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  5. Import Inventory from a Text File or Database Table
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  3. Import Inventory from a Text File or Database Table

Import Inventory from a Text File or Database Table

When importing data from a text file, if the data contains commas, the file should be saved as a tab-delimited file, not a csv, or you will encounter errors.

Quotes should not be present in text files, regardless of whether it is a csv or tab-delimited file, or you will encounter errors.

  1. Go to Main Menu > Manage My Inventory >  Import My Inventory – File.
  2. Type in the path to the text file or database that contains the data to be imported, or click the Folder to navigate to the location of the file. If a database is used, the table containing the data must also be selected.
  3. The program displays the records from the input file at the bottom of the screen. If the input file contains headers, the program attempts to map them to the appropriate SEOM fields automatically. Manually map any fields the program is not able to distinguish later in this process.
  4. Click Next to proceed to the Import Options tab.
  5. Change the default settings of the Field Delimiter field and First Row Contains Field Names check box as needed to match your input file.
  6. Choose the mode the import process should follow by selecting or clearing the Start by Deleting All Existing Products, Create New Products, or Modify Existing Products, check boxes.
  7. Optional: To add a supplier record at this time, click Add New and enter basic information about the new supplier. Once added, the new supplier is listed in the Default Supplier drop-down list.
  8. Determine how the program handles Quantity on Hand information during the import. Select Replace to substitute the value in the input file for the value in the existing product record, or select Add to and change the QOH in the product record to the sum of the existing value plus the QOH value in the input file.
  9. Click Next to proceed to the first page of the Inventory Fields tab and map those fields, as needed.
  10. Click Next to proceed to the second page of the Inventory Fields tab and map those fields as needed.
  11. If custom inventory fields are defined, click Next to proceed to the first page of the Custom Fields tab which contains custom Text and Integer inventory fields. Map those fields to fields in the input file, as needed.
  12. Click Next to proceed to the second page of the Custom Fields tab, which contains custom Currency and Date inventory fields.
  13. Click Next to proceed to the Web Fields tab and map those fields as needed. Most of these fields are shopping cart specific and may not apply to your shopping cart system.
  14. Click Next to proceed to the Pricing Fields tab, which relates to the multi-level pricing feature of the program. Price Level 1 is not listed here because it is covered by the Regular Price, On Sale and Sale Price fields on the first page of the Inventory Fields tab.
  15. Click Next  to proceed to the Finish and Import tab.
  16. Select the Backup Before Importing check box to make a backup copy of the program tables affected by this process. Click Restore from Backup on the Select File to Import tab if it is necessary to roll-back the changes. For example, if you discover that a field was mapped incorrectly, restore the backup, correct the field mappings and repeat the import process.
  17. Optional: Click Test Data and the program checks for limited data errors.
  18. Select Begin Import to start the process.
  19. If a backup copy was requested, respond OK to the confirmation message.
  20. The program provides a summary of the outcome of the import process that includes a count of any new records added and existing records edited.
  21. Click OK.
Updated on June 7, 2022

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