To the Depth of Magento 2 Import with FireBear Improved Import and Export

The article is created by FireBear content writer.

Be it partial or whole database extraction and implementation, what one can make of them? How to execute such processes to benefit an e-commerce business? If you happen to miss anything about the Magento 2 import and export, the post will cover for you with every detail on the matter.

What are import and export within Magento 2

The basic principle of any data structure is to provide users with access to the maximum of its parts. Magento 2 is a multilevel modular platform that includes numerous data units. Many of them are of various nature and fall under diverse logic patterns. No wonder there are lots of details that must be considered before making a universal solution for successful data management.

Export and import within Magento 2 work with entities as definitive elements. Following each data type specifics, the built-in tools give control over entity blocks with all the related data.

Unfortunately, the native functionality still supports only fundamental entities. At the moment you can work with nothing but:

• products with images,
• advanced pricing,
• customers,
• customer addresses,
• customer finances (Commerce and Cloud editions only),
• stock sources (MSI extension developed by Magento community).

The list will do if you intend to get the gist of your store status. Magento 2 import and export make it rather comfortable to update stock or administer customer info. In case, you pry to practice some specific approach to data transfers, standard tools won’t be able to satisfy you. It is third-party helpers that will allow you to work with a significantly wider range of entities presented within the system.

The native import and export are still on the starting line of developing their potential. Like any other Magento 2 feature, the functionality is actively subjected to modifications by various extension providers. Tools with unique UI options, entity and source expansions, advanced file mapping, performance boosters constantly appear in the market. Some of them have a single feature orientation, others introduce complex solutions that upgrade the native import and export on all the levels.

Later on, we will follow an example of a multifunctional module ‒ FireBear Improved Import and Export ‒ and explore the ways to enrich a whole Magento 2 store workflow with a single piece of software.

To understand how heavily an import enhancement can impact user experience with data transfers, let’s explore the native import and export specifics.

What you need to know about the Magento 2 import tool

Working with the native import and export, you may encounter some peculiarities that will limit your actions strictly. For one thing, you can transfer data solely in a CSV table. All in all, the method helps you manage particular entities in one place without switching between multiple product or customer pages. However, the native functionality restricts usage of table formats exclusively to CSV, including ZIP-archived CSV for import only.

The table structure follows the fields included in the entity settings. The example on how to compose the table is available for download right on the import page. To ensure you implement data correctly, follow the exact attribute title spelling, value formatting, and element order within each field. If you don’t have time on compiling massive data files, try exporting the entity of interest and update the table with new values for the future import.

The predefined size of an import file is a maximum of 2MB. It’s a characteristic that actually can be modified in the php.ini file. However, don’t forget the extreme gap between a new value and the default size will influence system performance and import speed directly.

Upon importing, you can define the way data are implemented. You can add new data to the database or update all attributes (except SKU) for the existing entities. Also, the built-in options allow you to replace existing entities with the imported ones or delete the entities that have matching SKU with those in the import table from the database.

Keep in mind that you cannot make any changes in the import file once it is uploaded. The native import functionality doesn’t offer any kind of mapping settings, so all the data modifications must be performed manually in the table beforehand.

Users who look for process automation within Magento 2 can try out scheduled import and export, which is only available for Magento 2 Enterprise/Commerce. By defining the exact time and frequency, you can arrange updates without personal involvement. Scheduled import and export retrieve data only from a local server or remote FTP, so make sure to maintain the sources properly. In addition, you can configure email notifications on failed import and export to stay informed about automatic processes.

The statistics on each import execution are stored in the import history. There you can track the date, status, or info on the admin who performed an import. The summary here shows whether the import followed the set-up behavior patterns and the number and nature of errors occurred (if there were any).

For more details on how to manage import or export follow Magento 2 Docs.

How to step up business growth with FireBear Improved Import and Export

It is clear that the primary goal of any data transfer within Magento 2 is database updates. However, we are here to say data extraction and implementation has actually no limits in usage. There’s nothing impossible if to apply the right tool. And FireBear Improved Import and Export has been developed to prove the statement right.

The most distinctive characteristic of Improved Import and Export is its flexibility. Having absorbed the best practices of the native import functionality, the extension introduces an advanced solution that enhances common data transfer procedures on all the levels.

Among the extension settings, you can find the expanded list of supported entities (those of both B2C and B2B orientation), diverse import and export sources, data mapping, and detailed configuration for automatic updates.

These unique features make the extension a powerful data management tool and bring to life numerous opportunities for exploiting data transfers. Apart from store content updates, Improved Import and Export excels in the fields of:

• Workflow automation;
• Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration;
• Connection between multiple e-commerce platforms;
• ERP and CRM integration with Magento 2;
• Magento 2 and accounting software and PIM integration;
• Dropshipping on the base of Magento 2.

As you can see, the extension is able to synchronize Magento 2 with literally everything. Regardless of platform specifics, structure and logic, Improved Import and Export can extract and implement elements of any size using uninterrupted data exchange as a method. All you need is to find the desired application and let the extension arrange a perfect environment for your project.

How to get the maximum out of data transfers by means of Improved Import and Export

Improved Import and Export possesses a standard Magento 2 interface, known to merchants by its user-friendliness. The difference comes in the title of unique extension rules ‒ jobs. All the jobs are presented in a dynamic grid where all the crucial info is available for editing. Thus, you don’t need to open each job if you want to apply some minor changes.

The job configuration involves several steps focused on import or export schedule, behavior, source, data file mapping. Specific entities, e.g., products, can undergo additional price adjustments, content translation, and transformation into configurable products right in the import job.

From the start, Improved Import and Export gives you the ability to select the type of transfer you perform. You can set up manual or automatic extraction and implementation and change the method anytime.

Automatic updates are run with the help of cron. You can specify the exact date, time and frequency for scheduled import, enable cron to work without any supervision. Scheduled export introduces extra options, such as trigger events.

Manual import or export presupposes a job is run upon the admin action. However, some elements of automation are present in the case, as well. A job set-up once doesn’t require any modifications during future manual runs unless you need to select a new source file. All the changes made inside the source file are retrieved automatically (for any type of synchronization except a file upload).

The import or export entity type determines the job configuration complexity (as we mentioned above, there’re unique options for some entities). FireBear Improved Import and Export supports multiple entities related to various fields of Magento 2 functionality. The number of entries in the vast range grows exponentially. The current list can be found in the table below.

In terms of flexibility, only a substantial list of import sources can rival such a quantity of supported entities. When it comes to connection possibilities, Improved Import and Export provides users with diverse options that allow integrating with any existing platform.

The supported file formats are the ones most used in the industry, which also helps to achieve common ground between Magento 2 and foreign data. Moreover, you are free to select the import and export modes according to your preferences and combine specific sources with particular file formats.

Prioritizing the minimum of the admin involvement, the Improved Import and Export extension allows users to manage data massively. Thanks to the built-in mapping functionality, you can apply changes to whole rows in the import table, create custom attributes and turn attribute values to default ones, modify categories.

The feature and all those previously covered pave the way for executing utterly different approaches to data transfers. No matter the goal ‒ stock updates, Magento 2 migrations or integrations, etc., ‒ FireBear Improved Import and Export functionality has all means to allow users to arrange highly individualized procedures. So that any data transfer you perform would serve your store growth.

Our final words are dedicated to the importance of exploration. Study new info, dive into the matter you are interested in. Thus, you will always know your options and calculate assets correctly. If you need a business helper or an all-round management tool, visit the FireBear site to learn more about Improved Import and Export and the B2B add-on. Want to invest your ideas on further development? Drop by the extension roadmap to see active plans or make a request.