Importing: Updating Existing Data

According to the user guide, if you are updating/appending data via import and the SKU does not match, a new product (database record) will be added.

This doesn't appear to be working as I just tried "Update current data if product SKU is an exact match with an existing SKU" option and the import results said:

"One of the records you are importing does not currently exist in the database. The Append feature is strictly for modifying existing product information. Please correct the error and try again.

Record 1: This SKU is not in the database."

This appears contrary to what the user guide states because in my test import (of one record), the SKU did not already exist so therefore the record should have been added.

Ideas?  Feedback?  Thank you in advance.

Thanks for the reply!  The SKU is text.  Example: gwnn00250.  No leading zeros.

Thanks for the assist guys.  Yep, double checked that the worksheet is formatted as Text.

In my latest test, I imported the entire record range (approx. 3K products) and the compare function seems to work because it did update 304 records.  The problem is that it rejected the others with the message "SKU Not Found" rather than import them as new in the manner the user guide would suggest it would.


Edited by mrjay - 24-October-2008 at 10:58am

Hamish wrote: Hi, Are you using the reverse import wizard or the normal product import wizard?

I'm using the normal wizard.  Until your posting, I didn't know of there was  a 'reverse import wizard'.  What does it do?

It seems from the error you are getting that it's expecting to be updating existing products instead of adding new records.

Absolutely right.  I chose the specific option to update records if the SKU matches.  However, the guide says that if there is no match then new records would be created (which is what I want).
 

Are these all NEW SKU's (never been in productcart AT ALL - even if they have been "deleted") OR a mixture of new and existing, or indeed all existing?

Its a mixture.

- Does the IMPORT range in the spreadsheet cover all the fields.

Yes, sir.

Do any new products have SKU, Name, Online Price & Description values?

Yes, sir.

Hamish wrote: BTW - Do the categories alredy exist for the new products you are importing. I believe it will cteate them, but I have always created the categories in advance.

Yes, they exist.

Thanks for the help here guys.  I'll open a ticket and reference this thread.