Spreadsheets for
Bulk Imports
Learn how to create and save inventory list spreadsheets for bulk import into BackOffice.
Table of Contents
Create the Spreadsheet
Begin the process of importing items by downloading a template and entering your inventory.
- Download the template for importing basic items or items with variants.
- Open the template using spreadsheet software.
Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, Google Sheets, or Apache OpenOffice are recommended. When opening the template in these programs, be sure to select comma separated if prompted in a box similar to the image below (Apache OpenOffice shown here).
- Enter products into the spreadsheet according to the information in the relevant article below.
If importing basic items, visit the Bulk Manage: Inventory Imports article for help. If importing items with variants, visit this Bulk Management article instead.
- Save the template according to the specific directions below for your spreadsheet software.
Save the Spreadsheet
Follow the relevant section below to learn how to save your completed spreadsheet based on the spreadsheet software you are using. All steps are the same whether you have a Mac or PC.
After saving the spreadsheet, follow the steps here to import it to BackOffice using Bulk Management.
Microsoft Excel
Save your spreadsheet in .csv format when using Excel.
- Click 'File', then 'Save As'.
- Click the 'File Format' dropdown and select 'Comma Separated Values (.csv)', then 'Save'.
Apple Numbers
Save your spreadsheet in .csv format when using Numbers on a Mac.
- Click ‘File’, then select ‘Export To’ and ‘CSV’.
- Click ‘Advanced Options’, then select ‘Unicode (UTF-8)’.
- Click ‘Next’.
- Click ‘Export’.
Google Sheets
Sheets autosaves the spreadsheet as it is being worked on. Download a copy to your hard drive for upload.
- Click 'File', then 'Download as'. Choose 'Comma-separated values'.
- An export of your inventory list will appear on the hard drive.
Apache OpenOffice
Save your spreadsheet in .csv (comma-separated values) format for upload.
- Click 'File', then 'Save As'.
- Click the 'File type' drop down, select 'Text CSV (.csv)', then 'Save'.
- If the format prompt appears, click 'Keep Current Format'.
- Confirm the character set 'Unicode (UTF-8)' and click 'OK'.