How to import and export Preorders products data in STOQ

STOQ allows you to manage preorder products in bulk using CSV files. You can import products into a preorder offer using a CSV template, making it easy to add or remove many products at once. You can also export your preorder products data to CSV for backup, reporting, or analysis purposes. This guide covers both import and export workflows.

Exporting Preorder Products to CSV

Exporting your preorder products data creates a CSV file containing all products and variants in your preorder offer. This is useful for backup, analysis, or preparing bulk updates.

How to Export Products

1. Open the STOQ app and click Preorders in the left navigation menu.
2. Click Offers to view your preorder offers and click Edit on the offer you want to export products from.
3. In the offer editor, scroll to the Products section.
4. Click the menu icon (three horizontal dots) in the products section header.
5. Select Export to CSV from the dropdown menu.

What Happens After Export

After clicking Export to CSV:

• STOQ initiates the export process in the background.
• A toast message confirms: "Export initiated. You will receive an email with the CSV file shortly."
• The CSV file is sent to your registered email address.
• Large exports may take a few minutes to process.

Export File Contents

The exported CSV file includes:

• Product titles and handles
• Variant information (SKU, title, options)
• Inventory levels
• Pricing information
• Product and variant IDs

Importing Products with CSV

Importing products via CSV allows you to add or remove multiple products from a preorder offer at once. This is especially useful when managing large catalogs or making bulk updates.

Before You Import

Before starting the import process, prepare your CSV file:

1. Download the official STOQ import template.
2. Follow the template instructions to format your data correctly.
3. Include the required columns for product identification.
4. Specify whether each product should be added or removed.

Accessing the Import Feature

1. From your Shopify admin, open the STOQ app.
2. Click Preorders in the left navigation menu.
3. Click Offers to view your preorder offers.
4. Click Edit on the offer you want to import products into.
5. In the offer editor, scroll to the Products section.
6. Click the menu icon (three horizontal dots) in the products section header.
7. Select Import with CSV from the dropdown menu.

Step 1: Download the Template

The import section provides a link to the official template:

1. Click the STOQ Preorder Import Template link.
2. The template opens in Google Sheets.
3. Make a copy of the template to your own Google Drive.
4. Review the instructions included in the template.

Important: Always use the official template to ensure your CSV file is formatted correctly. Using an incorrectly formatted file may cause import errors.

Step 2: Prepare Your CSV File

Follow these steps to prepare your import file:

1. Open your copy of the template in Google Sheets.
2. Add your product data following the template instructions.
3. For each product, specify the action (add or remove).
4. Include product identifiers (handle, SKU, or variant ID).
5. When finished, export the sheet as a CSV file:

• Go to File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv).

Step 3: Upload Your CSV File

1. In the STOQ import section, locate the file upload area.
2. Click to select your CSV file, or drag and drop it into the upload area.
3. STOQ accepts files with these formats:

• text/csv
• application/csv
• application/vnd.ms-excel
• text/comma-separated-values

Step 4: Map Columns

After uploading your file:

1. STOQ displays a column mapping interface.
2. Review how your CSV columns map to the template fields.
3. Adjust any mappings if needed.
4. Confirm the mapping is correct before proceeding.

Step 5: Start the Import

1. After confirming column mappings, click to start the import.
2. STOQ processes the import in the background.
3. The import status appears in the Recent imports section.

Monitoring Import Progress

After starting an import, you can monitor its progress in the Recent imports section.

Import Statuses

Imports can have the following statuses:

• Not Started: Import is queued and waiting to process.
• In Progress: Import is currently being processed.
• Success/Complete: Import finished successfully.
• Failure: Import encountered errors and did not complete.

Viewing Recent Imports

The Recent imports section shows:

• Import name and date
• Current status
• Number of products processed
• Any errors encountered

You can click Refresh to update the status of pending imports.

Viewing Completed Imports

To see older completed imports:

1. Click Show completed imports at the bottom of the Recent imports section.
2. A list of completed imports from the last 30 days appears.
3. Click Hide completed imports to collapse the list.

Getting Import Reports

If an import encounters issues:

1. Find the import in the Recent imports list.
2. Click to request a status report.
3. The report is sent to your registered email address.
4. Review the report to identify which products failed and why.

Best Practices

Follow these recommendations for successful imports and exports.

For Exports

• Export your products before making major changes as a backup.
• Use exports to review your current preorder product list.
• Keep exported files organized with dates in the filename.

For Imports

• Always use the official STOQ template.
• Test with a small batch of products first before large imports.
• Double-check product identifiers (handles, SKUs) for accuracy.
• Review the column mapping carefully before starting the import.
• Wait for one import to complete before starting another.

File Formatting

• Save files as CSV (Comma-separated values) format.
• Avoid special characters in product data that might break CSV formatting.
• Ensure product handles and SKUs match exactly what's in Shopify.
• Remove any extra blank rows from your CSV file.

Known Limitations

Import and export features have some constraints to be aware of.

• Exports are sent via email and may take several minutes for large product catalogs.
• Imports process in the background; you cannot cancel an import once started.
• Import history is retained for 30 days.
• Only one import can be processed at a time per offer.
• The import template must be followed exactly; custom CSV formats are not supported.
• Very large imports (thousands of products) may take significant time to process.
• Import errors for individual products don't stop the entire import; other products continue processing.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with imports or exports, use this guide to identify and resolve common problems.

FAQs

Q : Can I import products to multiple offers at once?

A : No, imports are specific to a single preorder offer. You need to run separate imports for each offer you want to update. Navigate to each offer's editor and use the Import with CSV option for that specific offer.

Q : What product identifiers can I use in the import file?

A : The import template supports product handles, SKUs, and variant IDs. Product handles are the URL-friendly names you see in your Shopify product URLs. SKUs are the stock keeping units you've assigned to variants. Variant IDs are Shopify's internal identifiers.

Q : Can I use the import to remove products from an offer?

A : Yes, the import template includes an action column where you can specify whether to add or remove each product. Follow the template instructions for the correct format to remove products.

Q : How long does an import take to process?

A : Import time depends on the number of products. Small imports (under 100 products) typically complete within a few minutes. Larger imports may take 10-30 minutes or more. The status updates automatically, or you can click Refresh to check progress.

Q : What happens if some products fail during import?

A : STOQ continues processing the remaining products even if some fail. After the import completes, you can request a status report to see which products failed and why. Common reasons include incorrect product identifiers or products that don't exist in your Shopify store.

Q : Can I export products from one offer and import them to another?

A : The export and import formats may differ, so you cannot directly use an export file as an import file. However, you can use the exported data as a reference when preparing your import file using the official template.

Q : Where do I find the import template?

A : The import template link appears when you click "Import with CSV" in the products section of any preorder offer. The link opens a Google Sheets template that you can copy and use for your import.

Updated on: 13/02/2026