Skip to main content
Importing your stock

Import from a spreadsheet (CSV)

Bring your stock into Lotmaster from a spreadsheet: save it as a CSV file, match the columns, check the rows, and import.

Written By Justin

Last updated About 1 hour ago

Save your spreadsheet as a CSV file, then go to More → Import on a phone, or Inventory → Import on a computer. Choose the file, match its columns, check the rows, and tap Import. Nothing is saved until that last tap.

This is for stock that isn't on eBay. eBay listings come in from Sell → eBay imports instead. See Import your eBay listings.

Before you start

  • Save it as CSV. In Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers, save or download the sheet as a CSV file.
  • Up to 5,000 rows and 10 MB in one file. Split bigger files.
  • One row per item, with a header row at the top naming each column.
  • No spreadsheet yet? On the first screen, under No spreadsheet yet? Start from ours, tap a kind of item to download a blank file with the right columns. A file made from it matches its own columns when you upload it.

Import it

  1. Go to More → Import (phone) or Inventory → Import (computer).
  2. Tap Choose a CSV file and pick your file.
  3. Match your columns. Lotmaster suggests where each column goes. Check each one and change any that are wrong (see below).
  4. Tap Check the rows.
  5. Check before importing. Fix or leave out any rows marked To fix (see below).
  6. Tap Import and the number of rows.

Matching columns

For each of your columns you see its name, an example from your file, and where it goes.

  • The file is: pick My own spreadsheet, or the app the file came from (Lotmaster export, Vendoo export or List Perfectly export). See Moving from Vendoo or List Perfectly.
  • Item type, unless a column says: the kind of item for rows that don't say. If your file has an Item type column, each row can name its own.
  • Goes to: where a column's values go, like Title, SKU, Price, Cost, Quantity, Storage location or one of your item type's fields. Pick Don’t import to leave a column out.
  • Item specific (keeps the column name): for things like brand or size. The column's name becomes the detail's name.
  • Photo links: web addresses of photos. Several columns can be photo links, and one cell can hold several links.

You need a Title column. The count at the bottom says how many columns are matched.

Locations

If you match a Storage location column, a row can name a bin by its code (B27), its name (Bin B27) or its full path (Shop › Shelf B › B27, or with >, / or | between the parts).

Leave Make the locations you don’t have yet ticked to add any that are missing. A name on its own goes inside the place you pick under New locations go inside.

Checking the rows

The tiles at the top show All rows, Ready and To fix. Tap one to see those rows.

  • Fix it opens a row's values so you can correct them there. Tap Done when it's right.
  • Leave out skips a row. Put it back brings it back.
  • Edit changes a row that's ready.

Rows still marked to fix when you import are skipped.

Some rows are skipped on purpose, and the page says how many:

  • Already in the shop: its SKU matches an item you have.
  • Sold or none left: its status is sold, or its quantity is 0.

If your file has no SKU column, the page warns you that importing it a second time would add its items again.

The page also tells you how many new locations will be made and how many photos will be downloaded. If your plan doesn't have room for every active item, it says how many won't import.

While it imports

The import runs in the background. You can leave the page; it keeps going. Come back to see how far it's got, or tap Stop the import to stop it. Rows not handled by then aren't imported.

Up to 12 photos are kept for each item. Photo links have to be public web addresses that start with http:// or https://.

When it's done

You'll see how many items were added, how many locations were made, and how many rows need a look:

  • Not imported: each row with the reason. Fix them in the spreadsheet and import it again. Rows already in are skipped if they have a SKU.
  • Imported, some photos missing: the item came in, but a photo couldn't be downloaded. Tap Open the item to add it.
  • Already in the shop: rows skipped as duplicates.

Items without a location wait in Inventory under Needs a location, ready to put away.

Your past imports are listed under Earlier imports on the first screen.

Was this helpful?

Still need help? Ask the team