Generating customer accounts via import

[mash]

Hi there,

I am preparing a new SD13 website, we are going to use accounts and there are 100 or so customers that we want to invite to use the site as B2B focus. To encourage and make it easier, I would like to set up their accounts for them with a temporary password which their can login in and change.

Is it possible to import this data into SD13. What are the limits of the import function.

I can't bring the info in through orders as they have not used it before.

I would be interested in your thoughts.

Thanks Mash

[Duncan Rounding]

You can import accounts in a similar way as products. Create a couple manually first then export them to see the required format of the data. I've imported accounts successfully many times.

[mash]

You star, I will try that and see how I get on, thanks.

Importing custom vars, is that possible, product related now.

Thanks M

[Duncan Rounding]

You can imort values of product scoped variables by adding them to the end columns of products of the hierarchical catalog import and mapping them accordingly.

[mash]

Can you use the flat file format? I get on better with that at the mo.

Thanks M

[NormanRouxel]

Flat file format is for a limited number of predefined SellerDeck fields only.

[mash]

OK, I better learn hierarchical catalog imports.

Thanks M

[AndyBorrett]

Have a look in the Sellerdeck installation folder for the flat file converter. You create a flat file then run the program and it generates what you want.

[mash]

OK that is useful to know, so it takes a flat file and convert it into hierarchical catalog imports.

Thanks for the suggestion.

M

[Duncan Rounding]

The flat file converter will work fine for standard SellerDeck fields but will not work for your own custom variables.

[mash]

I am not at the point I could test this, but I plan to set up all the cust vars and then do an export so I can see the structure then hopefully I can copy it.

That is the plan.

Thanks M

[AndyBorrett]

I find the flat file converter works fine with custom variables. I have not tried it with version 12 yet so I hope they haven't broken it.

[graphicz]

It's been a while....

Duncan says the Flat File Importer works for Customer accounts but I cannot make it work as the field selector does not include Customer/Buyer headings???

How is it done Duncan?