How to prepare your datasheets for automation

Discover how to prepare your data product information for automation. This ensures seamless integration between your data and digital flipbooks, to make it easier to have a better process.

Table of contents:

Creating the datasheet

Working with multiple datasheets

Preparing your file for Product tag automation

Next steps

Key benefits: 

• Reduce production time by up to 70%
• Eliminate manual data entry errors
• Enable real-time content updates
• Scale operations efficiently

If you have decided to use our automation tool for automating your catalog production for your specific needs, you need to know how to prepare your data product files.

Our automation tool supports multiple types of files: CSV and XLSX, and it's also compatible with Google Spreadsheets.

CSV is a commonly used file format that contains numbers and texts in a spreadsheet format. It's generally used for data transfer between various programs or apps. CSV files can be created, edited, and opened with Google Spreadsheets, Microsoft Excel, Numbers, or other similar programs.

One thing to keep in mind, if you are using a Mac, ensure that the Number Format is set correctly before exporting your file as a CSV to avoid import issues:

• Go to System Settings > Language & Region
• Scroll down to Number Format
• Select 1,234,567.89 
• Once updated, proceed with exporting your spreadsheet as a CSV file.

If you plan on updating your data in your catalog multiple times, Google Spreadsheet might be the best option because you can update your data on Flipsnack with a simple click on "Sync" instead of re-uploading a file.

Step-by-step guide

1. Creating the datasheet

You could download our CSV sample from the Automation tab to use as a starting point, or you can use a blank spreadsheet. 

Now,  either click on the Upload CSV file or Google Drive. 

After you click, the preferred option, you will have the option to download our pre-mapped templates, if you download them you will get the Simple Product Feed and Variant-Rich Product Feed in the same folder. You can pick one and start creating your spreadsheet on that template.

After,  you import the spreadsheet into your preferred program. Here are some aspects you need to keep in mind:

If your datasheet contains products, each product should be listed on a separate row, and each column should contain a specific type of information. Some examples of column headers could be SKU number, Size, Color, Fabric, Price, etc.

• You can add as many columns as you wish and name them however you want.
• It's important to know that the information will appear in your flipbook exactly as it was entered in your spreadsheet, so pay attention to capitalization.
• If you want to use images in your catalog, you need to add them as image links in your file.
• If you plan on adding links in your automated catalog, add a column for product links and insert the links that will take the customer to your eCommerce website.

You can configure the product list preview by clicking on the icon next to the data set. Here is where you can select up to 4 attributes that you want to see displayed in your product list, as well as set a field as Unique ID. The Unique identifier should be a field with a permanent value, and it helps us identify the products in your flipbook.

Working with multiple datasheets

In Flipsnack, you can add multiple data files.

Let's say you already have a template ready to be populated with your products, and the template is connected to your data source. Now you plan to reuse this ready-made, smart template with a different datasheet. Will it work?

Yes, it will, but only if you keep the same column headers for your new data file. If the same type of information is listed in your file under a different name, it will not work. For example, if a text box is set to display the information in the column "Price" and the new data file lists prices as "US Price," the system will not be able to match the information.

Preparing your file for Product tag automation

You could use the following column headers in your file: Product title, SKU, Description, Price, Discount price, Product URL, Button label, Image 1, Image 2, and Image 3.

You don't have to use the same names but go with something similar that will help you match the information from your file with the product tag fields.

It's unnecessary to add all of these columns if you don't want some type of information to appear in your product tag. For example. you can simply skip the button label and product URL if you don't want to link to an external webpage. The same goes for images, prices, or discounted prices. It's up to you what to include, there are multimedia elements you can automate to showcase your product better. 

Next steps

Useful resources 

Take your digital content strategy to the next level with data-driven insights and best practices to improve your processes: 

• Prepare your spreadsheet for Flipsnack automation
• Automation for product variants 
• How to create a product catalog using the Product Catalog Generator
• How to use synchronization for Automation in Flipsnack
• How to create product catalogs from scratch using a product feed
• How to turn your PDFs into shoppable catalogs and automate the process

Need expert support? 

Our team is here to help. Connect with our team experts or message us via the in-app chat for personalized assistance.