Most likely there isn’t an e-tailer who haven’t heard about or worked with osCommerce e-commerce platform. This shopping cart was the first and is still used by hundreds online stores all around the globe. It’s open source, free and has large community. Nevertheless, in spite of that, there are certain aspects which are not unproblematic to handle in the admin section of osCommerce e.G. Product import.

Import is perhaps one of the most complicated procedures of osCommerce shopping cart software. It calls for some knowledge to perform product import. There are a few alternatives: you may import all your products manually (sometimes it may be up to few hundreds), use certain custom script, plugin or another contribution. The matter is none of the above mentioned approaches does not guarantee smooth and accurate import of your products.

I run into application which makes product import more simple than all the other ones. It’s called Store Manager for osCommerce. This application makes possible import of products to .Csv file and its export back to osCommerce.

It requires some knowledge to carry out product import. But if you thoroughly keep to the instructions of Import Wizard most likely it will be a success. Import is quite difficult procedure and it may be harmful if carry out inappropriately. So, you need to create database backup prior to osCommerce products import especially if it’s the first time you’re doing it.

So, here’s what you have to do to import the products successfully:

1. Get the .Csv file ready
First of all prepare a .Csv file for Import. Make sure it contains all obligatory fields and all data you need.

2. Choose “Import” in the Import/Export Wizard
Choose “Import” from the alternatives available in the wizard and proceed to the next step

3. Enter the .Csv file you need to import
You can either enter the .Csv file or use browse button to select one. Also you can Save Import Settings or load one of previously used.

4. Source file preview
It displays a part of .Csv file chosen for import. Pay attention to field delimiters and quote characters, if any are used.

5. Choose fields delimiter and quote character
Please note that if you indicate wrong values, import may not work.

6. Base Formats and separators
Enter the date & time formats and separators as they are set in your .Csv file. They can be set by default.

7. Import options
These settings might affect import end results. You have to: choose import method, how the products that are not listed in the source file should be handled, check whether log file should be created and save import configuration.

8. Link columns from .Csv file to corresponding database fields
Check the box if the first of .Csv file includes not values but field names. Select method of identification – recommended Product ID + Product Name. Assign .Csv column to database field: select a field at the “Database Fields” and then click a column at the .Csv column. You can use “Auto set…” option to set correspondence automatically for all fields. This option will work only if .Csv column name is the same as database field name.

9. Preview import data
On Import Preview page you can observe how .Csv file was processed using import settings, which you set at previous steps. Check whether all columns that you want to be imported are filled with data: some of them may be empty. Then click “Import” to launch product import.

10. Import completed
The last step of Import Products Wizard will show the errors which took place during import process, if there were some.

Choosing the best way for safe product import is the necessary criteria. You have to do everything possible to avoid data loss and possible data entry faults. It is really not as difficult as it seems. All you ought to do is carefully pay attention to the details as you continue to each step. This way you can be confident that your osCommerce product import will be a success and precise.