Deleting Products using Import/Export Tool

Created by WDS Support

The WSM import/export tool can be used to perform a mass delete products you want removed from your catalog completely. Since this is a permanent action please make sure you follow the steps below carefully, make sure to do a test and confirm you are following the process. Please review all the steps below before you begin.

Important facts to read before deleting

  • You must create a new Delete csv profile each time you run through the steps of this process
  • You must include the WSMID as the unique identifier when importing the delete CSV file
  • You cannot delete more than 10% of your store's catalog. So if the number of products you're trying to delete is over 10% of the total number of products, you can delete chunks of products at a time by running the delete import multiple times, removing groups of products from your file a little at a time. If you need to delete more than 10% of the catalog, please submit a Service Desk Ticket and request the delete protection setting be temporarily turned off.
  • The delete function will require you to export and import a few times in order to successfully delete products.
  • Check your product ID totals before and after importing a delete CSV
  • Confirm products have been deleted after you do the final delete import
  • Lastly, delete the Delete profile you created for this instance so it is not used again (it can potentially cause data errors and create bogus products if not followed)

NOTE: Redirects

If you removed products that Google may have ranked organically or that people my have book marked you should create redirects, http://wsmuniversity.com/createredirect

Step A: Create CSV Profile

  1. Create a copy of "WSM Global Mass Delete (COPY ONLY)", WSM Global Profile ID: 687
  2. Edit the new CSV Profile that is created, "Copy of "WSM Global Mass Delete (COPY ONLY)"
  3. Rename it to Delete - (Add Today's Date)
  4. Click Save Changes
  5. Click the blue folder icon on the profile you just renamed. If you need additional information to confirm you have the proper products, you can click Add Field to add them.

Step B: Identify and export the products

You can export products in two different manners.

  1. Directly from the CSV Profile. Exporting ALL products on your site 
    1. Click the blue folder icon on the profile you just renamed.
    2. Click Run Export 
    3. All product export will download
    4. Proceed to step C
  2. From any filtered product list page. Exporting only the products listed. Below are examples of ways to filter products.
    1. By Brand
      1. Hover over Catalog
      2. Click Brands
      3. Locate the brand you wish to export
      4. Click the Box icon
      5. From the Product list page, click the Select Export Profile and select the profile you created
      6. Click Export button
    2. By Category
      1. Hover over Catalog
      2. Click Catagories
      3. Click the Blue folder on the Parent category and navigate til you are at the child category with products
      4. Once on the category with product click the Box icon
      5. From the Product list page, click the Select Export Profile and select the profile you created
      6. Click Export button
    3. By Search
      1. Hover over Catalog
      2. Click Products
      3. Perform a simple text search or use the Advance search feature
      4. From the Product list page, click the Select Export Profile and select the profile you created
      5. Click Export button

Step C: Create Excel File

  1. Open the CSV file into Excel
  2. Review the products in the file. If their are any products in the file that you DO NOT want to delete remove the data. 
  3. It is important to follow the instructions below if you need to remove products from the file.
    1. Select all the (1) ROWS for product you DO NOT want to delete
    2. Right click on the (2) ROW NUMBER IDs on left hand side and click delete
  4. Save your new file as a CSV (Comma delimited) file in Excel and give it a new name

Step D: First Import

You need to import the file with all the products you want to delete to associate the products with the new profile you created before you can perform the deletion.

  1. Go back to the CSV Profile menu in WSM
  2. Click the Blue folder icon on the CSV Profile you created in Step A above
  3. Click Run Import button
  4. Click to select the file you create in Step C above
  5. You should NOT check any other boxed on the import screen
  6. Click Run Import
  7. The import success message should show the number of products that are unchanged after the import, and make sure it matches the number of product rows in your saved file.

Step E: Run Test:

  1. Go back to the CSV file and Select/highlight the first row of product data in your file. 
  2. Right click
  3. Click Delete (confirming it deletes the entire row)
  4. Click File Save As
  5. Add TEST to the end of your file name
  6. Return to WSM CSV Profiles
  7. Click the Blue folder icon on the CSV Profile you created in Step A above
  8. Click Run Import button
  9. Cilck to select the TEST file just created
  10. Check the "delete old items" check box
  11. Click Run Import
  12. The import success message should show the number of products that are unchanged after the import, and the number removed. make sure it matches the number of product rows in your saved file.
  13. Go to Catalog > Products and search for the product you removed. You should also note that your product count was ONLY reduced by 1
  14. Once this is confirmed you can run all the products in the file as long as it does not exceed 10% of your total products.

Step F: Run Full File

  1. Go back to the CSV file and Select/highlight all the rows except for the column heading
  2. Right click
  3. Click Delete (confirming it deletes the entire rows)
  4. Click File Save As
  5. Add FULL to the end of your file name
  6. Return to WSM CSV Profiles
  7. Click the Blue folder icon on the CSV Profile you created in Step A above
  8. Click Run Import button
  9. Cilck to select the FULL file just created
  10. Check the "delete old items" check box
  11. Click Run Import
  12. The import success message should show the number of products that are unchanged after the import, and the number removed. make sure it matches the number of product rows in your saved file.
  13. Go to Catalog > Products You should note that your product count was reduced by the total number removed

Redirects

If you removed products that Google may have ranked organicly or that people my have book marked you should create redirects, http://wsmuniversity.com/createredirect