Using this function you can set up new catalogs, upload a catalog file with item data and create new items in the iPIM system, which are subsequently processed further.
- iPIM features a two- to three-step product structure comprising of items on the lowest level, variants on the optional middle level and products on the uppermost level. Hereby, products and variants are merely virtual containers to group items of the same kind. In the process of the item import, products are created to which the imported items are subordinated as even a standalone item is represented by a product and a subordinate item.
- Within iPIM, the properties of products and items are represented by attributes and their values. Item properties which were imported via supplier catalog files are named supplier attributes.
- Go to the “Catalogs” section.
- Click on the button above the catalog overview to call up the catalog configuration.
Import
In this slider, the import is configurated and the catalog file is uploaded. This section shows how to import a catalog file in the .xlsx format:
- In the “Catalog name” field, enter the catalog name. Under this name the catalog is stored in iPIM.
- From the “Language” menu, select the language of the item data.
- From the “Supplier” menu, select a supplier.
- From the “Format” menu, select the file format of the catalog file.
- In the “Excel sheet name” field, enter the name of the corresponding sheet of the catalog file (e. g. “Sheet1”).
- In the “Attribute names in row” field, enter the table row number of the column headers that contain the attribute names (usually “1”).
- In the input field “Data area from row”, enter the number of the table row in which the data to be imported starts (usually “2”).
- In the input field “Data area from column”, possibly enter the number of the table column in which the data to be imported starts.
- In the input field “Data area to column”, possibly enter the number of the table column in which the data to be imported ends.
- From the “Import hidden columns” menu, possibly select the corresponding option to specify that also the data from hidden columns is imported.
- Drag the import file over the drop area and drop it there or click on “
Select files” to call up the import file via the file manager. Following this, the file is loaded into the cache and the file name is shown below the drop area.
- In order to cache your settings for the catalog, click on the button*.
- In order to proceed to the next slider, click on the button.
Configuration
In this slider, the basic settings regarding the imported item data are made. This includes the item data that uniquely identifies the imported items and item data which is used to categorize the items:
- From the “Attribute with article description” menu, select the supplier attribute from the catalog file which represents the item names.
- From the “Attribute with unique article key” menu, select the supplier attribute from the catalog file which represents the IDs of the imported items. For example, this can be the column with the item numbers. You can also select multiple attributes.
- From the “Attribute for determining the classification” menu, select a supplier attribute from the catalog file which provides information about the category allocation of the imported items (e.g. the device type). You can also select multiple categorisation attributes. Based on the respective attribute values, an attempt is made to identify suitable iPIM categories during the further processing using an AI-supported category mapping (AI Smart Classification).
- In order to get back to the previous slider, click on the button.
- In order to cache your settings, click on the button*.
- In order to proceed to the next slider, click on the button.
Mapping of classification
In this slider, the categorisation attributes of the imported items are allocated to the appropriate categories in the iPIM system. The left-hand card lists the imported categorisation attributes, whereas the central column features menus from where you can select the appropriate iPIM categories. Some categorisation attributes might already have been allocated to the corresponding iPIM categories. And the right-hand column shows the number of imported items for each category.
- Allocate the first of the categorisation attributes to the appropriate iPIM category. To do so, double-click in the corresponding table cell to expand the category selection menu.
- Choose a suitable category. Possibly use the text search to filter the list of categories by a search term.
- Click on the category to select it.
- Allocate all the other imported categorisation attributes to the corresponding “iPIM” categories.
- In order to get back to the previous slider, click on the button.
- In order to cache your settings for the catalog, click on the button*.
- In order to proceed to the next slider, click on the button.
Mapping of attributes
In this slider, the supplier attributes from the imported catalog file are allocated to the appropriate iPIM attributes. The left-hand column lists the available iPIM attributes, whereby, for example, category attributes are grouped by categories. The right-hand column contains menus for selecting the corresponding supplier attributes.
- Choose the first iPIM attribute from the list.
- In the table row of the respective iPIM attribute, double-click in the table cell of the “Supplier attribute from file” column.
- Select the supplier attribute from the menu and leave the table cell.
- Allocate all the other relevant iPIM attributes to the corresponding supplier attributes. You do not have to allocate supplier attributes to all the shown iPIM attributes.
- In order to get back to the previous slider, click on the button.
- In order to cache your settings for the catalog, click on the button*.
- In order to proceed to the next slider, click on the button.
Mapping of values
In this slider, you can allocate the values of supplier attributes that were allocated to iPIM attributes with a specified value set to the corresponding values of the respective iPIM attributes*:
- Choose the first supplier attribute value from the list (on the left-hand side from it you can see the iPIM attribute that was allocated in the previous step).
- In the corresponding table row, double-click in the table cell of the “Attribute value” column.
- From the menu, select the suitable value of the iPIM attribute and leave the table cell.
- Allocate suitable iPIM attribute values to all the other supplier attribut values.
- In order to get back to the previous slider, click on the button.
- In order to finalise the catalog creation, click on the button. If the process was successful, a corresponding message will appear. The catalog has now been created and the imported item data is processed further.
FAQ
General
How is the product structure organized in iPIM?
iPIM features a two- to three-step product structure comprising of items on the lowest level, variants on the optional middle level and products on the uppermost level. Products and variants are merely virtual containers to group items of the same kind.
Why are products created in the process of an item import, even though only items are being imported?
Even a standalone item is represented in iPIM by a product and a subordinate item. This is why, in the process of the item import, products are created to which the imported items are subordinated.
What is the difference between iPIM attributes and supplier attributes?
Within iPIM, the properties of products, variants and items are represented by attributes and their values. Item properties which were imported via supplier catalog files, on the other hand, are named supplier attributes.
Import slider
What is the purpose of the “Attribute names in row” field?
In this field, you enter the table row number of the column headers that contain the attribute names. Usually, this is row “1”.
What is the purpose of the “Data area from row” field?
In this field, you enter the number of the table row in which the data to be imported starts. Usually, this is row “2”, since row “1” typically contains the attribute names.
Is data from hidden columns in the catalog file imported automatically?
This depends on the setting in the “Import hidden columns” menu. This menu is used to specify whether the data from hidden columns is also imported.
Configuration slider
What basic settings are made in the Configuration slider?
In this slider, the item data that uniquely identifies the imported items as well as the item data used to categorize the items are configured. This includes the “Attribute with article description”, the “Attribute with unique article key”, and the “Attribute for determining the classification”.
What happens with the data selected via “Attribute for determining the classification”?
Based on the respective attribute values of the selected categorisation attributes, an attempt is made to identify suitable iPIM categories during the further processing using an AI-supported category mapping (AI Smart Classification). You can also select multiple categorisation attributes here.
Mapping of classification slider
What is the purpose of the Mapping of classification slider?
In this slider, the previously imported categorisation attributes are allocated to the appropriate categories in the iPIM system. For each attribute, the number of imported items allocated to the respective categorisation attribute is displayed.
Have all categorisation attributes already been automatically allocated to an iPIM category?
Not necessarily. Some categorisation attributes might already have been allocated to the corresponding iPIM categories automatically, but the remaining ones still need to be allocated manually.
Mapping of attributes slider
What is the purpose of the Mapping of attributes slider?
In this slider, the supplier attributes from the catalog file are allocated to the appropriate iPIM attributes. The left-hand column lists the available iPIM attributes, whereby, for example, category attributes are grouped by categories.
Do supplier attributes have to be allocated to all displayed iPIM attributes?
No, you do not have to allocate supplier attributes to all the shown iPIM attributes. Only all the other relevant iPIM attributes are allocated to the corresponding supplier attributes.
Mapping of values slider and completion
What is the purpose of the Mapping of values slider?
In this slider, you can allocate the values of supplier attributes that were previously allocated to iPIM attributes with a specified value set to the corresponding values of the respective iPIM attributes.
Why aren’t all supplier attribute values displayed in the Mapping of values slider?
The table only lists supplier attribute values that could not be allocated automatically. Values that have already been allocated automatically therefore do not appear in the list.