WooCommerce XML Import

Are you running an e-commerce website and selling products from different suppliers? Then you’re probably looking for a tool to import XML feed to WooCommerce.

In this article, we’ll review such a tool. Store Manager for WooCommerce will help you connect with your suppliers, add new items, modify store data on the go, run automated import in the background, and other tasks.

Steps to import XML feed to WooCommerce

If you haven’t got the Store Manager yet, download the free trial version so that you could follow steps from the guide below.

How to import XML feed to WooCommerce step-by-step:

Run the Import Wizard
Specify the XML file location
Convert XML Data to CSV
Select product identifier and map fields
Select the import method
Preview data
View import log and save the configuration
Check imported products

Run the Import Wizard

After you’ve installed Store Manager and connected to your store, you can begin the import setup. Press “Import” on the toolbar:

WooCommerce Store Manager XML Import Launch — Launch XML Import Tool

Select XML file

You can import an XML file from various locations: local computer, URL, or FTP:

WooCommerce Store Manager XML import Select File — Select an XML File

Convert XML Data to CSV

The settings in this step will help you parse the XML file and convert it into a table format. Firstly, select a node containing details of a product. In our case, it’s an Item (use the preview to check it with your file):

WooCommerce Store Manager XML Import Conversion Preview — Preview XML File

Next, specify the structure of the node that is used in your file. In our file, the structure is as follows: [code]text[/code].

And finally, associate XML nodes to CSV columns. Pick an XML node from the left pane and drag it to the corresponding CSV column in the right pane. Or click the field next to a CSV column to assign an XML node to it:

WooCommerce Store Manager XML Import Select Node — Select a Node Describing a Product

Press “Next” to proceed.

Select product identifier and map fields

Now, select how you want to identify products: by their SKU or ID. Mind, that ID can be used only to update existing products that were previously exported with their IDs. The identification by SKU will work in most cases. We would recommend trying this one if you’re not sure.

You can add an SQL rule to skip the import of certain data, for instance, products with zero stock.

For the correct import, it is important to link fields from your source file to the corresponding WooCommerce database fields. To skip the import of certain feed columns, leave them unlinked or unlink yourself:

WooCommerce Store Manager XML import Mapping Unlink — Unlink the Fields to Skip Their Import

To see how to map columns and configure other import settings, watch this 5-minute tutorial:

Select the import method

Data from the feed can be imported in several ways.

For initial import you can use the “Add only” option. Thus you’ll skip checking for the matching products and the import will go faster.

Use the “Add and Modify” option to add new and update existing products during import. If you only want to update existing products, use the “Modify Only” option.

WooCommerce Store Manager XML Import Options — Select a Method of Importing XML File

Preview data

Preview product list before importing it to make sure all the fields were linked correctly. Then press “Import”:

WooCommerce Store Manager XML Import Preview — Preview Import

View import log and save the configuration

In this step, you can save current configuration to use in the future. You can also use it to set up automated product import.

Review the import log to make sure all required products were created. If some products were skipped, you will be able to see their IDs and the reasons why they weren’t imported.

WooCommerce Store Manager XML Import Log — View XML Import Log

To exit the Wizard, press “Finish”.

Check imported products

Now let’s check the result with the Store Manager. Here are the four products imported from XML:

WooCommerce Store Manager XML Imported Products — View Products imported from XML in Store Manager

How to update stock upon XML Import

Suppose, you need to set the product “Out of stock” if its quantity turns 0 upon import, and set it “In Stock” if quantity is greater than 0 after the update. To solve tasks like this, use the “Expression” tool in the third step of the Wizard described above.

Assign the Product Quantity column to the Stock field.
Add the following expression to the Stock field: IF([SOURCE_FIELD(Stock)]=0,"no","yes")
Add the expression to the Stock Status field: IF([SOURCE_FIELD(Stock)]=0,"outofstock","instock")

Using expressions, you can update other store data in the same way.

As you can see, the import tool within Store Manager for WooCommerce allows you not only import data from an XML file, but also make modifications within the wizard.