Import products

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Import products

Efficient product management is key to maintaining a streamlined sales process, especially when dealing with large inventories. Odoo Sales offers a powerful feature that simplifies bulk product creation and editing: the product import template. This article explains how to properly use this feature, covering everything from template customization to importing categories, attributes, and product variants.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Introduction to Product Importing in Odoo

Odoo Sales provides a dedicated import template that supports the bulk import of products, including their categories and variants. The template is compatible with standard spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, OpenOffice, and Google Sheets. Once completed and uploaded, the products become immediately accessible and editable in the Products catalog.

 

  1. Downloading the Import Template

To begin, the product import template must be downloaded from the Odoo Sales module:

  1. Go to Sales App → Products → Products.
  2. Click the gear icon in the upper-left corner.
  3. Select Import records from the dropdown menu.
  4. On the new page, click the link to download the Import Template for Products.
  1. Customizing the Product Import Template

After downloading the template, open it in a spreadsheet editor. Here are best practices to keep in mind:

  • Keep the “Internal Reference” column (strongly recommended), as it helps prevent duplicate entries.
  • Do not rename the default column headers, or you’ll have to manually map fields during the import process.
  • Remove unnecessary columns if not required.
  • Add new columns, only if those fields already exist in Odoo. Otherwise, they must be manually mapped during the import.

 

Import Mapping Screen

 

During the import process, Odoo displays your spreadsheet columns as:

  • File Column – name in your file
  • Odoo Field – corresponding field in Odoo
  • Comments – additional info or warnings

If a column isn’t automatically matched, use the Odoo Field dropdown to manually select the appropriate field.

  1. Uploading and Testing the Import File

Once the spreadsheet is ready:

  1. Return to the Import Records page.
  2. Click Upload File and select your spreadsheet.
  3. Review the mapping between your columns and Odoo fields.
  4. Click the Test button to validate the file.
  • If successful, you’ll see an “Everything seems valid” message.
  • If errors occur, a red banner will explain what needs to be corrected. After fixing, re-upload and retest.

Once validated, click Import to complete the process. A confirmation pop-up will display the number of products successfully imported.

  1. Uploading and Testing the Import File

Once the spreadsheet is ready:

  1. Return to the Import Records page.
  2. Click Upload File and select your spreadsheet.
  3. Review the mapping between your columns and Odoo fields.
  4. Click the Test button to validate the file.
  • If successful, you’ll see an “Everything seems valid” message.
  • If errors occur, a red banner will explain what needs to be corrected. After fixing, re-upload and retest.

Once validated, click Import to complete the process. A confirmation pop-up will display the number of products successfully imported.

  1. Importing Relational Fields

Odoo products are connected to other data objects such as categories, vendors, and attributes. These are called relational fields, and must already exist in Odoo before being referenced in the import file.

To Import Relation Fields:

  • Add the relational field name as a column in your spreadsheet (e.g., Product Type, Vendor, Category).
  • Ensure the values listed in the column match existing records in Odoo.
  • Save and import the file using the same import process as above.
  1. Importing Product Attributes and Values

Product attributes (e.g., Size, Color) allow for product customization and variant creation. These attributes must be imported separately before being used in a product import.

Spreadsheet Requirements:

Column

Description

Attribute

Name of the attribute (e.g., Size)

Display Type

How the attribute is shown (Radio, Selection, or Color)

Variant Creation Mode

Defines how variants are created (Instantly, Dynamically, Never)

Values / Value

Attribute values (e.g., Small, Medium, Large). One value per row.

To Import:

  1. Go to Sales App → Configuration → Attributes.
  2. Click the gear icon → Import records → Upload File.
  3. Once uploaded, click Import to finalize.

These attributes can now be assigned to new or existing products.

  1. Importing Product Variants

After attributes and values are in the system, you can create product variants during the product import process.

Required Columns in Import Template:

Column

Description

Name

Product name

Product Attributes / Attribute

Name of the attribute (e.g., Color)

Product Attributes / Values

Corresponding values (e.g., Red, Blue, Green)

To import multiple values, separate them with commas (e.g., red,blue,green) without spaces.

To Import:

  1. Go to Sales App → Products → Products.
  2. Click gear icon → Import records → Upload File.
  3. Upload your product variant spreadsheet and click Import.

To verify variant details, open any imported product and check the Attributes & Variants tab.

  1. Final Thoughts

Importing products in bulk using Odoo’s built-in template system can save significant time and ensure data consistency across your product catalog. With support for relational fields, attributes, and variants, Odoo provides a robust and flexible solution for complex inventories.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can:

  • Import new products quickly
  • Maintain accurate data
  • Avoid duplicate entries
  • Customize your product catalog with ease

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