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How to Import Product Images From Google Drive to Acenda

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Written by Sam E.
Updated this week

Importing Product Images From Google Drive

This guide outlines how to upload product images to Google Drive, generate the correct download links, and import them into Acenda using a CSV file.

Step 1: Upload and Configure Google Drive Permissions

Before importing, your images must be hosted online and publicly accessible so the Acenda system can download them.

  1. Upload Images: Drag and drop your image folder or individual files into Google Drive.

  2. Set Permissions:

    • Right-click the folder containing your images and select Share.

    • Under "General Access," change the setting from "Restricted" to Anyone with the link.

    • Ensure the role is set to Viewer.

    • Click Done.

Step 2: Prepare Your Spreadsheet (CSV)

You will need to create a spreadsheet that maps your SKUs to their corresponding image URLs.

1. Set up the Headers. Open a new Excel or Google Sheets file. In the first row, add the following headers:

  • sku (Required)

  • images.default.main.url (Required)

  • images.default.swatch.url (Optional)

  • images.default.1.alternate.url (Optional)

  • images.default.2.alternate.url (Optional)

  • Note: You can add up to 15 alternate images by incrementing the number in the header (e.g., 3.alternate.url).

2. Copy Image Links You need to copy the direct links from Google Drive into your spreadsheet.

  • Bulk Copy Method: Highlight your images in Google Drive (up to 390 at a time). Right-click, select Share, and then click Copy links.

  • Paste these links into an empty column in your spreadsheet.

  • If the links are pasted into a single cell separated by commas, use the Excel function =TEXTSPLIT(A1, ", ") to separate them into individual cells.

3. Match Images to SKUs: Ensure every image URL is in the same row as its corresponding SKU.

  • Tip: If your files are named with the SKU, you can copy the file names to help match them.

  • Tip: If files are grouped by folder, you can sort your Drive by "Last Modified" to keep SKU groups together.

4. Reformat the Links (Crucial Step) Google Drive "View" links will not work for importing; they must be converted to "Direct Download" links. Use the Find and Replace tool in your spreadsheet to make the following changes to the image URL columns:

  • Find: file/d/

  • Replace with: uc?id=

  • Find: /view?usp=drive_link

  • Replace with: (Leave this blank to remove the text)

5. Final Clean Up

  • Remove any temporary columns (such as file names or raw comma-separated links).

  • Test a link: Copy one of your updated URLs and paste it into an Incognito/Private browser window. It should download the image or display it directly without asking you to log in.

  • Save: Save the file as CSV UTF-8.

Step 3: Import to Acenda

  1. Log in to Acenda and navigate to Import/Exports.

  2. Click the Import tab and select + New Import.

  3. Import Type: Select Catalog from the dropdown.

  4. File Selection: Browse or drop your saved CSV UTF-8 file into the upload box.

  5. Map Fields:

    • You will see a list of your file headers next to Acenda's data fields.

    • If you used the correct headers (e.g., images.default.main.url), the system should map them automatically.

    • If not, manually select the correct Acenda field from the dropdown.

    • Ensure the checkbox to the left of each attribute is checked.

  6. Save Profile (Optional):

    • If you plan to perform this import frequently, check the "Save custom import profile for future use" option.

    • Name the profile. In future uploads, you can select this profile to apply these mappings automatically.

  7. Import Settings:

    • New Products Only: Leave the bottom checkboxes unchecked.

    • New & Existing Products: Check Overwrite any records that have the same ID.

    • Update Existing Only: Check Only update existing records.

  8. Click Start Import.

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