CSV import guide

A column name is only the start.

Map a CSV into BatchTrace for review. This does not connect to Shopify or update its inventory.

Use one product, location and cutoff

Use one unique product code per row and consistent units. Separate locations and snapshots from different dates before importing. Duplicate codes are rejected rather than silently summed.

Reuse checked header choices with mapping profiles →

Map deliberately

Product code and Counted require a column. Unassigned movement fields become zero and appear in the preview notice. Assigned blank cells are invalid. Up to 500 product rows and 100 columns fit in a comma CSV of 1 MB. Quoted commas and multiline text are supported; export tab/semicolon files as comma CSV first.

Available is not on hand

Shopify defines On hand as Available + Committed + Unavailable at a location. For example, 18 on hand with 5 committed and 3 unavailable leaves 10 available. Incoming remains separate until received. A committed order can still be physically on hand.

Do not map Available to a physical count just because it is numeric. Do not subtract an order again from an already-adjusted snapshot. BatchTrace does not infer inventory state or independently verify a count.

Read export columns carefully

Shopify all-states exports have separate location rows. On hand (current) is the export-time snapshot; On hand (new) is a proposed replacement, with blank meaning no change. Available-only exports use location names as quantity columns. SKU may be optional; preserve variant and location identity before preparing a unique worksheet code.

Shopify supports negative whole-number quantities and the text not stocked. BatchTrace requires non-negative stock and movement quantities, except signed adjustments. Negative stock and not stocked are rejected. Do not replace them with zero merely to pass validation.

Preview before replacing

Every row is validated before replacement is offered. The preview shows five sample rows and all fields assigned zero. Confirmation replaces the whole worksheet. Save or download a backup afterward. Original source CSVs are not retained or embedded in backups.

Primary sources

Checked September 12, 2026: Shopify inventory states and Shopify inventory CSV guide.