Using ProductCart - Google product feed XML ?

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Google product feed XML ?

Printed From: ProductCart E-Commerce Solutions
Category: ProductCart
Forum Name: Using ProductCart
Forum Description: Running your store with ProductCart
URL: https://forum.productcart.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6085
Printed Date: 05-May-2024 at 7:36am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Google product feed XML ?

Posted By: johnb12
Subject: Google product feed XML ?
Date Posted: 28-June-2016 at 12:05pm

Hi,

I've just tried exporting my product catalog as a Google product feed and ended up with a space delimited text file instead of the XML I was expecting. This is not for Google but for a product that accepts Google's XML format - is there a way I can get what I need here ?

Thanks

Replies:

Posted By: Matt
Date Posted: 28-June-2016 at 1:49pm

@johnb12,

Google Shopping feeds are tab delimited. If you are looking for the XML Sitemap, then use the menu option...

"Settings > Images & Navigation > Generate Sitemaps"

Posted By: johnb12
Date Posted: 28-June-2016 at 5:07pm

I did mean Google Product feeds - the standard and more commonly used method is the XML format, the majority of third party applications that support the feed accept only the XML.

https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/188494?hl=en

Thanks anyway

Posted By: Matt
Date Posted: 28-June-2016 at 6:04pm

That link doesn't seem to provide guidance on which format to use. I don't believe they have a "standard".

In the following article under "Choosing the correct format" Google recommends txt over xml for most small merchants (I think they mean merchants without technical staff, not catalog size).

https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/188478?hl=en

In the following article they go over both options and list pros and cons:

https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/160567?hl=en

Text makes sense for ProductCart because it is human readable, can be opened in a spreadsheet and easily modified without technical coding knowledge. The advantages of XML do not seem worth losing the ability to easily "tweak" the feed in Excel.

Did you run into a specific reason why the txt method didn’t meet your needs, or were you looking for XML because you read Google preferred it?

Posted By: Greg Dinger
Date Posted: 28-June-2016 at 11:17pm

I think his point was that he is trying to feed *something else* that accepts Google's XML format. Is that correct John?

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Posted By: Matt
Date Posted: 29-June-2016 at 8:06pm

@johnb12,

Feel free to post back with specific details, or PM me. We're not opposed to offering another XML feed in Google's specification if it opens the door to more integration.