Map your product data
An overview on preparing product data for export to external channels via the Productsup Dataflow.
Introduction
Export channels only accept product data that match their specifications. In Dataflow, you can map attributes derived from imported data to meet these requirements.
By default, most of your data's attributes automatically map to an export after you set one up. You can also map your product data manually via a drag-and-drop interface between the three stages in Dataflow. These stages are:
Import: Contains attributes based on your import source.
Intermediate: Contains the most common attributes found on a range of external exports.
Export: Contains attributes specific to one export.
Meaning of the attribute colors:
Mandatory attributes on the export stage are blue and optional attributes are light grey.
Custom attributes created on the intermediate or export stage are grey-white striped.
Meaning of the attributes icons on the import stage:
The connection icon
indicates that the attribute appeared as a result of applying one of our data services.The three dots icon (...) shows that the attribute comes from an additional data source. Hover over it to see the exact import file it comes from.
The red warning icon
indicates that the connected attribute is missing from the import or that a required attribute input for a rule box is absent.The flag icon
indicates the site's product ID attribute selected in Data Sources.
This document covers the basics of attribute mapping. See Organize your Dataflow columns and attributes for more details.
Prerequisites
Before you can map attributes and export your data, you must complete the following steps:
Set up a site.
Set up and run a product import in Data Sources.
Set up at least one export in Exports.
Map import data attributes for export
The following example demonstrates how to map imported product data to Google Merchant Center.
Go to Dataflow or Data View from your site's main menu.
Select which export channel you want to export to; this example uses Google Merchant Center.
To map Import attributes to Intermediate attributes:
In Import, select a node on an attribute.
In Intermediate, select a node on an attribute.
Map intermediate attributes to export, following the same steps noted in step 3.
Tip
Alternatively, you can map an attribute to another by placing your cursor over an attribute's node, holding the mouse button down, and dragging a guideline that appears to the second attribute.
Export your data
There are two ways to export data in Dataflow. If you want to initiate a complete data flow process, from import to export to all channels:
Select the Run button.
If you want to export current imported data to all exports:
Select the Export button.
If you want to export existing data to only one export:
Go to Exports from your site's main menu.
Select the Export button for a specific export.
Delete attribute maps
You can delete connections between import and intermediate attributes as follows:
Rest your cursor over the guideline connecting the attributes.
Select the guideline.
Select Yes from the pop-up menu.
Create new attributes
To add new attributes in the intermediate and export stages:
Scroll to the bottom of the stage to add a new field and select Drop or Click to add new attribute.
In the pop-up, enter a name for the attribute.
Select Save, and this attribute is now available for mapping.
You may use custom attributes for non-standard cases. For example, you need to skip for the export all products that relate to the winter season, such as coats, sweaters, and scarves.
You can use one of the rule boxes, such as Skip row if value in for the attribute containing the season information, but don't want the attribute appear in the exported data. You can't add a rule box between import and intermediate stages, as this will affect all exports, and you need to skip the products only from one particular export.
To achieve the result, do the following:
Create a new custom attribute on the export level with three underscores (___) in front of the attribute's name, such as ___season.
Connect ___season with the attribute containing the season data in the intermediate stage.
Add a rule box that excludes products, such as Skip row if value in to the ___season attribute. See Skip Row If Value In.
The platform applies the rule box to the values and excludes the corresponding products from the export. The platform doesn't export the ___season attribute.
Delete custom attributes
To delete any attributes you previously created:
Rest your cursor over the attribute.
Select the
icon.
Confirm you want to delete this attribute by selecting Delete.
Map attributes across multiple sites in bulk
If you need to create connections between the same attributes in multiple sites, you can use the Bulk Option feature to save time.
Note
You must have the same attribute names across the sites where you want to use a bulk action that adds a connection in Dataflow.
Go to the organization or the project level and select Bulk Option.
Choose the sites where you want to create connections and select Next Step.
Choose Add Dataflow Connection and select Next Step.
In the Dataflow drop-down list, choose whether the platform should add connections between the import and intermediate stages or the intermediate and export stages.
If you select Intermediate - Export, you need to additionally choose a relevant export in the Export drop-down list.
Enter the names of the attributes you want to map. A list with all available attributes appears as you type.
If you chose Import - Intermediate, enter the name of the import-stage attribute in Source column and the name of the intermediate-stage attribute in Intermediate Column.
If you chose Intermediate - Export, enter the name of the intermediate-stage attribute in Intermediate Column and the name of the export-stage attribute in Export Column.
Select Execute.
A final confirmation screen shows whether the bulk action was successful.
You can leave this screen by selecting Return to organization page. You can also go to one of the sites where you performed the changes by selecting the name of the needed site.
