leading zeros: Excel removes leading zeros from numbers. Format the column as "Text" to preserve values like 0123456789.
  • How to fix: Select the column → Right-click → Format Cells → Text → OK

5 Fill in all required fields (marked with * in the template legend).

6 Save the file as CSV format. UTF-8 encoding is recommended to preserve special characters.

7 Return to the Import page and click Choose File to select your completed CSV.

8 Click Submit to begin the import process.

9 Monitor the import status and review the import log for any errors or warnings.

Import Outcomes: Imports may complete with all rows processed, complete with row-level errors, or fail due to systemic issues (e.g., header mismatch or missing). The import log shows which rows succeeded and which need correction.

Exporting data from Pulse Commerce is straightforward:

1 Navigate to Import/Export from the top navigation bar → Select Export.

2 Choose the export type that matches the data you need (e.g., Product Export, Customer Export, Inventory Export).

3 Apply filters if needed (e.g., filter by category, date range, or status).

Critical for Large Catalogs: If you have more than 5,000 products, use the "Filter by Category" option to export one or two categories at a time. Attempting to export the entire catalog may result in timeout errors.

4 Click Generate Export File to begin the export process.

5 Wait for the export to complete (processing time varies based on data volume and system load — typically 1-5 minutes).

6 Click Download to save the CSV file to your computer.

7 Open the file in Excel, Google Sheets, or your preferred tool for analysis or editing.

Export-Edit-Import Workflow: A common pattern is to export data, make bulk changes in Excel, then re-import the updated file. Always keep a backup of the original export before making changes.

This master index provides quick navigation to all Pulse Commerce Import Knowledge Base articles. Each guide includes templates, legends, required field definitions, overwrite rules, and examples.

Product & Catalog Imports

Inventory & Warehouse Imports

Customer & Account Imports

Orders & Fulfillment Imports

Vendor & Manufacturer Imports

Administrative Index

  • This Article: Import / Export Overview (Master Guide)
Tip: Each Import KB includes download links for its CSV Template and Legend. Always use the latest template and avoid modifying column headers.

Watch this comprehensive video tutorial covering the complete Import/Export workflow:

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Need Help?

If you encounter issues not covered in this guide, our support team is here to help. Please include your import/export log when contacting support for faster resolution.

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