Zen Cart Usage

1. Product Information
2. Registration
3. Usage
4. Related Resources

You have to run Import Wizard to setup custom settings for import process.
Specify Import source: File, HTTP URL or FTP URL

Click “Create or Modify Import Configuration” button to run Import Wizard and configure import settings.

Check box “After import post changes to web” if you are using bridge connection and walt to post information to web shopping cart.

Select .csv file for import if you choose “File” type for import.
Then press “Open” button to select file.

Also, you can use saved import configuration in drop-down menu. Select configuration title and press “Load from File” to use necessary configuration.

Click “Next” button to proceed.
.csv file Preview window will open. You can check file structure.

Click “Next” button to proceed to Fields Delimiter block.
In this window you can select necessary delimiter from the list or enter one.

This option will be useful, if you have nonstandard delimiter in .csv file. For example =, *, etc.
You can enter you nonstandard delimiter in drop-down box.

Also, check enter quote string values for text fields. Default value is " (double quotes). You can change it in input box and category delimiter

If you mark check box “Upload Images” check you Store Manager FTP settings in Preferences or press button “FTP settings” below.

Click “Next” button to proceed.
In the next window you can assign csv-file values with Shopping Cart field.

Choose Products Identification Method - how import procedure can determine whether product already exist or it should be created as new:

Link product fields to appropriate columns of .csv file:

You have to assign(link) those fields you want to import. Fields that are not linked will not be imported (changed).

Additionally, you can use mathematical expression for numeric fields (for example: price column).
Example: if you'd like to increase price 10 times enter formula: =x*10
Where x is cell value from .csv file - by this formula it will be multiplied by 10 and then stored into product price field

After formula operation you can see changed price in selected column:

Click “Next”  button to continue import process. You can select date format type during csv-file import according to you Shopping Cart settings. For example: dd.MM.yyyy for Europe, yyyy.MM.dd for USA and Canada.
You can change separator format , or . for decimal, thousand, date and time.

Pressing on “Next” button you'll see preview result window. Take into account, review window is used to demonstrate what you get after import.

Note that at this step you can preview results but products were not imported into your store in fact.

If you are not satisfied with the import results click “Back” button to change import settings. If you get expected import result, press “Next” button to open Import Options Window (final step of import process).

You can set default category or manufacturer for items, where category id or manufacturer id will not specified.
Select product inserting options and Import methods,
Import method:

• Add and Modify – products from .csv file will be added and modifying
• Add only – Only new products will be added, existing products will not be changed
• Modify Only – Existing products changes only, new products will not be added.
• Just Add – Add product without checking

Finally specify import configuration name to store settings to. Import configuration contains all settings you’ve set before.

Import Schedule

Note: In order to add scheduled task you should have administrative privileges. If you have Windows Vista or Windows 7 it may ask you for elevation:

In order to create scheduled product import, follow few steps:

1. Specify Import settings:

File - select appropriate import source option and select file from your local drive.
HTTP URL - select appropriate import source option and specify HTTP URL to your source file.
FTP URL -  select appropriate import source option and specify FTP path to your source file.

Configuration name - Select Import configuration from the drop-down if you have one saved earlier or use Configure Import option to create one. For more Import configuration parameters see our troubleshooter.

Click on 'Add this Task to Scheduler >>' button     to specify task name, time and frequency.

You can choose to Import products Daily, Weekly, Monthly or once.

Daily - If you wish to update your inventory daily, specify start time and frequency.

Weekly - If you wish to update your inventory weekly, specify the time, the day of a week and frequency.

Monthly - If you wish to update your inventory monthly, check/uncheck month (s) when you wish to import products, day and start time.

Once - You can update your inventory only once when it's be more comfortable.

Task Name - Specify the name of your task that will be added to/displayed among other Windows scheduler tasks.

Preview import  - when enabled allows you to see import snapshots and changes, but actual changes will not be applied to your store database. When disabled, your inventory will be updated after import.

2. Click Finish to save this entry and to apply changes or click cancel to discard this entry.

Import History

Snapshots (Import history) and changes list allows you to see import results.

Using toolbar  you can:

1. Delete selected snapshot from the list . Pay attention that you won't be able to undo delete from store option.

2. Refresh data  forces snapshots list update. It is useful when you're changing connection or have any doubts like is the latest data displayed.

3. Create or Modify Import Configuration button calls Import Wizard form, which is used to create a new configuration or edit an existing one. For more Import configuration parameters see our troubleshooter or Store Manager documentation. (Check Link)

Changes
You can see the list of items that were in your database before import (if an item is new, you'll see empty fields here) and the list of updated items that will be created/updated in your database after import.

If you have new products, they'll be marked in green, and products that will be modified are marked in Blue in both tables.

Scheduled Tasks

Scheduled task list is a list of tasks stored in your Windows scheduler. You can call it using Addons -> Show Scheduled Tasks

Here you can find your task to import products into your database along with other windows tasks performed regularly.
  

Here you can add or delete task, see     properties, refresh list and run task.   

Task Scheduler is a Windows component that provides the ability to schedule the launch of programs or scripts at pre-defined times or after specified time intervals. (wikipedia.org)