Configuring your inventory to list in a variation format in bulk is a more advanced method of completing this process and is the recommended method for sellers with large inventory and who are comfortable with completing the process in the user interface. To get a full overview of this process please see the Using Variations page.

Prerequisites

You should be familiar with the following topics before continuing:

• Learn about the benefits of using variations .

Video

Creating Variations in Bulk – This video is for sellers who wish to use product variations and add them in bulk using the ChannelAdvisor Upload Spreadsheet. View Transcript

How to Create Parent/Child Relationships in Bulk

Complete the following steps related to this task:

1. Download the ChannelAdvisor Bulk Upload Spreadsheet .
2. The first row will contain the Parent SKU. All SKUs below that SKU will be the Child SKUs of the parent. Note that the Parent SKU has no quantity listed.
3. Further down the spreadsheet you'll need to fill in the Classifications and the Image URLs.
• Be sure to fill the same classification for both the Parent and the Child SKU.
• The Image URL field can contain multiple file names for images separated by a comma and a space.
• For example, if that SKU will have (2) images, the spreadsheet cell would look like 'image_1.jpg, image_2.jpg'.
• You would need to upload the images to the server prior to uploading the spreadsheet.
4. Add the Relationship Name for this variation in both the Parent and Child SKUs.
• The Variation Parent SKU column is where you will inform ChannelAdvisor Complete of your association between Parent SKU and Child SKU. Note how the Parent SKU name is titled Parent.
• All Child SKUs underneath the Parent will have the Parent SKU name populated in that cell.
5. Fill in your attributes and their values.
• Be sure the attributes are listed exactly as you have created them previously in your Inventory Relationship.
6. Once complete, save the file in a text-tab delimited format and upload into the ChannelAdvisor Complete application.

It is possible to upload Children only (without the Parent) via Bulk Upload. The system will create a parent containing only the SKU you provide in the Variation Parent SKU column. But it is expected that you'll complete title, description and other necessary fields in this Parent SKU afterwards.

Examples

The image below shows the Bulk Upload spreadsheet. The first row will contain the Parent SKU. The shaded row in grey is to call your attention to this SKU. All SKUs below that SKU will be the Child SKUs of the parent. Note that the Parent SKU has no quantity listed.



This image shows the relationship name and the Variation Parent SKU columns. The Relationship Name for this variation has been populated for the parent SKU and each Child SKU. The Variation Parent SKU column is where you will inform ChannelAdvisor Complete of your association between Parent SKU and Child SKU. For the parent SKU you simply will type the word "Parent". All Child SKUs underneath the Parent will have the Parent SKU name populated in that cell.

Note: You don't have to structure your upload file in a specific order. Child SKUs don't have to be placed strictly below the Parent SKU in your spreadsheet. The system will identify Parents and relating Children via the Inventory Number of the Parent and the Variation Parent SKUs of the Children – irrespective of the row an item is placed in. The structure used in the screenshots simply serves for better explanation.

Related Tasks

Complete the following tasks related to this topic

• Create a Variation Relationship
• Create a Parent Item
• Create a Child Item
• Assigning Parent/Child SKU Relationship
• Creating Parent/Child Relationships in Bulk