Initial Configuration
Mandatory setup before entering data into PIM.
Overview
Before any items are entered or imported into PIM for the first time, it must be configured to classify and categorize your products. This guide details the following steps which are required to prepare PIM for initial data entry.
Create Attributes
Map Attributes
Create Primary Hierarchy
Create first item
This guide assumes there is no data currently in PIM. Once the required attributes are configured in the initial setup, they cannot be modified.
Step 1: Create required attributes
The first step for configuring PIM is to create the basic attributes that are needed for the items. This list contains the 5 required attributes.
Name | Attribute specifications | Function in PIM |
SKU (Mandatory) | Each SKU value must be unique | This attribute serves as the primary identifier for items to be created in PIM |
Title | A Text/Number type attribute is recommended | This attribute helps PIM identify the display name of the product |
Primary Image | A text type attribute is recommended | This attribute helps PIM identify the main image of the product for thumbnail purposes |
Status (Mandatory) | Must be a Boolean type attribute Name the attribute to Active which can be set to TRUE/FALSE | Required to maintain the status of item to Active/Disabled |
Variant Attribute | A text type attribute is recommended | This attribute helps fabric applications identify the attributes that drive variants for items (for example - color, size) |
Create attribute
Navigate to the Attributes page from the left panel and select Items.
Click New Attribute button on the top of the page.
In the Create item attribute dialog box that appears, complete the following.
Select attribute type section
Click on button for relevant attribute type
Title and description section
Provide the Attribute Title you want to appear when assigning to items
Enter a Description for your reference
Complete other options such as Subtype or Date formate if applicable.
Business validations section
Enter any relevant Business validations and customizations dependent on the attribute selected.
Click Save.
Step 2: Configure Attribute Mapping
The second step for configuring PIM is to map the basic mandatory attributes to the attributes used by the merchant. For example, PIM uses terms like "SKU" to refer to a unique product identifier while some merchants use the terms "UPC" or "Part Number." Each of the basic attributes must be mapped to exactly one attribute from the following list of attributes.
Required attribute | Mapped to merchant attribute (example names) |
SKU | Part Number |
Title | Display Name |
Primary Image | Image 1 |
Active | Active |
Variant Attribute | Variant attribute |
Map item attributes
Select Settings in the left column, then select Attribute mapping.
Select the Map Item Attributes tab.
Use each dropdown to select the item attribute to map to PIM basic attribute. Detail for each are contained in the table below.
Click on the Save button.
Step 3: Setup Primary Hierarchy
The third step is to setup the primary hierarchy. The role of the primary hierarchy is to let merchants segregate items in categories and subcategories. For example, if the hierarchy for couches is Furniture > Living Room > Sofas, you can add attributes to each of these categories.
Create primary hierarchy
Navigate to Hierarchies and click Primary.
Click the + circle in the bottom of the vertical menu.
Add a Title to the empty category.
Click Enter/Return and the category will be created.
Click the newly-created Category name to add subcategories. A new level will appear to the right of the selected category.
Repeat the steps above for each the new category and subcategory.
NOTE: For first-time PIM users, a blank screen appears with a single empty category.
Step 4: Create first item
The last step for configuring PIM is to enter the data for your first item. This will ensure the basic configuration is complete. After verifying the initial entry, you will have the option to load more individually or perform bulk imports of data.
Create item
Select Catalog from the left panel and then select Items.
Click New Item at the top of the page.
Browse to or search the relevant subcategory from the Select a hierarchy node dialog box. Selecting a subcategory of the primary hierarchy (LEVEL: 0) is required and only the last subcategory in the hierarchy can be selected.
Click Next.
Populate the fields in each attribute section. These are example fields and will vary based on how you configured PIM. An asterisk “*” character indicates the field is required.
Product Title - title that will appear when item is visible on a webpage
Product Image - URL of the image to represent the product or service
Active -
Product ID - the unique number assigned to the item when it was originally entered into PIM, usually the SKU
To change the Primary Hierarchy, select the vertical ellipsis (⋮) on the top right and select Change primary hierarchy node. Select the new hierarchy node and click Save. This action will remove attributes of the current hierarchy and add new attributes from the new hierarchy node.
Click Save.
Once the Basic info is completed, the indicator will change from Not Started to Completed.
More attributes sections might appear depending on how you configured PIM and the required info will vary based on the Hierarchy node selected in the beginning of the process.
Once this is completed, the Publish button will be enabled. When Publish is clicked, it will make the product live in the system.
Last update: May 10, 2022