# Adding WooCommerce Custom Taxonomies to CSV Imports: A Beginner’s Guide
Importing products into WooCommerce via CSV is a lifesaver for large catalogs. But what if your products need to be categorized using custom taxonomies that don’t exist in the standard WooCommerce fields? This guide will show you how to seamlessly integrate your custom taxonomies into your CSV import process.
Why Use Custom Taxonomies?
Before diving into the technical aspects, let’s understand the “why.” Standard WooCommerce categories and tags are great for basic organization, but what if you need more granular control?
Imagine you sell clothing. Standard categories might be “Shirts,” “Pants,” and “Dresses.” But what about subcategories like “T-Shirts,” “Polo Shirts,” “Jeans,” “Leggings,” etc.? Or perhaps you need to categorize by *material* (Cotton, Silk, Wool) or *style* (Casual, Formal, Athletic)? That’s where custom taxonomies shine. They let you create highly specific categorization systems tailored to your needs.
Creating the Custom Taxonomy
First, you need to create the custom taxonomy in your WordPress installation. This is done through code, typically placed in your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin.
Let’s create a taxonomy called “material”:
function register_material_taxonomy() {
register_taxonomy( 'material', array( 'product' ), array(
'hierarchical' => true, // Allows for parent-child relationships (e.g., "Fabric" -> "Cotton")
'labels' => array(
'name' => __( 'Materials' ),
'singular_name' => __( 'Material' ),
),
'rewrite' => array( 'slug' => 'material' ), // URL slug
) );
}
add_action( 'init', 'register_material_taxonomy' );
This code registers a new taxonomy called “material” which will be associated with WooCommerce products. Remember to replace `”material”` with your desired taxonomy slug and adjust the labels accordingly. The `hierarchical` parameter determines if the taxonomy allows for nested categories.
Preparing Your CSV for Import
Now that your custom taxonomy exists, you need to modify your CSV file. The key is creating a new column representing your custom taxonomy. Let’s say you named your column “material”. Each row will then list the material for that specific product.
Example CSV:
product_name,sku,material
Cotton T-Shirt,COT-TSHIRT-001,Cotton
Silk Dress,SILK-DRESS-001,Silk
Wool Coat,WOOL-COAT-001,Wool
Important: The values in the “material” column must match the names of the terms you’ve already created within your “material” taxonomy in WordPress. If you don’t have “Cotton”, “Silk”, and “Wool” terms already added to your “material” taxonomy, the import will fail or create new, unwanted terms.
Importing the CSV with Custom Taxonomy
WooCommerce itself doesn’t directly handle custom taxonomy import. You’ll need a plugin or a custom solution. Several popular plugins like “WP All Import” or “CSV Import” provide this functionality. Their interfaces vary, but the general process is:
- Select your CSV file: Choose the CSV you’ve prepared.
- Map the columns: This is crucial. You need to map the “material” column in your CSV to the “material” taxonomy in WooCommerce. The exact steps will depend on the plugin you use, but you’ll usually find a dropdown or input field where you can specify this mapping.
- Import: Start the import process. The plugin will now create or associate the products with the correct taxonomy terms based on your CSV data.
- Term Mismatches: The most common issue is a mismatch between the values in your CSV and the existing terms in your custom taxonomy. Double-check your terms!
- Plugin Errors: Read the error logs carefully. Plugins often provide detailed information about import failures.
- Wrong Column Mapping: Ensure you correctly mapped your CSV column to the custom taxonomy in the import settings.
Troubleshooting
By following these steps, you can efficiently manage and import products with custom taxonomies, improving your WooCommerce store’s organization and user experience. Remember to always back up your data before any significant import operation.
