CSV Product Updates: Complete Beginner’s Guide

Before you start

Your catalog is your product list. Each row holds a product’s details, and each column holds something such as its name, price or stock quantity. A SKU is a product code. In this tool, your current file is called the baseline. Save a backup before you begin. RowParcel helps you prepare a new file in your browser; you decide when to import it into your shop.

1. Choose what you want to do and add files

Start with a small example. Imagine your current file has a tote bag with SKU 0001, price 12.00 and stock 8. Your supplier sends a new price of 13.20 and stock 0. You can update just the price, just the stock, or both.

Check one file: Use this to look for file problems or tidy values without comparing suppliers. For example, remove unwanted spaces from names. If you add several files in this mode, they are checked separately.
Compare an update: Add your current file first, then a supplier update. Map & match has a source-difference view for all added, missing and changed values. The later review shows only the changes your update rules propose.
Merge supplier files: Add your current file first, followed by the supplier files. If two suppliers send different values for the same product, you choose which supplier to trust. If they use the same code for different products, include the supplier name when matching them.
Choose files / drag and drop: Add CSV, TSV or XLSX files from your device. CSV separates cells with commas or another mark; TSV uses tabs; XLSX is an Excel workbook. A file list shows which is the baseline and which are updates. Adding a file does not send it to RowParcel’s server.
Move earlier / Remove: The arrow changes an update file’s order. The bin removes that file from this workspace, not from your device. Where you choose supplier priority, the first supplier has the highest priority. The baseline remains the first file.
Try a realistic sample / Load sample files: Choose a scenario and load its practice files. Loading a sample replaces the current file selection and settings. Sample names, addresses and products are fictional.
Paste tabular data / Use pasted data: Paste a small table with its heading row, then choose Use pasted data. It becomes another source file in the workspace.
Inspect format / Clear all / Cancel: Inspect format moves to the file preview. Clear all clears this workspace and its current files, not the original files on your device. Cancel stops an operation that is running. Check the resulting file list before continuing.

2. Check that the file is being read correctly

The preview should show one value in each expected column. For example, SKU 0001 should stay 0001, rather than losing its leading zeros. Choose a file tab to check each source.

Delimiter: This is the mark that separates cells: comma, semicolon or tab. Use Auto first. If a whole row appears in one column, choose the delimiter used in the file.
Text encoding: This tells the tool how to read letters and symbols. If a file fails to open or accented names look wrong, it stays available here. Choose its original encoding, such as Windows-1252 for a legacy export, then Re-read file. Do this before mapping or reviewing.
Header / starting row and first-row headings: Choose where the table begins. If the first row contains names such as SKU and Price, keep the headings option on. If there are no headings, the tool gives the columns temporary names.
Quote character: Quotes keep commas or line breaks inside a single value. The usual choice is a double quote. Change it only when you know your file uses another quote character.
Worksheet and cached Excel formula values: For an Excel file, choose the sheet containing your products. RowParcel does not calculate its formulas. The cached values option uses results saved in the workbook. Only use those results after opening the workbook in Excel, letting its calculations finish and saving it again.
Re-read file: Apply your reading settings and build a new preview. Re-reading resets that file’s column mapping, so check the next step again. The preview shows a small number of records; the calculation checks the whole file.
Back / Map & match: Back returns to your file list. Map & match opens the step where you connect columns and matching products. The record numbers count table rows. A description with several lines still belongs to one record.

3. Connect matching columns and products

Here you tell the tool which columns mean the same thing. The left side shows a heading from your file. On the right, enter the name you want to use in the result. For example, change the supplier’s Item code to SKU if that matches your current file. Available can become Stock if both columns hold the stock quantity.

Target field: Give equivalent columns exactly the same name in every file. Each name must be unique within a file. An empty mapping leaves that column out. The source file stays unchanged.
Output profile: Choose Generic to keep your own column names. The Shopify and WooCommerce choices prepare columns for those shops’ product imports. Some columns may be left out if the chosen format does not support them. The download step lists these columns so you can check before importing.
Mapping suggestions: The tool can suggest matching names for common headings. Check each suggestion against your files. For example, Available might mean a stock count in one file and a Yes/No answer in another.
Custom fields and constants: A constant adds a new field with the same value on every source row, for example Currency = EUR. Use a new, unique field name. Remove a constant if you do not need it. A field rule is the right place to change an existing field.
Match using these fields: Tick the fields that identify one product. Usually SKU is enough. If the same SKU is used for several sizes, tick SKU and Size together. Missing or repeated identifiers need a decision; the tool does not guess which product you meant.
Trim matching keys / Ignore letter case: Trimming treats extra spaces around a code as unimportant. Ignoring case treats abc and ABC as the same code. Turn these on only if that is correct for your product codes. Leading zeros are kept.
Supplier namespace / Conflicting suppliers: If two suppliers use 001 for different products, choose a supplier-name column as part of the match. If both rows describe the same product, you can choose supplier priority. The first supplier in your chosen order takes priority for values it supplies; later suppliers can still provide other values. Check the result before approving it.
Choose update rules: Continue after checking the matching fields and mappings. Example: a current row with SKU 0001 and an update row with Item code 0001 now refer to the same tote bag.
Compare source files and unit costs: Choose one supplier and Compare source values to see all mapped differences, independent of update rules. Added and missing describe those two files; missing does not mean delete. Repeated or empty keys remain ambiguous. Filter the results or download the field-by-field difference report.
Similar SKU suggestions: With one matching key, review possible variations such as spaces, punctuation or a one-character typo. Suggestions never merge products. Confirm the code against the original product, correct the source file and re-read it, or use the explicit space/case controls when appropriate. Leading zeros stay significant. Suggestions are limited to 2,000 distinct keys per file, each up to 64 characters.
Compare price per unit: Choose a pack-price column and the number of units per pack. Confirm both quantities describe the same unit. If currencies differ, enter a checked supplier-to-baseline exchange rate yourself. A pack costing 12 with 6 units costs 2 per unit. This comparison does not change your merge rules or export values.

4. Decide which values may change

Existing values stay as they are until you allow a change. For the tote bag, Price only can change 12.00 to 13.20 while keeping stock 8. Stock only can change stock to 0 while keeping the price. Zero is a real quantity; a blank cell is different.

Price only / Stock only / Preserve every field: These buttons set up common rules for you. Check that Price only or Stock only has picked the right column. Preserve every field keeps the values for your current products. New products are still handled according to Update mode below.
Update mode: Update existing and append new lets you change current products and add new ones. Update existing only changes products already in your current file. Append new only adds new products and keeps your current products unchanged.
Supplier file coverage / Products absent from update: Partial means the supplier file contains only some products. Missing products stay unchanged. Full means it is a complete list. Only then may you choose to leave missing products out of the download. This never deletes products from a live shop.
Field action: Open a field such as Price. Preserve keeps its current value. Overwrite uses the supplier value. Fill blanks only fills an empty current value. Clear removes the value. Combine unique values joins lists without duplicates; Append keeps all list entries, including repeats.
Blank cells / Explicit clear marker / List separator: Keep Preserve baseline for empty supplier cells unless you really want to remove a value. A clear marker, such as [CLEAR], requests an intentional blank. List separator tells the tool how list entries are divided, such as a comma between tags. Clear and removal rules need confirmation.
Add transformation / Remove transformation: A transformation tidies or calculates a value. The rules run from top to bottom. Trim removes outside spaces; Uppercase and Lowercase change letters; Replace, Prefix and Suffix edit text. Remove a transformation with its bin button.
Split, join, maps and dates: Split keeps part of a value. Its first position is 0: splitting blue-large at the dash and choosing 0 keeps blue. Join changes the mark between list entries. Map changes exact values, with one pair per line, such as red=>Red. For dates, choose the order in your file: DMY means day-month-year, MDY means month-day-year and YMD means year-month-day.
Markup, margin and number calculations: A 20% markup makes 10 become 12. A 20% gross margin makes 10 become 12.50. Add changes a number by an amount; Multiply applies a factor; Round chooses decimal places. Supply your own exchange rate, tax rate or unit factor. The tool does not look up or verify rates.
Decimal and thousands separators: Choose the format used by your numbers. For 1.234,50, choose comma decimals and dot thousands. For 1,234.50, choose dot decimals and comma thousands. The two separators must be different. Number transformations produce dot-decimal results.
Price-change and stock-change warnings: A change reaching the chosen percentage is flagged. For example, 10 to 13 is 30%. These warnings do not change the numbers. Stock decreases and clearing stock always require individual approval, regardless of the percentage setting.
Inventory values / Inventory field: Choose Absolute quantities when the supplier gives the new total: a value of 5 replaces the old 8. Choose Changes to existing quantities when the supplier gives an adjustment: -3 takes 8 down to 5. Select the column that holds stock. Be careful not to apply the same adjustment file twice, or you may subtract twice. Supplier priority chooses which update to use; it does not add different suppliers’ stock together.
Inventory location field: Choose a warehouse or location column if stock is counted separately in each place. Then the location becomes part of the match. For example, SKU 001 in Amsterdam must not be matched to SKU 001 in Rotterdam. Location-specific output uses the generic format.
Include-row filter: Only rows meeting this condition enter the calculation, in all files. For example, Category equals Bags leaves other categories out. It can also remove current rows from the output, so use Skip supplier update later when you want to keep a current product unchanged.
Calculate review: Run the matching and calculations. Opening the Review changes step by itself does not perform this work. Changing a rule means you must calculate again. New calculations clear approvals and review edits so an old decision cannot approve a new value.

5. Check, approve, skip or restore each result

A review row shows the proposed result for a product. Click the wide row area to open its old and new values. A stock change from 8 to 0 is valid when none are available, but it could also be an error. It needs your separate approval before any prepared-file download.

Statuses: Added is a new product. Changed has different proposed values. Unchanged keeps its values. Unmatched was not applied because of your update mode. Duplicate needs a clearer match. Excluded was left out by a decision or rule. Blocked has an error that needs fixing or a deliberate exclusion.
Search records / Filter status / Previous / Next: Search for a product or show one status. The review displays up to 40 records per page. Previous and Next show other records. Bulk approval follows the entire search and status filter, including matching records on other pages.
Approve checkbox / Approve valid changes in this filter: Tick a product to approve it individually. The bulk button approves eligible changes in the current filter, but never stock decreases or cleared stock. Check each of those records and tick its own approval checkbox. Reset approvals removes your approvals.
Skip supplier update: Keep the current product and ignore its connected supplier rows. For the tote bag, skipping the update keeps its old price and stock. For a supplier-only new product, skipping means it is not added. Original files are unchanged.
Leave product out of download: Leave out the current row and matching supplier rows from this calculation. This is different from keeping the old values. It affects the prepared file only; it does not delete anything from your shop or source files.
Ignore this source record: For duplicate or blocked records, this lets you leave out one source record to resolve a problem while keeping other matching records. Check which filename and record number you are ignoring.
Restore excluded records / Restore all: Restore puts manually excluded records for that product back into the calculation. Restore all undoes every manual exclusion. The review is recalculated and previous approvals and typed overrides are cleared. If a filter or full-catalog rule excluded a record, use Change exclusion rule instead.
Proposed value / override: Type a correction only when you know the right value. The old baseline value remains visible for comparison. Editing a record removes its approval and checks it again. A newly introduced stock decrease still needs individual approval.
Choose export: Continue to download settings after checking the result. You can view those settings while a stock decision is outstanding, but the prepared-file download stays blocked until you approve the decrease or skip the update.

6. Download and check the prepared file

Downloading creates a new file on your device. It does not update a shop. Open the file and check a few products before importing it anywhere.

Download format / Output selection / Filename: Choose the file type your shop accepts and give the download a useful name. Full approved merged result includes your unchanged products and approved updates. If you have not approved an ordinary change, it keeps that product’s old values. New products are included only after approval. Approved changed / added records contains just the changes and additions you approved. In either choice, you must approve or skip every stock decrease first.
CSV delimiter, quotes, line endings and UTF-8 BOM: Use the settings requested by the shop or app that will open your file. The delimiter separates values, usually with commas. Quotes keep a comma inside a description from starting a new column. Line endings mark the end of each row. UTF-8 BOM adds a small file marker that can help spreadsheet apps read accented letters correctly. These text-file settings do not apply to an Excel workbook.
Cell safety: Choose Spreadsheet-safe if you will open the CSV in a spreadsheet app. It adds an apostrophe before text that could run as a formula, such as text beginning with =. Machine import / preserve exact text keeps the text unchanged for a shop import and asks you to confirm that choice. XLSX downloads save values as text cells.
Column selection, names and order: Tick the columns you want in the download. You can rename headings and move columns with the arrows. Keep the columns your shop needs to identify and update a product. If you chose Shopify or WooCommerce, some names and columns are fixed by that shop’s file format.
Review checkbox / Download prepared file: Tick the box after checking which products will be included or left out, then download. The tool checks your approvals and product codes again. It will stop if a required code is missing or repeated, a file could not be read correctly, or a stock decrease still needs your decision.
Download report / Unresolved records: The JSON report records settings, sources, changes and decisions. The unresolved CSV helps you inspect records that were blocked, excluded, unmatched or not approved. These reports are for checking your work, not for importing as product updates.
Save, load, export and import settings: Save on this device remembers mappings and rules in this browser. Load saved brings them back. Export settings creates a JSON settings file; Import settings reads one made by the same tool. Delete saved removes the saved setup. Source files, manual exclusions and safety approvals are not saved as reusable decisions. Always review loaded settings against the new files.

Your next step

Check a few products in your prepared file, including the changes you approved. Then try a small import in your shop before using the whole file. Keep the original and the change report.