Exports and Imports

The export and import features in SCP are powerful tools that allow you to make bulk changes to large datasets efficiently. This process is particularly useful when you need to update multiple records with similar changes, such as adjusting prices across many products or updating inventory quantities.

How To Make Bulk Changes With Exports and Imports

1. Navigate to your target data

Go to the grid screen for the type of data you want to update. In this example, we'll demonstrate changing product prices in bulk. Use the Filter, Search, Sort, and Columns tools to display only the specific records you want to modify. This targeted approach ensures you're only working with relevant data.

2. Export your data

Click the "Export Page" button to download your filtered data.

3. Download the CSV file

The system will generate a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file and send it to your browser. Depending on your browser settings, you can either save the file directly or open it in a spreadsheet application and then save it. We recommend saving it to a location where you can easily find it.

4. Open in a spreadsheet program

After saving the file, open it in a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc. When importing the CSV file, make sure to select "Comma" as the field separator to ensure proper data formatting.

5. Make your bulk edits

Use the powerful features of your spreadsheet program to efficiently edit the data. This approach can save significant time, especially when making the same type of change across multiple rows. You can:

• Apply formulas to calculate new values across multiple rows

• Use Find and Replace to update specific text or values

• Copy and paste information between cells

• Sort and organize data before making changes

In this example, we're using Find and Replace to update unit prices across multiple products:

6. Save your changes and import

Once you've completed your edits, save the file in CSV format. Return to the SCP admin interface and click the "Import" option to upload your modified data.

7. Upload your file

On the import screen, click "Browse" to select your edited file. If you've previously uploaded a file with the same name, be sure to enable the "overwrite existing file" option. Then click "Preview Import" to review your changes before they're applied.

8. Review before processing

The preview screen shows you exactly what data will be imported. All columns should be automatically selected if you haven't modified the header row of the CSV file. Carefully review the preview to ensure your changes look correct, then click "Process Import" to apply the changes.

9. Check the results

After processing, review the import results summary for any errors or warnings. This final step ensures all your changes were applied successfully and helps you identify any issues that may need attention.

Tips and Tricks for Exporting and Importing

Here are some best practices and important considerations to help you use the export/import feature more effectively:

Volume Limitations

• You can export a single page (set the "Per Page" value at the bottom of the grid screen to up to 1,000) or all pages of an entity. For importing, the files you upload are limited by the overall size limit for uploaded files (typcially 10MB). If you are working with larger volumes of data, please contact our support team to discuss the situation.

Data Management Best Practices

• There's no real problem with exporting and importing records or fields that aren't changing alongside those that are, except that this approach may take slightly longer.

• You cannot delete records using the Import function—it only supports inserting new records or updating existing ones. To delete records, use the "Delete" link available for each individual record in the admin interface.

Important Safety Considerations

• Cannot undo imports: The import process is irreversible, so it's crucial to be careful. Always save a backup copy of your original export file before making any changes. If you need to reverse changes, you can import this original backup to restore the previous state.

Working with Parent-Child Relationships

When working with entities that have parent records (such as Attributes, Options, or other hierarchical data), proper identification is critical:

• For Attributes: When exporting Attributes, always include one of the unique identifiers for the parent product: "Product ID," "Product Code," or "Product Sync Code." This ensures the system can properly associate each attribute with its parent product during import.

• For Options: Be aware that "Attribute Code" is not necessarily unique (multiple attributes can have the same code under different products). Instead, use "Attribute ID" or "Attribute Sync Code" for reliable identification.

Cross-Site Synchronization

If you're synchronizing data between different environments (such as from a production site to a staging site):

• Avoid using ID fields as identifiers, since these values are typically different between sites

• Use "Code" or "Sync Code" fields instead, as these remain consistent across environments

• Ensure that parent ID fields are excluded from your export, or the system will attempt to use them first, potentially causing synchronization errors

Pro Tip: Always test your import process with a small subset of data first, especially when working with complex parent-child relationships or when synchronizing between different environments.