IMPORT ATTRIBUTES AND OPTIONS FROM FLAT FILE

This module allows a MIVA Merchant Version 2.x, 3.x, or 4.x store owner to import attributes (text, checkbox, radio, and select) and options from an easily edited/managed flat file. The 3.x version includes support for the attribute type "memo". The 4.x version also allows the type "template" to be specified if you have previously added the corresponding template through admin. It will not create the templates and its internal attributes/options. The module will also delete product attributes which the store owner identifies for deletion. For those sites with time-out problems, multiple flat files can be used to break up the number of attributes and options being imported at one time.

Normally, additions are made based on the product code. A typical version 2.x entry in the flat file for a radio button attribute for a specific product would be:
A|1AA00004|version|radio|Merchant Version:|0|0|1
O|1AA00004|version|2X|2.xx|0|0|1
O|1AA00004|version|1X|1.xx (add $1.00)|1|1|0

The key for the field values is:
A|product_code|code|type|prompt|price|cost|required
O|product_code|attribute_code|option_code|prompt|price|cost|default

This module also allows you to import the same attributes/options by category code. That way you can fill all of the products in a category with the same attributes. This saves considerable typing in the flat file.

If for some reason you want to delete attributes, you can easily delete all attributes related to a product code.

The attribute and option EXPORT module is distributed with the IMPORT module. It creates a flat file in the format described above so that the data can be re-imported after off-line editing. It does not export the templates. In Merchant 5 we include the option to email the export file to your designated email address to save having to FTP it from the server.

Online overview, initial setup instructions, and flat file construction help is linked from our master MIVA Merchant modules online documentation index.