What is a CSV?
A CSV is a text file that stores data in tabular format. CSV files can be edited using a text editor or spreadsheet tools like Google Sheets or MS Excel.
CSV transfers can be useful in cases like:
You’re moving your online store to Finqu.
You’re leaving Finqu and want to download product, customer, or order data to your computer.
You want to create a custom report on your own computer with data not available in Finqu’s built-in reports.
Preparing the files
To import data using CSV, the files need to be in a format compatible with Finqu. The easiest way to get started is by exporting data from Finqu first. If you haven’t added any products yet, start by adding at least one product and category manually in your admin, then follow the export instructions in the Exporting data section.
If you're updating data using a CSV, simply modify the exported files and import them back.
If you're importing new data, edit your own CSV files to match the structure of Finqu’s CSV files. Pay special attention to the header row (row 1), which must contain the exact same column titles.
Importing data
To import data into your Finqu account:
Go to Top right menu > Data transfer.
Click Start new import.
Click Add file.
Select the file(s) from your device.
Click Start import.
Before importing, scroll down this guide to review tips on editing files.
Notice: Importing product variations via CSV is not currently supported.
Exporting data
You can export data from the areas shown in the table below. Once exported, download the file(s) from Top right menu > Data transfer in your admin.
Data | Where to export in admin |
Products | Products > Actions > Export data |
Categories | Products > Categories > Actions > Export data |
Inventory | Products > Inventory > Export |
Orders | Sales > Export |
Customers | Customers > Export |
Tips
ID numbers
CSV files include various ID numbers such as product_id, manufacturer_id, tax_id, etc. An ID uniquely identifies a data item. For example, every product has a unique product_id.
ID numbers when updating data
If you're updating data, first export the data from the system. Make changes to the exported file and then re-import it. Do not change the ID numbers — they are used to match updates to the correct records.
ID numbers when importing new data
When adding new products, you can use any unique value in the ID field. A simple option is to use sequential numbers like 1, 2, 3, etc.
Empty fields
When updating via CSV, keep in mind that empty fields will clear existing values in the system. For example, if the name column is empty for a product, the name will be removed (see image below). If you don’t want a value to change, remove the column entirely from the CSV.
Example 1: The three highlighted rows will save an empty name if this CSV is imported.
Example 2: To keep existing data unchanged, remove the column completely from the CSV.
CSV delimiter and decimal separators
CSV columns are separated by commas.
Decimals in numbers (e.g., prices or weights) use a period.
These delimiters may not be visible in spreadsheet programs like Excel or Google Sheets. Errors can occur if a different delimiter (such as a semicolon ;) is used.
Check your software settings or open the file in a simple text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (macOS).
Example: Columns are separated by commas, and decimals use periods:
product_id,name,net_price,weight,weight_unit
123,ExampleProduct1,8.06,0.5,kg
456,ExampleProduct2,16.13,0.6,kg
Column headers
Correct column headers are crucial for a successful import. You can export sample files from your Finqu account, and use them as a guide for your imports.
Importing images
You can import product images by adding the image URL to the CSV. The importer will download the image from the URL and store a copy on Finqu’s server. You cannot import images using ZIP files.
Start with small files
If you’ve never imported CSV data into Finqu, try using a small file first. Create a test CSV with just one product. After importing, verify that the data was correctly saved in the system. Once you're confident that the file format is correct, you can proceed with importing larger datasets.