You can create data for loading into your database with the Data Load utility in a CSV
formatted file. The easiest way to create this data is to download a sample CSV file to use as a
starting point.
About this task
The following image displays an example of a CSV file that you can use to load catalog data; this
example uploads a sales catalog:

In the CSV file:
- The first row contains the keyword that corresponds to the business object you are loading. This
keyword is case-sensitive. For example,
Catalog
for catalogs, or
CatalogEntry
for catalog entries.
- The second row contains the column headings for the object you are loading. For example, the
object
Identifier
or ShortDescription
. Important: These column headings are case-sensitive and must match the name that the column maps to within the
business object mediator. If the business object configuration file for the object that you are
loading includes a mapping for the column, the name must match the name within the configuration
file mapping. The configuration file must then map the column to the business object
mediator.
- The remaining rows of the file include data values that correspond to the column headings that
you include in the file.
Important: If you are loading data with a specific component-based mediator, your
CSV file must contain only one type of business object. In other words, do not combine two different
CSV files into one larger CSV file. Your CSV files can contain multiple objects for a particular
business object type. For example, you can load many catalog entries in a single CSV file that uses
the catalog entry mediator. If you specify that the Data Load utility is to use the table object
based mediator, you can combine multiple types of business objects in a single file. For more
information about the available component and table object based mediators, see
Procedure
-
Download a sample CSV file to use as your starting point. Save the sample CSV file with a new
name in a folder on your computer. If you are loading data for a business object type that does not
have a sample, create an empty file to include your CSV formatted data.
-
Open the CSV file that you downloaded or created.
Use a text editor or a spreadsheet editor that can save in UTF-8 format, such as Open Office Calc.
- Optional:
Edit the first row in your file to specify a keyword that identifies the type of business
object that you are loading. The keyword is optional for the Data Load utility, but you are
recommended to include the keyword when one is applicable. By specifying a keyword, you can load the
CSV file with the Data Load utility or provide the file to business users to edit and use with the
Management Center Catalog Upload feature.
When you are specifying a keyword, select one of the following keywords.
These keywords are case-sensitive, so ensure that you type the keyword exactly as shown:
Attachment
AttachmentAsset
AttachmentAssetLanguage
AttachmentDescription
AttributeDictionaryAttributeAllowedValues
AttributeDictionaryAttributeAndAllowedValues
AttributeDictionaryAttributeFolderRelationship
Catalog
CatalogDescription
CatalogGroup
CatalogGroupAsset
CatalogGroupAssociation
CatalogGroupAttachment
CatalogGroupCalculationCode
CatalogGroupDescription
CatalogGroupRelationship
CatalogGroupSEO
CatalogEntry
CatalogEntryAsset
CatalogEntryAssociation
CatalogEntryATPInventory
CatalogEntryAttachment
CatalogEntryAttributeDictionaryAttributeRelationship
CatalogEntryCalculationCode
CatalogEntryComponent
CatalogEntryDescription
CatalogEntryDescriptiveAttributeAndValue
CatalogEntryDescriptionOverride
CatalogEntryDescriptionUpdate
CatalogEntryInventory
CatalogEntryOfferPrice
CatalogEntryParentCatalogGroupRelationship
CatalogEntryParentProductRelationship
CatalogEntrySEO
CatalogEntryUpdate
CatalogFilter
CatalogFilterCategory
CatalogFilterCatentry
CatalogFilterCondition
CatalogFilterConditionGroup
ListPriceList
MarketingActivity
MarketingCampaign
MarketingContent
MarketingContentAttachment
MarketingContentAttachmentDescription
MarketingContentDescription
MarketingContentImageMap
MarketingElement
MarketingElementNVP
MarketingSpot
MarketingSpotDefaultContent
MarketingSpotDefaultTitle
MemberGroup
MemberGroupCondition
MemberGroupDescription
Offer
ProductDefiningAttributeAndAllowedValues
SKUDefiningAttributeValue
- Optional:
In the second row, edit the column headers that are for identifying the data for a business
object. Add or remove any optional column headings to match the data values that you are
loading.
For more information about the columns that you can specify for any supported types of
business objects, see the topics under the
Data Load utility CSV column and XML element definitions topic.
If you are creating a CSV file for a custom business object type, or loading multiple types of
business objects, the column headings must match the column mappings in your business object
configuration file.
-
Delete the sample data in the third row and all subsequent rows of data in your copied sample
CSV file.
-
Starting with the third row, specify the values for your business objects in the mandatory and
optional columns. Separate the value for each column with the appropriate delimiter
characters.
Notes: For more information about the delimiter characters that you can use with the CSV data reader
and to configure multiple-line records, see
Configuring the CSV data reader.
-
Save your CSV file.
Results
The CSV file is created in a suitable format for use with the Data Load utility. When you
load the file, the keyword and the column headers are interpreted but are not loaded into the
database.