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Import any XML or CSV File (Free WP All Import Compatibility)

Bring an existing database of listings into Listivo from an XML or CSV file using the free WP All Import plugin — mapping titles, prices, taxonomies and gallery images, then connecting Make > Model relations once the import finishes.

3 minute read

If you wish to import listings from your XML or CSV file you can use the free version of the WP All Import Plugin.

In this article, we will show how it works. Please consider that each XML / CSV file can be a little different. If you have any problem with the import you can always contact our developers here.

Set up the import

  1. 1 Install the free WP All Import plugin

    You can find it here.

  2. 2 Open the plugin The wp-admin sidebar with a green arrow pointing down to the All Import menu entry at the bottom of the list.
  3. 3 Click “Upload a file” The WP All Import New Import screen with three choices — Upload a file, Download a file, Use existing file — and an arrow pointing at Upload a file.
  4. 4 Select “Listings” and continue

    Choose Listings as the record type to create, then click the Continue to Step 2 button.

    New Import after upload: a green Upload Complete bar naming the CSV file, New Items selected, and Create new set to Listings above the Continue to Step 2 button.
  5. 5 Select the elements to import

    Select only the elements you wish to import. Here we have a sample database of cars.

    The Review Import File screen reporting that 12 rows will be imported, with one record expanded to show its id, title, content and image URL fields, and an arrow pointing at Continue to Step 3.
  6. 6 Drag and drop your variables

    “Drag and drop” variables from the right column to the field where you wish to import them, e.g.

A. Start with Name and Description

The WP All Import Drag & Drop screen, with a placeholder dropped into the Title box and another into the Content editor below it, and the list of available fields on the right.

B. Copy fields e.g. Price

The Advanced Options panel with the Custom Fields section open and a price placeholder dropped into the Price box, with arrows drawn from the field list on the right.

C. Drag and drop “Taxonomies” e.g. “Body Type” / “Condition”.

Parent > Child comes later
Do not worry about the Parent > Child relation now — e.g. Make (BMW) > Model (X7). You will activate it at the end.

Import the gallery images

“Drag and drop” the Gallery Images URLs. To make it easier, first extend the area where you will add the links.

The Gallery field with “Download images hosted elsewhere” selected, two example file names in the URL box, and an arrow pointing at the resize handle in its bottom-right corner.
Drag the handle in the corner of the box to make the URL area taller.

The original vehicle XML we use has up to 50 images. The best option is to import only the “full images”, because thumbnails will be created automatically during the import. Usually the image paths will look similar to the screen below (the numbers 1-50 in the URLs refer to the first, second, third… 50th image in the gallery).

The expanded Gallery field with one image URL placeholder highlighted in the box, above the Image Options checkboxes and a Preview & Test button.

You can find more information about importing images here:

Run the import

  1. 1 Continue to Step 4 The bottom of the mapping screen with an arrow pointing at the blue Continue to Step 4 button, next to Back to Step 2.
  2. 2 Click “Auto-detect”

    On the Import Settings screen, let the plugin work out the unique identifier for each record.

    The Import Settings screen with the Unique Identifier row at the top, an arrow pointing at the green Auto-detect button next to it, and a second arrow pointing at Continue at the bottom.
  3. 3 Process 1 record per iteration

    Please make sure the “In each iteration, process 1 record” option is selected.

    The Configure Advanced Settings panel, with an arrow pointing at the Import Speed Optimization line where “In each iteration, process 1 records” is set to 1.
  4. 4 Click “Continue” The bottom of the Configure Advanced Settings panel with an arrow pointing at the blue Continue button.
  5. 5 Click “Continue & Run Import”
  6. 6 Wait The Import XML / CSV progress screen showing a green bar at 72 percent, with a warning not to close the browser while the import runs.
  7. 7 Done The Import Complete screen confirming that all 14 records from test.xml were processed and 14 new records were created.

Connect the Parent > Child relations

If you have any Parent > Child relation, e.g. Make (BMW) > Model (X7), please click this button:

The Tools tab of Listivo Panel > Advanced, with an arrow pointing at the Connect Terms button next to rows for Expired Ads and Images.

Visit your search page to check if the import was done correctly.

If the import does not finish

If there is any problem, it is probably related to the fact that the server is stopping the import process. Please check this article to fix it: Terminated imports.

Images not importing?
If your images are not importing as expected, the cause is almost always that the URLs you specified don’t actually point to valid images.

Ask the people who build Listivo

We answer by email from support@tangiblewp.com. With Premium Support, we also fix your site when something breaks.

Send us a message What Premium Support covers 

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