Import PrestaShop Products into Multiple Categories/Subcategories

Updating site with new products, you would probably like to categorize them so they could be accessible and easier found.

If your PrestaShop webstore contains a substantial amount of categories, you may consider a CSV product import rather than assigning each product to category individually.

In case you have already imported goods and want to assign or re-assign them to other categories, this is also possible during import.

In this article we will discuss the most often-asked questions concerning massive linking products into categories through import procedure using Store Manager for PrestaShop.

Import Using Full Category Path

In case you have, let’s say, ‘Sneakers’ subcategory under ‘Women’ and ‘Men’ parent categories, you have to indicate full category path in front of each product. Do not forget to include ‘Root’ category in full path.

So here is the example:

Root|Women|Sneakers

In our case, categories and subcategories are separated by pipe symbol (|). You can indicate the character used in your file to separate them in category path at this step of import:

Select Delimiter Character to Separate Categories During Import with Store Manager

Note: Indicating full category path during import you can link your goods to categories that are not yet uploaded (as well as existing). If there is no category found using this path, it will be created on-the-fly. This is especially useful when you import new products and build category structure at the same time.

Import Using Category ID

If your category hierarchy is already created and you can see their IDs, you can use them to link items to relative categories.

So in the import file, in column ‘Category’ you will have the number corresponding to ID of existing category.

Use Category Id for Import with Store Manager

Moreover, you need to check the box to enable this operation at this step of import –

Use Category Id as Category Path During Import with Store Manager

Note: To use a category ID, you have to create it (category) first.

Import Products Into Multiple Categories

Now you know what you need to input in the file when you want to massively assign products to new or existing categories. But what if the items belong to more than one category?

In one and the same column ‘Category’ in front of product you need to indicate:

In case you are using full category path, indicate each of paths separating them by double delimiter. For instance, products have to be assigned to 3 categories: subcategories ‘Sneakers’ (under ‘Women’), parent category ‘Women’ and one more subcategory ‘New Arrivals’ (under ‘Clothing’ parent category)

Root|Women|Sneakers||Root|Women||Root|Clothing|New Arrivals

In case you are using category ID, indicate the values for created beforehand (sub)categories like this:

10||74||12||102

Please note, the categories in both cases are separated by double delimiter – the symbol to separate category values repeated twice. The symbol used needs to be indicated at this step of import:

Use Id as Category Path During Import with Store Manager

Keep or Change Current Categories Associations

In case your products already have associations with categories you can either preserve them or re-write during import.

To keep products in current categories and additionally assign them to the ones indicated in import file, you need to check ‘Keep current categories associations’ box –

Keep Current Categories Associations During Import with Store Manager

If you want category relations to be removed for imported products and products need to be placed to indicated in file categories, uncheck the above mentioned box.