Product feed import using a manual mechanism

Step-by-step feed implementation for old mechanism

Ilona Srebnicka avatar
Written by Ilona Srebnicka
Updated over a week ago

The manual mapping mechanism described in this article - from step #8 - is an old feed import system that is no longer the default feed processing system in edrone. It is sustained and used on a reasoned, individual cases.

To import a product feed into the system, follow the steps below.

1. Click on PRODUCTS

Click on  PRODUCTS

2. Click on Upload

Click on Upload

3. Upload your product feed link

Click on <a href="https://my.shop.com/gmc-feed.xml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://my.shop.com/gmc-feed.xml</a>

4. Click on Upload

Click on Upload

5. Wait to import your feed

Click on Just preparing...…

6. Click on Feed

Importing a feed, depending on the size of the file, can take from several seconds to a dozen minutes.

Click on Feed

7. Ready!

8. Additional step - need to map data from integration with data in the feed

If you are taken to the next implementation step, which looks like the screenshot below, that means there is still one more implementation step ahead of you! ;)

Where does the data mapping view come from?

As we described in this article, the product identifier sent through integrations must find its counterpart in some parameter in the product feed.

Depending on the feed standard, the counterparts may be under different parameters.

What does this view show?

On the right side of the view, you will see a preview of the products from the product feed.

The system will show you the name of the products and the ID, which can be under different parameters (e.g. id, item_group_id, mpn, gtin).

In the example below, the product IDs are in the ID field, so the others i.e. item_group_id, mpn, gtin are empty.

The left side of the view allows you to manage from which parameter is available on the right side, the system will map the product ID and gives you the option to truncate parts of the product IDs to map 1:1 with the ID sent from the integration.

Remember that the product identifier (ID) sent through the integration is not always the same as in the product feed.

Very often this situation occurs with products with variants, and sizes.

How to map feed data well with integration data?

First of all, you need to know what value the product ID sent by the integration takes. To check this, go to your store's website, and go to any product tab. Then click the right mouse button and select the INSPECT function.

A developer tool will open for you, where you need to find the NETWORK tab (for Chrome browser).

In the search engine located in NETWORK, type the phrase "trace" and refresh the page. Wait for the "product view" event to appear.

For the Firefox browser, locate the tab named "Network".

Click the event to open its details. Find the product_ids or products_skus parameters.

If in any event, we get both product_ids and products_skus, for the system the priority will be product_ids.

Having this information, we know to direct attention to the value of the assigned product_ids: 673

Then return to the edrone panel and mapping view and compare the IDs from the integration to the values shown in the left part of the view. The right part of the view shows different values for the ID column, among others, the value 673_175.

We know after comparing the product titles and their images that the product with products_ids equal to 673, is the same product as the one with ID in the feed equal to 673_175, only it has a variant added (because the product can be bought in a bundle of 50 units or 100 units).

Time for mapping.

We want the system to use the values for the ID located to the left of the separator which is the "_" character. So on the left side of the panel, in the "Select part of the product ID" field, we select the value "673"

Make sure that the value you see in the "Example of selected product ID" field is the same as the value uploaded by the integration, so in our case products_ids = 673.

If it is correct, and in our example it is, confirm your selection by clicking the "Confirm" button.

Overview of the view available after uploading the file

After correct implementation, you will be taken to the "Products" tab, where you will see the products added to the system, along with information such as ID, title, URL, price, and availability.

In addition, here you can see the total number of products, the number of new products (which the system did not know before), and the number of unavailable ones.

Clicking on the "Feed" tab will take you to a place where you can see the current processing status, update history, and the ability to change the frequency of downloads, and disable and delete the feed.

Click on Active	Status	Feed source	Last update	Uploaded	Frequency	…
Click on Status	Processing status	Feed source	…

Do you need additional help?

If you have any additional questions about the product feed, please contact us at hello@edrone.me.


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