1) I have marked the answer in the Data Import chapter of the manual below in red.
2) Please use the sample import file catimportitems.xls as template or export some items via item export from module CAT_Products and use this file. Also there is an xsd file: catimport.xsd if you want use XML import files.
3) You must not change any field types or lengths. As I know you can not change field lengths of xls (Excel) files. You can do that for MS Access files but I guess it is not necessary. If there are any problems they will be listed in the import log e.g.: 'Field missing or wrong data type: Import File Field Name'
4) The field Category1ImportID is required. It can also not be removed if you use the 'Edit Item Import Query' function from module CAT_StoreSettings.
5) CATALooK will not change the file type. For bulk upload you can also use admin -> file manager.
6) We will do that. A database schema (DataBaseSchema.JPG) can be found in folder documentation\.

Data Import

Import (bulk upload) of products and categories

• Click on the link: [Edit Item Import Query] to select which fields should be imported.
• Use the template files (catimportitems.mdb, catimportitems.xls, catimportitems.xml) in folder \CATdat to test the import.
• Select or upload and select an import db file and click on [Start Product Data Import].
• You can also add the import job to the DNN scheduler e.g. if you want update the stock in defined periods and sync your ERP system with the store database. The scheduler import job compared if the current import file is newer than the last imported. If not, this line will be added to the scheduler history: [CATALooK Item Import waits for newer data]. Choose: [Add Item to Schedule] on DNN Host Schedule TAB and enter: [CATALooK.ItemImport, CATALooKStore] into field: [Full Class Name and Assembly] to add this job to Schedule.
• To reimport data from product data export of module CAT_Products you must manually change the table, node or sheet name to [items].

Key Fields:
Category1ImportID (required field) and Category2ImportID: Portal level unique key fields for category import data synchronization. These fields correspond with the field: Category Number of module CAT_Categories.
ProductNumber: Portal level unique key field for product import data synchronization and product database synchronization between portals. This field correspondend with the field: Item code of module CAT_Products.

Assign advanced categories to products via bulk import:
The Field: AdvCatsImportIDs contains the advanced category Import ID’s separated by a semicolon ‘;’. An import ID for an advanced category can be defined via field Import ID of module CAT_AdvancedCategories.

Productimage / DownLoadFile / Category1Image / Category2Image:

There are 3 possible values for this field:

1) Image name without path: Images in portal root folder e.g.: portals\0

2) Full URL to the images: http://...

3) FileID from DNN files table. Format: FileID=x (case sensitive).Where x is the numeric FileId from the DotNetNuke Files table.

Please Note:   All UnitCost columns must be formatted as number without any currency symbol.

                        Do not mix numeric and not numeric values in one column.

                        Don’t use CR commands in Excel cells (use HTML <BR> or shift + Enter).

Typical Excel Uploading Problem: 

The first row of a column must contain data which is representative of what the rest of the data in the column will contain (same datatype). To fix this, make a Dummy Product and keep it as the first item in the sheet. Set a representative value for each cell and set the Archive cell to “False” so it will not show up on the site.  

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