Categories

This page explains the matching and mapping fields that you can use while importing categories. This page serves purely as a reference and it assumes that you already have a basic understanding of the import tool.

Practical example: Importing new categories

Imagine you’re new to PlentyONE and you want to import all of your category data at once. How would that work? Take a look at this practical example, which guides you through the process step-by-step.

1. Matching fields

Table 1 explains the fields that are available for matching category data. During the import, PlentyONE checks if the imported data record already exists based on the matching field.

Table 1. Matching fields for importing categories
Setting Explanation

Category ID

Which column of your CSV file lists the category IDs? Choose this column here. This option is useful if you want to update existing categories.

Background info: Every new category automatically receives an ID, which can not be changed. The ID is used to uniquely identify the category. Since the ID is unique, it’s a good way to check whether the imported data record already exists in PlentyONE.

Combined category name

Which column of your CSV file contains the complete category path? Choose this column from the first drop-down list and choose the separator from the second drop-down list. This option is useful if you want to create new categories.

2. Mapping fields

This chapter explains the fields that are available for mapping category data. Use these fields to specify which column of your file corresponds to which data field in your system.

Basic procedure:

  1. In your CSV file: Enter a valid import value into a column.

  2. In PlentyONE: Assign this column to the appropriate mapping field.

  3. After the import: Check the result in the back end.

No mapping field? Default value applies!

If you don’t include a certain piece of information in your CSV file, i.e. if you don’t use a certain mapping field, then your category will be given the default value.

2.1. Category

2.1.1. Parent category ID

Enter the higher-level category ID in your CSV file. This tells PlentyONE how the categories relate to each other. For example, whether a row of the CSV file should be interpreted as a subcategory and if so, which category is above it.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Numeric (internal category ID)

2.1.2. Parent category name

Enter the higher-level category name in your CSV file. This tells PlentyONE how the categories relate to each other. For example, whether a row of the CSV file should be interpreted as a subcategory and if so, which category is above it.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

2.1.3. Type

What do you want to use the category for? In PlentyONE, categories can be used to group products together or to create content pages for your store.

Default value: item

Permitted import values in CSV file Options in the drop-down list in the back end

item

Item. Product groups that help you structure your merchandise clearly. New categories are given the type Item by default.
If you’ve already linked a category to items and you switch the type from Item to Content, then the item links will not automatically be deleted. However, the category will no longer be displayed in the item data record.

container

Container. This type of category is no longer in use. It was only relevant for the outdated “Callisto” shop.

content

Content. Content pages for the plentyShop, e.g. information pages such as terms and conditions, payment information and shipping information.

blog

Blog. Do you write a blog for your plentyShop? You can use blog categories to sort your entries into specific topics like “News” or “About us”.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Type

2.1.4. In link list

Decide whether the category should be displayed in the online store’s navigation.

Default value: 0

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: In link list

2.1.5. right

Decide whether the category should only be visible for users who have logged in.

Default value: all

Permitted import values in CSV file Options in the drop-down list in the back end

all

Public

customer

After login

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Visible

2.1.6. Visible

Decide whether the category should be included in the sitemap.

Default value: 0

Permitted import values in CSV file Options in the drop-down list in the back end

0

Do not display

1

Display

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Sitemap

2.1.7. Delete category

Do you want to delete the category?

Default value: 0

Permitted import values in CSV file Result in the back end

0

Category will not be deleted

1

Category will be deleted

2.1.8. Create parent category if not found

Do you want to create the category directly above it, if this category doesn’t already exist?

Default value: 0

Permitted import values in CSV file Result in the back end

0

Parent category will not be created

1

Parent category will be created

2.2. Category settings

2.2.1. Name

Required field

Enter the category name into the CSV file.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Entry field: Name

Note: You can re-use category names as long as they are used in different categories or on different levels. Within one category, however, the names may only be used once per level.

SEO tip: Enter different meta titles and meta descriptions for categories of the same name.

2.2.2. Description 1

Enter the category description into the CSV file.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Description 1

2.2.3. Description 2

Enter the category description into the CSV file.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Description 2

2.2.4. Short description

Enter the short description into the CSV file.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Entry field: Short description

2.2.5. Meta keywords

Enter keywords into the CSV file that potential customers are likely to enter into search engines and that relate to the content of the category.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Entry field: Meta keywords

2.2.6. Meta description

Enter a meta description (max. 350 characters) into the CSV file. The meta description is analysed by search engines. As such, it is especially important for the homepage. The meta description should contain the most important content in one sentence.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Entry field: Meta description

2.2.7. Meta title

Enter a meta title into the CSV file. The meta title is displayed in the tab title of the browser and in search engine results.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Entry field: Meta title

SEO tip: Pay attention to the length of the title. Longer titles are cut off in the tabs. Currently recommended: max. 50 characters

2.2.8. URL name

Enter a URL name into the CSV file. This name is used to form the category URL.

Default value: URL name = Category name

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Entry field: URL name

Example: The URL name new-category will transform into the URL www.your-domain.com/new-category

Note: You can re-use URL names as long as they are used in different categories or on different levels. Within one category, however, the URL names may only be used once per level.

SEO tip: Because no client (store) is selected when the category is created, the automatically created URL is not indexed by search engines. However, in terms of SEO it is best not to change the URL name after the category has been activated for a client.

Important:

  • URL names cannot consist only of numbers.

  • URL names cannot contain special characters. As such, only enter ASCII code.

  • Do not enter the following characters at the beginning of a URL name:
    a-, b-, c-, f-, fa-, p-, t-
    These prefixes are deleted automatically. For instance, "a-class" is changed to "class" automatically. For example, for a category named "a-class", you should enter the URL name "aclass".

2.2.9. Position

Enter a position number in the CSV file.

Default value: 0

Permitted import values: Numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Entry field: Position

2.2.10. Template list

This function is out-dated. It only applied to the old "Callisto" shop.

Enter the name of the template into the CSV file.

Default value: ItemViewCategoriesList

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Template list

2.2.11. Template product

This function is out-dated. It only applied to the old "Callisto" shop.

Enter the name of the template into the CSV file.

Default value: ItemViewSingleItem

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Template product

2.2.12. Template page

This function is out-dated. It only applied to the old "Callisto" shop.

Enter the name of the template into the CSV file.

Default value: PageDesignContent

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Template page

2.2.13. Full text search

This function is out-dated. It only applied to the old "Callisto" shop.

Decide whether the category should be added to the store’s category search index.

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

Default value: 0

Permitted import values in CSV file Options in the drop-down list in the back end

0

No

1

Yes

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Full text search

2.2.14. Robots

Decide how search engine crawlers should deal with the page and any links on the page.

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

Default value: all

Permitted import values in CSV file Options in the drop-down list in the back end

all

all

index

index

nofollow

nofollow

noindex

noindex

nofollow_noindex

nofollow, noindex

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Robots

2.2.15. Translate placeholder

Decide whether template variables and template functions should be translated.

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

Default value: Y

Permitted import values in CSV file Options in the drop-down list in the back end

Y

Yes

N

No

L

Template variables and template functions for links only

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Translate template variables and template functions

2.2.16. Canonical

Is there another category with the same content? If so, then enter the URL for this category into your CSV file. The URL is limited to a maximum of 256 characters. This prevents so-called “duplicate content”.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down lists to select the language and the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Entry field: Canonical

2.3. Elmar

2.3.1. Elmar-category

Enter the name of the Elmar category into your CSV file.

Default value: No default value

Permitted import values: Alpha-numeric

Also use the drop-down list to select the webstore.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Drop-down list: Elmar category

2.3.2. Delete existing

Do you want to delete the Elmar category link?

Default value: 0

Also use the drop-down list to select the webstore.

2.4. Client (store)

2.4.1. Active

Should the category be activated for a particular store?

Also use the drop-down list to select the webstore.

Default value: 0

Permitted import values in CSV file Result in the back end

0

Not activated for the specified client.

1

Activated for the specified client.

You can find the result of the import in the back end menu: Item » Category » Tab: Settings » Check box: Client (store)