Bulk Updating Inventory with a CSV File – SHOPLINE Help Center

If your store manages a large number of products or operates across multiple locations, updating inventory manually can be time-consuming. To simplify this process, SHOPLINE allows you to export and import inventory data using a CSV file. This method enables bulk updates to inventory quantities for specific locations with just a few steps.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to export and import inventory data using a CSV file, as well as how to view the inventory adjustment history for individual products and variants.

Exporting or Importing Inventory via CSV File

You can export a CSV file that contains the inventory quantities for each of your locations. This exported CSV file can serve as a template to update inventory. Once modified, you can re-import the file to update your SHOPLINE store and display the latest inventory quantities per location.

Notes:

If your store has multiple locations, do not use the Products CSV file to export or import inventory quantities. Use the Inventory CSV file instead.
SKUs with Track quantity with orders disabled will not be included in the export.

Exporting Inventory CSV Files

To export an inventory CSV file, follow these steps:

From your SHOPLINE admin panel, go to Products > Inventory.
Select the variants you want to export and click Export at the top.

- To export all variants: click Export without making a selection.
- To export specific variants: select them first, then click Export.
- To export filtered variants: apply filters first, then click Export.

1.1.2.png

In the pop-up window:

- Choose the export range: All variants, Selected variants, or All results.
- Select the location(s) to export inventory from. If you have multiple locations, you can export from one or all.

1.1.3.png

Enter the email address to receive the report and click Export.

Importing a CSV File to Update Inventory Quantities

Once you’ve exported the CSV file, use it as a template to update inventory levels. The file is SKU-based, allowing easy identification of products and variants. To update and import inventory using the CSV file:

Open the exported file in a spreadsheet editor.

Note: Using Microsoft Excel may cause encoding issues. We recommend using WPS. For how to resolve the encoding issue, refer to Solutions to Garbled Characters in Exported Tables.
Update the inventory quantities:

- Edit values under the On hand column.
- You can enter positive, negative, or zero values.
- Leave the field blank or enter Not stocked for products never stored at that location.
- If your CSV includes locations you don't want to update, delete those columns entirely, including the headers.

Save the file.
Return to the Inventory page, click Import at the top, then upload or drag-and-drop the saved CSV file.

Notes:

Ensure the file format is correct before uploading. Invalid field values will be skipped silently—no error messages will be shown.
Do not use the SHOPLINE Products CSV file to import inventory; the system does not recognize it. Use the Inventory CSV file instead.

Understanding the Fields in the CSV File

The column names in the inventory CSV file correspond to the functions of the Inventory module. Please follow the field descriptions below when completing and importing the CSV file to ensure accurate inventory management.

Column Name	Description
handle	Handle is the unique identifier for each product. It can include letters, hyphens, and numbers, but not spaces. The handle is used in the product URL.
Title	Title helps you identify the products. If you enter a value in this field, it will not affect the original product title when importing. This column is optional but cannot be deleted.
Option1 name	If products have multiple attributes, each combination of attributes is called a variant. For example, a T-shirt product can be offered in different sizes and colors. Size and color are the attributes. Enter the name of the first attribute for the variant here. Option Name and Option Value in the inventory CSV file are key fields for identifying which variant the row represents. If they are missing, the row will be invalid.
Option1 value	For products with multiple variants, each variant corresponds to a specific combination of attributes. Enter the value of the first attribute for the variant here. Name and Option Value in the inventory CSV file are key fields for identifying which variant the row represents. If they are missing, the row will be invalid.
Option2/3/4/5 name	See Option1 name.
Option2/3/4/5 value	See Option1 value.
SKU	SKU helps you identify the variants. If you enter a value in this field, it will not affect the original product title when importing. This column is optional but cannot be deleted.
Location	The name of the location. This field is case-sensitive and must match the name of one of your configured locations. Inventory for each location should be listed in separate rows. For each variant, include a separate row for each location where you want to update inventory. Delete any rows for locations where inventory updates are not required.
Incoming	The quantity of inventory being transferred to this location. Incoming inventory is not available for sale until it is received.
Unavailable	The quantity of inventory reserved for draft orders or other business scenarios. This inventory is not available for sale.
Committed	The quantity of inventory assigned to orders that have been created but not yet shipped.
Available	The quantity of inventory available for sale.
On hand	The total quantity of inventory at a specific location. This is the sum of Committed, Unavailable, and Available inventory. The value can be positive, negative, or zero.

Viewing Inventory Adjustment History

If your store tracks inventory, you can view the history of inventory adjustments for specific products. For products with multiple variants, you can view the adjustment history of each variant individually. Adjustment records help identify discrepancies and provide traceability for who made changes and when.

Note: Only adjustment records from the past 3 months are available.

To view inventory adjustment history:

From your SHOPLINE admin panel, go to Products and click the product you want to view.
Scroll to the Inventory section and click View history.
On the inventory adjustment history page:

- Review changes made over time.
- Use the dropdown in the top-right to switch between locations

2.1.3.png

For products with variants:

1. Click a variant to open the variant details page.
2. In the Inventory section, click View history.
3. To switch variants, use the selector on the left and repeat the same steps.