Can Importing duplicate products cause records to be deleted?

-- HikaShop version -- : 4.4.5
-- Joomla version -- : 4.1.0
-- PHP version -- : 8.0.15

My goal was just to update the quantity for existing products using text area import. From a previous hikashop export, I pasted in the product_code and product_quantity columns containing about 400 entries into the text area import. Note, at the time of the import, I didn't realize that some of these entries were duplicates.

The import updated some records and for others it deleted the existing database record and created a new one.

I compared a previously saved export file with one done after this import and verified that some product_id rows were missing (deleted from the database), and a new product_id created with same product_code and updated quantity. But of course, all my other product data for that record was lost.

Though, I didn't intend to have duplicate import rows, I'm curious why that would cause the import to delete records with existing product_code and create a new one.

I just want to figure out the cause so I can avoid this in the future.

I think I learned what's happening. As part of my trial, I originally imported 10,000 products with product_msrp but not price_value. So now whenever I try and add just product_code and price_value through the import (Text Area) it deletes my original product_id and creates a new one for that product.

I experience the same result when I try to import from a CSV file. It deletes my original product_id and creates a new record with a new product_id

FYI, when I try and reload the CSV after the price_value has been created, it does see it as an existing record and no longer creates a new one.

I don't want to lose all the other field data on the existing products. What is the best method for mas importing the price_value to my existing products?

I tested the "CSV products" filter in mass actions and that imported the record successfully w/o creating a new one. Thank you for the suggestion.