Importing From a CSV File

Books can be imported in bulk from a CSV (comma-separated values) file. The easiest way to make a CSV file is to use a spreadsheet program such as Excel or Numbers. Then save the file in CSV format.

In order to be imported properly, the flie must follow a very specific format. The first line of the file (or first row of the spreadsheet) must be the names of the columns. The columns can be in any order, and the only required column is title. All others are optional.

You can download a template that has the first line set up for you, and all you will need to do is add your data in the format described below.

Columns must match exactly -- using the proper capitalization, spacing, etc. Any columns that do not match the list of allowed names will be ignored.

Each following line (or row) is the information for a single book.

This is the list of allowed column names, and a description of data that should be in that column for each book:

• title

  • Title of book

• summary

  • Summary of book

• subtitle

  • Subtitle of book

• goodreads

  • Valid link to book on Goodreads

• reedsy

  • Valid link to book on Reedsy

• google

  • Valid link to book on Google Books

• order

  • Series order

• additional

  • Additional Information text

• date

  • Publication date of book. MUST be in YYYY-MM-DD format

• genres

  • Comma-separated list of genre slugs. If it doesn't exist, it will be created.

  • FInd slugs here:

  • 

• tags

  • Comma-separated list of tag slugs. If it doesn't exist, it will be created.

  • see genres above for where to find slugs

• series

  • Comma-separated list of series slugs. If it doesn't exist, it will be created.

  • see genres above for where to find slugs

• editors

  • Comma-separated list of editor slugs. If it doesn't exist, it will be created.

  • see genres above for where to find slugs

• illustrators

  • Comma-separated list of illustrator slugs. If it doesn't exist, it will be created.

  • see genres above for where to find slugs

• cover_artists

  • Comma-separated list of cover artist slugs. If it doesn't exist, it will be created.

  • see genres above for where to find slugs

• publisher

  • If the publisher doesn't exist on the site already, a new author will be added (so should be entered into the CSV file with proper capitalization, ie Mooberry Dreams)

  • To use an existing publisher, must use the slug (ie, mooberry-dreams):

• imprint

  • Exact match of an imprint name. If it doesn't exist, it will be created.

• excerpt_type

  • must be either text or kindle

• excerpt

  • if excerpt_type is kindle, this should be the ASIN of the book. If excerpt_type is text, this should be the text of the excerpt.

• cover

  • Can be a number OR a link. If a number, it must be the ID of an image already existing in the media library. If a link, it must be a link to an image

Retailer Links

• retailer_{retailer name}_link

  • {retailer name} must match name exactly

  • Can have a column for each retailer (or just the ones you want to add links for)

  • Copy the retailer name exactly from here

  • Example: retailer_Barnes and Noble_link

Download Links

• download_{format name}_link

  • {format_name} must match name exactly

  • Can have a column for each format (or just the ones you want to add links for)

  • Copy the format name exactly from here

  • Example: download_Kindle_link

Formats

For all of these, {format} must match edition format name exactly

Can have columns for each format (or just the ones you want to add)

Copy the format name exactly from here:

Examples: format_Kindle_isbn, format_PDF_isbn

• format_{format}_isbn

  • ISBN

• format_{format}_doi

  • DOI

• format_{format}_sku

  • SKU

• format_{format}_language

  • Language – must match ISO 639-1 2-letter designation in CAPITAL LETTERS (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ISO_639-1_codes)

• format_{format}_pages

  • number of pages

• format_{format}_height

  • height of book

• format_{format}_width

  • width of book

• format_{format}_unit

  • units of measurement for height and width – must be one of these values: in, cm, or mm

• format_{format}_price

  • price of book

• format_{format}_currency

  • currency the price is listed in – must match 3 letter ISO 4217 code in CAPITAL LETTERS (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_4217)

• format_{format}_title

  • title for this format

Reviews

Can include up to 5 reviews. Change columns to review2, review3, etc.

• review1_name

  • Name of reviewer

• review1_link

  • Link to review if review is on another website

• review1_website

  • Name of website if review is on another website

• review1_review

  • Text of review to display review on your site

If Multi-Author installed:

• author

  • Comma-separated list of authors of book.

    • If the author doesn't exist on the site already, a new author will be added (so should be entered into the CSV file with proper capitalization, ie Robin Stone)

    • To use an existing author, must use the slug (ie, robin-stone):

If Custom Fields installed:

• custom_{field name}

• custom_{taxonomy singular name}

  • comma-separated list of slugs for the taxonomy

  • Find Taxonomy singular name here:

  • See genres above for how to find taxonomy slugs

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Last updated on September 13, 2022