Adding Products from a File (Product List)

This guide explains how you import multiple products in the program at once using a product list.

How do I import products into SimplBooks?

  • If you have an existing product list before starting to use SimplBooks, the easiest way to import the entire list into the program at once is to upload it as a CSV file.
  • If you want to add products one by one, you can find instructions for that here.

Can products be added without inventory accounting?
Yes. You can add products to the program without activating inventory accounting. Instructions can be found here.

Does this guide also cover importing opening inventory?
This guide only covers importing the product list. If you have opening inventory, you can read about adding it here.

📢 Note! Use inventory tracking only if you need to know how many products you have in stock on an ongoing basis. Using inventory tracking adds complexity to your accounting and we recommend using it only when it adds real value to your business.

1. You can import the product list under Warehouse > Items > Import.


2. Select your existing product list in CSV format and click “Import” at the bottom.


3. Select whether the file includes a heading line

This selection determines whether the first row of the CSV file is a header row, i.e., whether it contains the column names.

💡 Tip: In the images above, the first row of the CSV file is a header row.

  • If the “Includes the heading line” option is not enabled, the program will interpret the first row as a product.
  • If the “Includes the heading line” option is enabled, the first row is displayed above the “Choose target field” columns and the program will not add it as a product.

4. Select headings for the required columns from the dropdown menus.

The required fields are the product code, name, and unit.

📢 Note! The columns shown in the import preview are determined by the file being imported, so their names and order may vary. By selecting column headings, you tell the program which column each field is mapped from.

5. Once columns have been mapped for at least the required fields, click “Import” at the bottom.

💡 Tip: We recommend adding products to the program as inventory products only if you need to use inventory tracking. If you do not need inventory tracking, it is best to add products as service items, even if they are physical goods. When a product has been added as an warehouse item, the program will not allow it to be added to an invoice if there is no available stock.

6. When the import is complete, the program will report how many products were imported successfully and whether any products were not imported due to errors in the data.


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