Uploading Images and Database – Details.
Introduction
Your role in uploading images and the product database is crucial for showcasing the products effectively on the Exclusive Shots website. This guide will walk you through the process of organizing and uploading images and ensuring the product database is correctly imported into WooCommerce.
Step-by-Step Instructions
-
Uploading Images to the Media Folder:
- Log into WordPress:
- Navigate to
https://www.exclusiveshots.co.za/wp-admin/
and log in with your credentials.
- Navigate to
- Access the Media Library:
- Once in the dashboard, click on
Media
>Library
.
- Once in the dashboard, click on
- Organize Images:
- If you’re using a media file manager plugin, create a new folder for the school (e.g., “Howick High”).
- Inside the school folder, create a subfolder for the class (e.g., “Class 8BT”).
- Upload Images:
- Inside the class subfolder, click on
Add New
orUpload
. - Select the images from your computer or drag and drop them into the designated area.
- Ensure all images are fully uploaded before proceeding.
- Inside the class subfolder, click on
- Log into WordPress:
-
Importing the CSV File to WooCommerce Products:
- Navigate to Product Importer:
- In the WordPress dashboard, go to
WooCommerce
>Products
. - Click on
Import
at the top of the page.
- In the WordPress dashboard, go to
- Upload the CSV File:
- Click on
Choose File
and navigate to the location where you saved the CSV file from Google Sheets. - Select the file and click on
Continue
.
- Click on
- Map Columns Correctly:
- On the column mapping screen, ensure each column from your CSV file is correctly mapped to the corresponding product field in WooCommerce.
- Pay special attention to columns like ‘SKU’, ‘Name’, ‘Images’, and ‘Categories’.
- After confirming the mappings, click on
Run the Importer
. - Watch the import process and note any errors or issues that may arise.
- Navigate to Product Importer:
-
Creating Menu Links (Optional):
- If you’re comfortable with WordPress, you can create menu links to the new products. However, if you’re unsure, it’s best to send a WhatsApp message with the details (school name, class name) to the designated person, and they will handle the menu link creation. This ensures consistency and accuracy.
Additional Tips
- Image Upload:
- Double-check that the image filenames match the names used in the CSV file.
- Consider compressing images before uploading to optimize site performance.
- Database Import:
- Try importing a few products first as a test before importing the entire database.
- Review a few products on the site after import to ensure they are displayed correctly.
By carefully following these steps, you play a vital role in ensuring that the Exclusive Shots website accurately and attractively presents its products. Your attention to detail and adherence to this process contribute significantly to the site’s success and the satisfaction of its customers.
Converting Grouped Products to Smart Grouped Products
After successfully uploading your product database to WooCommerce, you’ll need to convert the “Grouped” products to “Smart Grouped” products to enable advanced features like thumbnails and popups on the student product pages. Here’s how you can do this using the WP Clever plugin:
-
Navigate to WP Clever:
- In your WordPress dashboard, locate and click on the
WP Clever
button in the left menu bar.
- In your WordPress dashboard, locate and click on the
-
Access Grouped Products Settings:
- In the WP Clever dropdown menu, select
Grouped Products
.
- In the WP Clever dropdown menu, select
-
Go to Tools:
- Within the Grouped Products section, navigate to the
Tools
tab in the horizontal menu.
- Within the Grouped Products section, navigate to the
-
Initiate Conversion:
- You’ll see a message stating, “Press the convert button to convert all native grouped products to Smart Grouped Products.”
- Review the message and ensure you’re ready to proceed.
-
Convert Products:
- Click the
Convert
button. - The conversion process will begin, transforming your native grouped products into Smart Grouped products.
- Click the
-
Verify Conversion:
- After the conversion, it’s a good practice to verify that the products have been successfully converted.
- Check a few product pages to ensure that the thumbnails and popups are functioning as expected.
Important Notes:
-
Backup Before Conversion:
- Before initiating the conversion, consider backing up your website. This ensures that you can restore your site to its previous state if anything unexpected occurs during the conversion process.
-
Conversion Time:
- The time it takes to convert all products can vary based on the number of products. Ensure you allow sufficient time for the process to complete without interruptions.
-
Post-Conversion Check:
- After the conversion, it’s crucial to thoroughly check the product pages to ensure that all features are working correctly and that the conversion hasn’t affected the layout or functionality of your site.
By following these steps, you’ll successfully convert your grouped products to Smart Grouped products, enhancing the functionality and user experience of the Exclusive Shots website. If you encounter any issues during the process, don’t hesitate to reach out for support or consult the WP Clever plugin documentation.