Add your products using inventory files

If you want to add multiple product listings at the same time, you can do so using inventory file templates. These templates are tab-delimited text files (.txt) that include all of the information that you need to list your products on Amazon.

We recommend that you have a basic understanding of data files before attempting to use inventory file templates.

What do I need to do before using inventory files?

• Install a spreadsheet programme if you do not already have one on your computer, for example Microsoft Excel.
• Identify the product category for your products. See Classify Your Products Using the Product Classifier.
• Request approval (if necessary) to sell in specific product categories. See Categories and Products Requiring Approval.
• Amazon creates listings for your products based on information you include in your file in this order.
  
  1. Match ISBN, UPC, or EAN: If your file includes a product identifier (ISBN, UPC, or EAN) for any product and a matching identifier exists on Amazon, we will attempt to find a match for your product using the information you provide.
  2. Match manufacturer or biographical information: If your file does not include ISBN, UPC, or EAN identifiers for a particular product, we will attempt to match based on the manufacturer or bibliographical information you have submitted in your file. An exact match is required to create a listing.
  3. Create new listings: If we cannot find matches to our existing catalogue using product identifiers, manufacturer, or biographical information, and you provide enough data in the upload file, we will create new product pages for listings with enough provided data.

     Your inventory will then be reflected on these pages to create offerings for buyers. If there is insufficient information to match to existing pages or create new pages, you will receive an error message in the processing report following your upload.

• Enable macros in Excel to perform data validation, correct errors, and automate some of the tasks in populating and uploading your file. File templates for the Inventory Loader, Book Loader, Music Loader, and Video Loader include macros to help simplify creating your inventory files. You can find the macros on the Excel Add-Ins menu in the toolbar at the top of the template:
  
  1. Validate
  2. Upload File
  3. Import File
  4. Update Template

  To get started with macros, see Enable macros in Excel.