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.