How do I import items in bulk from an Excel file?

Entering three hundred items by hand is a full day's work. Importing turns it into minutes — provided your file matches the template.

Steps

1. Open Inventory → Items & Services and press Import Items & Services — image 1.
2. Press Download Template and open it in Excel.
3. Fill one row per item, then save the file.
4. Come back to the same dialog, choose the file and press Import.
5. Wait for the import result page.

Template columns

• name — the item name, required. A row with no name is skipped.
• sku — the item code. If it matches an existing item, that item is updated instead of a new one being created — the easiest way to update prices in bulk.
• type — one of product, service or raw_material. Empty or unrecognised becomes product.
• barcode — optional.
• unit_code — must match the code of a unit that already exists, otherwise it is ignored.
• category_name and brand_name — must match the Arabic or English name of an existing category or brand, otherwise they are ignored.
• cost_price and sale_price — empty means zero.
• tax_rate — a percentage; empty means zero.
• track_stock — 1 tracked, 0 not tracked. Empty = 1.
• is_active — 1 active, 0 inactive. Empty = 1.
• notes — free text.

The result page

After the upload the page reports the total, the newly imported, the updated, the skipped and the failed. A download errors CSV button gives you the rows that did not go through, each with its reason, so you can fix and re-upload only those.

Notes

• Accepted formats: xlsx, xls and csv; the screen states a 5 MB limit.
• Create your units, categories and brands before importing — the import does not create them and ignores anything that does not match.
• Importing does not bring balances. After the items exist, enter opening stock for each or receive them on a purchase goods receipt.
• Test with ten rows and check the result before uploading three hundred.
• Large files can take a minute; do not close the page or press the button again.
• Categories and brands have their own separate import on their own screens.