ChannelAdvisor is able to accept several file formats in order to add and edit inventory in bulk. You can also use compressed files (.zip, .gzip, or .tar) files to upload large files or groups of files.

Prerequisites

You should be familiar with the following topics before continuing:

• Adding Inventory via the User Interface
• File Delivery Methods

Upload File Formats

Select from one of the upload formats below. Once you've made the decision about which format is right for you, please have a look at our documentation regarding File Delivery Methods so you can learn how to deliver this file to us.

• The ChannelAdvisor Bulk Upload Spreadsheet 
  ChannelAdvisor provides you a suggested format for managing your inventory data in bulk. The ChannelAdvisor Bulk Upload Spreadsheet is the preferred method for adding, editing and uploading your inventory into ChannelAdvisor. This file can be in .txt (text tab delimited) or .csv format.
   
• Custom Bulk Upload Spreadsheet 
  For those that prefer to keep their inventory data in their own custom format ChannelAdvisor does allow for a custom bulk upload method. Because a custom file can contain different information per user, per account or per file within an account, you must tell ChannelAdvisor how to interpret your data that is in the file.  This file can be in .txt (text tab delimited) or .csv format.
   
• XML Format
  ChannelAdvisor supports the ability to upload your inventory information in an XML file format. An XML file may contain fields that are not recognized by the ChannelAdvisor system. A template can then be used to map these fields and specify what data should be placed in the ChannelAdvisor inventory fields.