Product Import Errors

OVERVIEW

If you are using the import feature in Hotcakes Commerce, you may run into messages while the feature is parsing your spreadsheet.  Many of these messages are informational, but some messages may appear to be errors.  Sometimes, missing or invalid values will cause a portion of your work to not be imported.  This article will help explain those messages so you know how to proceed when they occur.

REQUIREMENTS

The following information is required to already be known:

• Familiarity with the Import/Export feature in Hotcakes Commerce
• Product details (e.g., price, types, variants, categories, images, etc.)
• How to use Microsoft Excel compatible spreadsheet software

GETTING STARTED

In order to use the import feature in Hotcakes Commerce, you first will need to download or have been given a copy of the product spreadsheet. This Excel spreadsheet is what your store will use to import new products and update existing ones.  Once you make your updates, you will simply login and go to your store admin area to upload it.  Be sure to review the import documentation to learn more about this process.

PRODUCT IMPORT MESSAGES

There are many messages that might get displayed during the product import process. The information below will list them all and give you more information about what might need to be done (if anything) to address the message.

The messages discussed in this article will be seen in the live message panel seen at the bottom of the import page as shown below.

Reading worksheet 'NAME’…

(Informational) The import feature has begun processing the named worksheet.

Action Needed

None

Worksheet 'NAME' does not exist.

(Error) There was a missing tab or worksheet that has been deleted at some point.  Your Excel spreadsheet should have five (5) tabs or worksheets, including: Main, Categories, Choices, Info Tabs, and Type Properties.

Action Needed

The missing worksheet will need to be restored.  This could be something as simple as doing an “undo” or you might need to get a new copy of the worksheet. This can be done by exporting your products again, or finding another saved copy to merge the missing worksheet back into your copy.

Row NUMBER thrown exception: EXCEPTION

(Error) This error may occur when something is wrong with a specific row in one of your worksheets.  The NUMBER will tell you which row the EXCEPTION happened on.  The row will not be added.

Action Needed

The specific action needed will depend on the EXCEPTION that has occurred. Sometimes, the EXCEPTION will be self-explanatory.  Other times, you might be able to look at the row in question and see the problem yourself.  If the error is not understood, please ask for help or contact support (available only to paid support customers).

NUMBER rows successfully imported.

(Informational) This message is simply letting you know how many rows were successfully imported.  The NUMBER will exclude any rows in the worksheet that have reported an exception.

Action Needed

None

NUMBER rows failed import.

(Informational) This message is simply letting you know how many rows had errors.  These rows were not successfully imported.  You should see an error for each of these rows above this message.

Action Needed

None

Product SKU - SKU already exists for different slug (row: NUMBER).

(Error) Your product catalog cannot have two products with the same SKU. This message will appear if a duplicate SKU is found.  The duplicate will be on the reported row NUMBER in the Main worksheet.

Action Needed

This is most often the result of a typo.  Check the duplicate row NUMBER and update the SKU to correct the typo.  If it isn’t a typo, it is mostly likely a duplicate row.  Remove the duplicate row from the Main spreadsheet. It might be a good idea to see if there are any duplicates for the same product in the other worksheets too.

Product slug - SLUG already exists (row: NUMBER).

(Error) Like the SKU, every product SLUG must be unique.  It is used like an ID or identifier, as well as for the product details page URL.  The duplicate SLUG can be found in the reported row NUMBER.  The row will not be added.

Action Needed

This is most often the result of a typo.  Check the duplicate row NUMBER and update the SKU to correct the typo in the Main worksheet.  If it isn’t a typo, it is mostly likely a duplicate row.  Remove the duplicate row from the Main worksheet.  It might be a good idea to see if there are any duplicates for the same product in the other worksheets too.

Product name is empty for row NUMBER

(Error) Every product should have a name.  This is what a customer will first see on a product details page.  In this case, the product name was missing from the reported row NUMBER.  The row will not be added.

Action Needed

Check column E on the Main worksheet for the reported row NUMBER.  This cell is empty and needs a value.

Product inventory update failed for product 'NAME'.

(Error) Your row had values specified for inventory for product named NAME. This error will occur if the store ID does not match or if there is corrupt data where inventory cannot be matched to the product.  The product will be added, but the inventory will not be updated.

Action Needed

Update this product’s inventory manually in the store admin to match the Main worksheet values.  If the error persists in your next product import, ask for help or contact support.

Product 'NAME' creation failed.

(Error) This error will occur at the point that the import attempts to save or update your product.  The most common reason this error may occur is if there is a data corruption error.  For example, you might have text in a field of your worksheet that requires numbers, such as MSRP, Cost, or Price.

Action Needed

Review the product NAME row your Main worksheet and look for any values that do not match the prescribed format in the product worksheet documentation.  If the error persists in your next product import, ask for help or contact support (available only to paid support customers).

Row NUMBER has unknown slug SLUG

(Error) The row NUMBER in question has a SLUG that does not match a product SLUG.  Categories, choices, info tabs, and type properties cannot be update or added to a product that doesn’t exist in the Main worksheet.  This row will not be processed.

Action Needed

Check your Main worksheet to ensure that the SLUG in question exists.  The issue is likely a typo, but you might have added deleted the product and forgotten to delete one of the attribute records for it on another worksheet.

Row NUMBER has empty choice name

(Error) Choices must have a name specified and cannot be empty.  The row will not be processed.

Action Needed

Check the row NUMBER in the Choices worksheet and add a value to the Choice column, or column B.

Row NUMBER has empty tab name

(Error) Info tabs must have a name specified and cannot be empty.  The row will not be processed.

Action Needed

Check the row NUMBER in the Info Tabs worksheet and add a value to the Tab Name column, or column B.

Row NUMBER has empty property name

(Error) Type properties must have a name specified and cannot be empty. The row will not be processed.

Action Needed

Check the row NUMBER in the Type Properties worksheet and add a value to the Property Name column, or column B.

Row NUMBER has unknown property name: NAME

(Error) Type properties that you specify must already exist in the store. Otherwise, this error will occur.

Action Needed

Check your store to be sure the property that you’re trying to add exists and that the NAME in the store matched the value in your Type Properties worksheet at the specified row NUMBER.

Import completed.

(Informational) All worksheets were found.  All rows were parsed and the results have been printed to your screen.  The process is over and you may exit the view to continue other tasks.

Action Needed

None

Import failed.

(Error) This will happen if any exceptions occur while attempting to process the Main worksheet.  If such an error occurs, it should appear above this message.  The number of rows processed (if any) will depend upon the error(s) that caused this error.

Action Needed

Check any errors that appear above this message and address them appropriately. If the error persists in your next product import, ask for help or contact support.

Import failed. Source file protected or corrupted.

(Error) This message will be seen if your spreadsheet file is inaccessible for any reason.

Action Needed

Check your file to make sure it is saved and closed.  Ensure that you can open it without error.  Refrain from working with this file from standard-protected folders, such as your Desktop.  If the file is in a cloud folder such as SkyDrive or Dropbox, try moving it or moving a copy of it to another location and upload it from there.  If this error persists, you may need to get a copy of your product spreadsheet from any back-up resource you might have, orexport a new copy from your store admin.