Authoring Hub - Export, import and CSV files

Export process

To export the selected items, select the items, click Actions and then Export.

To export all items click the three dots next to the catalog name and select Export.

A new window opens where entities and fields for export can be defined.

Previewing section

In the Previewing section, select the schema to export and click Show preview.

All schema options are selected by default. To deselect all options, click Clear all. Individual options can be deselected using the checkbox.

The export format can be set to CSV or JSON.

In the Fields selection section, a template can be chosen for the selected field.

For each selected field in Fields Selection, a list of exported information appears in Selected fields and in Preview. This list depends on the selected schema in Previewing and the selected field.

Additional fields can be added from the list by scrolling down or using the filter by name. All fields can be cleared by clicking the Clear all button.

Select the required fields in the Fields section. The selected fields are displayed in the preview. The export format (CSV or JSON) can also be selected.

After all settings are ready, click Download and the files will be downloaded.

Field Types in CSV

Different field types appear differently in CSV files based on their structure in the schema:

Using unwind for arrays

The Unwind feature splits array fields into separate rows, making them easier to read and edit.

Without Unwind

Without Unwind, all attributes appear in a single cell as JSON, separated by commas.

With Unwind

With Unwind, each attribute becomes a separate row with an index column.

Unwind best practices

Do not mix multiple array fields in unwind. Unwind only one array field per export.

Mixing multiple unwind fields creates a multiplication of rows (e.g., 10 subitems × 77 attributes = 770 rows), resulting in unnecessarily complex files.

To import data:

1. Click the three dots () next to the Catalog's name
2. Select Import

A new window will appear with two options for adding files.

Import Methods

Drag and Drop

You can drag and drop:

• A single CSV file
• An entire folder (as a .zip file)

Simply drag the file or folder into the import area.

Browse

1. Click on the import field
2. A file browser will open
3. Select the file or folder you want to import
4. Click Open

Managing Imported Files

Once files are uploaded, you can:

• Change category: Use the category dropdown bar to reassign files
• Delete files: Click the X icon to remove unwanted files

Completing the Import

When everything is ready click Import.

A success message will appear at the top middle of the screen if the import succeeds

If an incorrect file is uploaded the system will prevent the import and display an error message.

Important: File References in CSV

When the CSV file references images or other files:

• The referenced files must be included in the import
• Files should have the exact same names as referenced in the CSV
• File paths in CSV should use local references (e.g., image.png or folder/image.png)
• Missing or misnamed assets will cause import errors

Ways to include referenced files:

Option 1: ZIP file

• Package the CSV and all referenced files into a single .zip folder
• Import the .zip file

Option 2: Multiple files

• Import the CSV file along with all referenced files at the same time
• Ensure filenames match exactly

Example

Files to import:

• items.csv
• chair_image.png
• desk_texture.jpg

All three files must be imported together (using .zip or drag-and-drop import method).

To learn more on CSV File Format Requirements see this article. 

Depending on your regional settings, Excel may use different CSV separators:

• Some regions use semicolon (;) as the default CSV separator
• Some regions use comma (,) as the decimal separator instead of a dot

This can cause issues when opening exported files or preparing files for import.

The following issues in a CSV file in Excel indicate that the CSV separator needs to be adjusted:

• All data appears in a single column (not separated into multiple columns)
• Special characters or symbols display incorrectly
• Values are not properly aligned

CSV Format Requirements

When importing or exporting CSV files, the following format must be used:

• Field separator: Comma (,)
• Decimal separator: Dot (.)
• File encoding: UTF-8

How to Fix CSV Format in Excel

Step 1: Open and Convert Data

1. Open the CSV file in Excel
2. Select column A (click on the column header "A")
3. Go to the Data tab

4. Click Text to Columns

   

5. Choose Delimited → Click Next

6. Select Comma as the delimiter

   

7. Click Next and Finish

The data should now be properly separated into columns.

Step 2: Save in Correct Format

1. Click File → Save As
2. Choose format: CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (*.csv)
3. Save the file

Verification Before Import

Before importing the file:

1. Open the CSV file in a text editor (Notepad, TextEdit, VS Code)
2. Verify that:
   • Values are separated by commas (,)
   • Decimal numbers use dots (.) not commas
   • Special characters display correctly

If you see semicolons (;) instead of commas, replace them:

• Find: ; and replace with: ,

There are two ways to edit CSV files:

Editing simple fields

String or formula fields can be modified directly in the cell. Do not change the format – only update the values within it.

Using headers for nested fields

To edit a nested field:

1. Add a column with the full path as the header (e.g., names.main

   

2. Enter the value directly
3. Import the updated CSV file.

The platform will update the nested field correctly.