Quote Originally Posted by triplex View Post
Is there a definitive guide on how to create attributes and feed them in to my site via csv?

My supplier has given me a csv and I need to transfer the attributes for each product to my zencart site.

So far I have managed to "match up" the data in the various columns and import all of the products, images and prices thanks to the info in this support thread.

But I can't do the same with the attributes side of things, and I can't find anything anywhere that tells me how to do it.

I have read about creating a basic attribute file but TBH I don't understand options/values etc. I really need an idiot sheet detailing step a to z if possible.

Do I have to import the main data first, and then set up a seperate csv for the attributes?
And then how do I input the attributes from the suppliers csv? Or are they picked up automatically somehow?
I don't know how long it hastaken to write this reply as I know that I am continuously being interupted as I write it.

A definitive guide for adding attributes. Debatable on whether this could be considered such, but let me try to explain the functionality in perhaps the most understandable way possible.

Consider how sucha process works in thhe admin panel. Now instead of doing this one product, one attribute, one category at a time. Then repeat that step of the process for however many items/type of things are to be acted upon. So for example, an item can't be assigned an option value until both the option value and the product independently exist to be paired together.

The next aspect of consideration is the use of the basic or full option. This comparison has been described a couple of times in the thread by me and others.

For the most part, each option on the EP4 screen requires a different CSV file, while some actions could get combined, this way each file is identified to a task, and each task has an identified file. More things couldbe combined in some cases, but it makes for a consistent process. Again the a-z process is basically the same as what would be found in the FAQ on performing each suchaction. In order to do one action, a different action has to have been done before that. As for matching columns, what I suggest is that one or more products be created with the applicable type of information added, possibly with the name of what is seen on screen, export the various types of information and then realize that filling in the information beneath the column header will populate the model with that information.

That's about as simple of an explanation as I can offer. I'd be glad to offer more if there are more questions. Again apologize for the delay in replies. (Fyi, I started to write this within a minute of my last post in this thread.)