Importing categories

-- url of the page with the problem -- : www.bil-filtertjanst.se
-- HikaShop version -- : 2.3.5
-- Joomla version -- : 3.3.6
-- PHP version -- : 5.3.29
-- Browser(s) name and version -- : Chrome v 40.0.2214.93 m (64-bit)
-- Error-message(debug-mod must be tuned on) -- : no error message just blank page

HI,
I am about to start a webshop selling filters for cars and other trucks and machines.
THere are a lot of different products as their catalog are around 800 pages of products.
All to be in HikaShop webshop.
Only the categories has to be hundreds...
Now I want to import all categories from an excel file that is saved as a semi colon separated csv file UTF-8.
There are one main category Volvo BM and then the rest is sub categories on the second level.
Just wanted to try two levels first. The end will be like thre levels of categories and then products in the third category level.
Like this:
Machine / Machine model / Motor type
The files looks like this:

categories
Volvo BM;24
Volvo BM;25
Volvo BM;35
Volvo BM;36
Volvo BM;55
Volvo BM;320
Volvo BM;400
Volvo BM;430

Create csv file with 2 columns:
parent_category and categories

For example if your categories looks like
Volvo BM > 430 > Diesel,
your csv file will looks like:

"parent_category";"categories"
"product_category";"Volvo BM"
"Volvo BM";"430"
"430";"Diesel"

Ok, thanks!

I think I get it.I have set it up like this:

parent_category;categories
product_category;Volvo BM
Volvo BM;24
Volvo BM;25
Volvo BM;35

parent_category;categories
product_category;Valmet Valtra
Valmet Valtra;20
Valmet Valtra;35
Valmet Valtra;359
....

Hi again,
I tried to set it up like this:

parent_category;categories
product_category;Volvo BM
Volvo BM;24
Volvo BM;25
Volvo BM;35
Volvo BM;36
Volvo BM;55
Volvo BM;320
Volvo BM;400
Volvo BM;430
Volvo BM;350 Boxer
Volvo BM;470 Bison

You are right.
Categories with only numbers in name are ignored.
Looks like a bug. I will take a look and let you know.

I added a space after the ones with only numbers and now they weren't ignored but when I did my first attempt like this:

parent_category;categories
product_category;Volvo BM
Volvo BM;24
Volvo BM;25
Volvo BM;35
Volvo BM;36
Volvo BM;55
Volvo BM;320
Volvo BM;400
Volvo BM;430
Volvo BM;350 Boxer
Volvo BM;470 Bison

It turns out you can't import categories with numeric names.

In administrator\components\com_hikashop\helpers\import.php on line 831

if(!is_numeric($v) || !empty($product->categories_namekey)){

if(!empty($v) || !empty($product->categories_namekey)){

Ok thanks a lot!

Hi,
...is there any way to import Category Description ?

Yes that would be very good to know.
Also I don't quite get it.
First I imported catgories on three levels
Volvo BM > A-Serien > A20
Volvo BM > A-Serien > A20C
etc.
Like this:

parent_category;categories
Volvo BM;A-Serien
A-Serien;A20
A-Serien;A20C
A-Serien;A25
A-Serien;A25B

product_code;product_name;product_manufacturer_id;product_weight;product_weight_unit;price_value;price_currency_id;parent_category;categories
18002;Transmissionsfilter;12;0.39;kg;356.00;SEK;Volvo BM;A-Serien;A20
18003;Transmissionsfilter;12;0.37;kg;396.00;SEK;Volvo BM;A-Serien;A20C
18004;Fuelfilter;12;0.30;kg;256.00;SEK;Volvo BM;A-Serien;A25
18005;Transmissionsfilter;12;2.35;kg;796.00;SEK;Volvo BM;A-Serien;A43

You need 9 'arguments' per line

Products in your CSV have one more column than header.
If your categories have unique names(e.g. you don't have several A20 categories), you don't have to set parent_category if category already exists.
Values should be enclosed in quotes, otherwise semicolon is as column separator.

Your last 3 values in each line are wrong.

"Volvo BM";"A-Serien;A20"

"parent_category";"categories"
"A-Serien";"A20"