Importing Categories
Export FirstIt is much easier to make changes or create sub-categories after exporting your Categories to CSV.
Exporting Categories
Access your Categories in Products > Categories. Then select the Categories, open the Bulk Actions and click Export Categories.
How To Import Categories
Start by exporting your existing categories and use the CSV file as a template.
When you import new Categories, you must list them using'_1,_2,_3as the category_id.Examples of this are included in our Template and Guide.
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Export your Top Level Categories - this will give you their category data so that you can make changes or add more categories.
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Create an Import CSV file for "Sub-Categories" or child categories. It's the same format, but you will fill in the
parent_category_idfields from step 1 into the rows of the categories you are going to create in this step. You can also make any changes to your export to update existing category data. -
Import your files and check the changes in Products > Categories.
Repeat step 2 as needed if you have multiple sub-levels of categories (like Mens > Shirts > Polos).
Category Import Template and Guide
Required Columns
| category_id | category_name | parent_category_id | is_active |
|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | Room | 2 | 1 |
| _2 | Kitchen and Bath | 117 | 1 |
| _3 | Office | 117 | 1 |
| _4 | Yard | 117 |
All Columns (Optional and Required)
| category_id | category_name | parent_category_id | is_active | description | url_key | meta_title | meta_description | default_sort_by | include_in_navigation | include_in_navigation_mobile | zoey_include_in_filters | zoey_children_in_filters | zoey_price_in_filters | is_anchor | image | thumbnail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| _1 | Category 1 | 1 | 1 | Category 1 | category-1 | Category 1 | Category 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |  | |
Category Access Restriction Import
You can import your Category Access Restrictions through the columns described at the link below.Click Here for importing Category Access Restrictions.
Category Import / Export Columns
Here are the column headers for importing and exporting Categories.
| Column | Description | Values Required |
|---|---|---|
category_id | When you import new categories, you must list them using _1, _2, _3 as the category_id.If you are modifying categories, this must be filled in with the category ID. | Required for modifying categories; must be blank for creating new categories. |
category_name | Avoid HTML or special characters. Name is also used for SEO meta_title automatically. | Required |
parent_category_id | Leave blank to make it a top-level category. If you want a new category to be a child of another category, like >Mens>Shirts, you must put the category_id of the Mens category into the parent_category_id field of the Shirts category. This can be done when creating or modifying the category.Category IDs can be found by going to Advanced > Import/Export > Categories and exporting your categories. | Required for creating and modifying; otherwise, it will move the category. |
is_active | 1 = yes, 0 = no | Required |
description | This is the Category Description that can be added to your Category Template using the drag-and-drop design editor. | Required as a column header even if no row data is put in. |
meta_keywords | What search engines will read as the keywords to use. | |
meta_title | What search engines will read as the title to use for this category. | |
meta_description | For SEO purposes. Limit to 255 characters. | |
design_template | The value for this column is the label for the category template in Edit My Design, such as Category or Category - New Template.Note: this is case sensitive. | |
include_in_navigation | Include this category in the Header Navigation, as long as categories are enabled for the header navigation in your theme.1 = yes, 0 = no | Required |
is_anchor | “Is Anchor” means: show products from all child categories.1 = yes, 0 = no | Required |
url_key | The URL string of the category. For example, mens would be domain.com/mens. | |
default_sort_by | This is the default sort order of the category products:positionprice_high_to_lowprice_low_to_highnewest_to_oldestnameOr a custom attribute code for any attribute that is used for sorting. | |
available_sort_by | Leave blank for all, or specify comma-separated values, such as name,position. | |
image | Images must first be uploaded to your File Manager at Advanced > File Manager. Then use the full URL from the file manager for this column. | |
thumbnail | Images must first be uploaded to your File Manager at Advanced > File Manager. Then use the full URL from the file manager for this column. |
Category Restriction Columns
The categories on your store can be restricted by Customer Group, Account, Account Location, or by the individual Customer Contact.
| Column | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
zb2b_category_restricted | Category restrictions enabled.1 = yes, 0 = no | 1 |
zb2b_restricted_cat_groups | Customer groups that are allowed to view the category. Listed by group name, comma separated. | retail,canada |
customer_permissions | Specific customer contacts that are allowed to view the category. Listed by ID, comma separated. | 84 |
account_permissions | Accounts that have permission for the category. Listed by ID, comma separated. | 24 |
company_location_permissions | Account locations with permission. Listed by ID, comma separated. | 943 |