How to import images in bulk to inFlow
Are you looking to upload product images in bulk to inFlow? If your images are saved online, you can import them to inFlow using a CSV.
Preparing images
Getting your images ready
In order to import your images, they must be stored online and have a public URL. If you have them stored locally on your computer, we recommend using Airtable to generate URLs for your images.
Before you start
- The product names / SKUs on your CSV must have a matching product name or SKU in inFlow.
- If you have multiple pictures for the same product, name them after the same Product Name or SKU followed by a dash “-” and the image number (e.g. “Firebird-1”, “Firebird-2”). Do not use parenthesis.
Note: inFlow Cloud is not affiliated with Airtable. For up-to-date guides on the steps suggested below, please see the Airtable Help Center.
Uploading your images to Airtable
- Sign up for a free account in Airtable (if you already have an account, skip this step and sign in).
- On the Airtable homepage, click on Add a base.
- To the left of the page, select Gallery, name the gallery then click on Create new view.
- Click on an Unnamed Record, and rename it to a product name or SKU that you have in inFlow. The product name must exactly match the product name or SKU in inFlow
- Click on +Add new field to this table.
- Rename the field, and change the Single line text to Attachment. Then click Save.
- You can drag and drop photos to the field you made, or click browse to add a photo from your computer.
- Close the record to edit the other products.
- To add multiple products with a CSV file, click on Add or import and select CSV file.
- Select the table that you’re working on.
- Click on Map Fields, then deselect Notes, Status, Field 5, and Field 6.
- Only Name should be selected, than click Import.
- You can click on any of the records to edit them, or change the image you’ve attached. If there are any products you don’t need you can right-click on them and select Delete record.
- To add more than one image to inFlow you’ll need another product record with the same product name. You can right-click on a record, then select Duplicate.
- Open the duplicate record, remove the word copy from the product record, and add an image to the attachment field.
- Don’t add more than one image to a product record.
- When done you can export your products to a CSV file. Click on the gallery view, then Download CSV.
- Click on the CSV setup article tab to continue.
CSV setup
Article shortcuts
Editing the CSV (created with Airtable)
- To import images to inFlow, you must remove the file name and the parentheses () from the Photos field.
- Select all the image links, excluding the heading.
- Use the Text to columns/Split Text to columns feature to separate these columns. Excel text to columns steps. Google Sheets Split text to columns steps.
- Choose “(“ without quotes as your separator. You can delete the column that is left with the image names and file extensions.
- Open the Find and Replace feature or CTRL+F on your keyboard.
- Use the Find and Replace feature to locate the closing parenthesis “)” and replace it with a blank.
- You’ll now be left with a column that only has image links. Add a heading to this column.
- Save the file as a CSV to import to inFlow. Click on the Windows or Web article tab for steps for importing this CSV to inFlow.
Creating/editing the CSV (without Airtable)
If you already have URL links for your product images, you can create a CSV to upload to inFlow.
You can download a template for your picture import by
- Go to Main Menu > General > Export.
- Select Product Images from the Data type section.
- Click Export.
You can also create your own file by adding the following columns to the spreadsheet.
- Product Name / SKU (at least one field is required)
- Image URL
Things to note:
- The Product name or the SKU you enter in the spreadsheet must match the Product Name or SKU of your products in inFlow Cloud.
- If a product has multiple images, the first image that is imported will be set as the default image in inFlow.
- If you’re importing images for a product that already has them, they will be replaced with the imported ones. If you leave the URL column blank, it will delete all images associated with the product.
Saving as a .csv file from Excel
In order to import data which may contain special characters, save as CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)
Before you import, make sure your file is saved as a CSV.
- In your spreadsheet, click File > Save As.
- At the bottom of the window, click the Save as Type drop-down and select CSV (comma delimited).
- Click Save.
- Excel will warn you about the loss of formatting. This is not a problem. Click Yes to complete your save.
If using another spreadsheet program, save the file as a CSV before you import to inFlow.
Windows
Importing in the Windows App
- Go to Main Menu > General > Import Data.
- Select Product Images from the Data type drop-down menu.
- Browse your file location and select the CSV you prepared earlier.
- Click Next.
- On the mapping screen, match the columns to the fields in the CSV drop-down menu
- Click Import. You’ll receive an email when the import is complete.
Web
Importing in inFlow Cloud for Web
- Go to Main Menu > Import
- In the Data type field, select Product Images.
- Browse for the CSV you prepared earlier.
- Click Next.
- Match the columns in the CSV to the fields. Once you match the URL field, you’ll see a preview of the first image you’re importing.
- Click Import. You’ll receive an email when the import is complete.
Yes, thanks!
Not really
This is just as much work as adding the images one by one. I don’t see how this is at all helpful. I need to go here, create the base, gallery, import the name of the records, then MANUALLY ADD PICTURES TO EACH RECORD. Why wouldn’t I just manually add them to inflow? It makes no sense to do this at all