Google product feed XML ?

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   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

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johnb12 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 22-June-2016 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnb12 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Google product feed XML ? 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

Matt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 20-July-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 73	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply 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"

johnb12 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 22-June-2016 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnb12 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply 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

Matt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 20-July-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 73	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply 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?

Greg Dinger Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Certified ProductCart Developers Joined: 23-September-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 238	Post Options Post Reply Quote Greg Dinger Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply 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?

Matt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 20-July-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 73	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply 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.

Xrtotech Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 09-August-2025 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Xrtotech Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09-August-2025 at 9:25am
	You’ll need to use a feed generator or plugin that supports Google XML format output, not just TSV or TXT. For example, on cheaplyapps.com, you could: Use your e-commerce platform’s XML feed option – Many platforms (like Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.) have apps or built-in settings to export in Google XML format. In Shopify, you can install an app such as “Google Shopping Feed” or “Data Feed Watch” and set the output format to XML. Convert your existing text feed to XML – If you already have the product data in TXT/TSV, you can run it through a converter or script (e.g., using an online CSV-to-XML tool or a custom script that maps your fields to Google’s XML schema). Manually build the XML using Google’s product feed specification – This is more technical, but it gives you full control over the feed structure and ensures compatibility with platforms that accept Google XML. The key is that the feed generator must explicitly support Google XML syntax — otherwise you’ll always get a flat text file instead of the structured XML you need.
	Helping merchants find the best Shopify apps, and developers reach the right audience.https://cheaplyapps.com