How to import and export products with a spreadsheet

Instead of adding products one by one, you can fill in a spreadsheet and import it - or export your list, change it in Excel, and import the changes.

Step 1: Open Import Products

Open Products and choose the business and branch at the top - stock in the file goes to that branch. Press Import Products.

Step 2: Choose what the file does

• Add new products - every row becomes a new product. Rows that match a product you already have (same name or barcode) are skipped and listed as errors.
• Update existing products - each row is matched to a product you already have, by barcode, then UID, then name, and only the columns you filled in are changed. Rows that match nothing are listed as errors, not created.

You can also pick a tax rate for every row, or leave it to use the file's Tax Rate column.

Step 3: Download the template

Press Download Template to get an Excel file with the right columns and example rows.

Step 4: Fill it in and upload it

Fill in one row per product. Only Name and Price are required; you can also fill in UID, Barcode, Cost, Stock, Reorder Point, Category (a new category is created if it does not exist), Description and allow_overselling (true or false).

Barcodes starting with 0? Format the barcode column as Text in Excel before you type them, or Excel strips the zeros.

Save the file and press Select Excel File. ChecKmate imports the rows and shows you what was added and any rows it could not import.

Exporting your products

Press Export Products. ChecKmate downloads your products for the selected branch as both a CSV and an Excel file. Use it as a backup, for a stock count, or edit it and import it back with Update existing products.

Good to know

• CSV, XLSX and XLS files can all be imported.
• Try a few rows first to check everything comes in the way you expect, then import the rest.