Smart Import Tool

Overview

The Smart Import Tool reads vendor quotes, price lists, PDFs, spreadsheets, exports from other apps, and pasted data, then maps them into My Components with parts, costs, vendors, categories, and catalog structure.

Where in the app: Sidebar → Fence → My Components → Catalog tools → Smart Import Tool
Open: Smart Import Tool

Tip: Richer input gives better output. Include part name, part number, cost, weight, description, vendor, box quantity, image URLs, and any other fields your source provides. Full vendor quotes and catalogs work better than minimal SKU lists.

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What to gather before you import

Use any file or paste that includes your component information: part names, SKUs, costs, vendors, and related fields. Common sources:

Helpful fields (more is better):

• Part name / description
• Part number / SKU
• Unit cost
• Unit of measure (each, foot, bundle, box)
• Weight and dimensions
• Vendor name
• Box or bundle quantity
• Color, size, length
• Image URL (when available)
• Inventory levels or stock-related fields when your export includes them

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Supported file types

If you are migrating from another system, export everything you can into one file first. The richer the file, the less manual cleanup after import.

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What Smart Import does

After you upload or paste data, Smart Import:

• Reads each line item and identifies fence component types
• Classifies items into section, category, collection, and attributes in your catalog
• Extracts dimensions, colors, and pricing where available
• Groups related items so the catalog stays organized

You review and adjust classifications before anything is written to My Components.

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Wizard steps in the app

The Smart Import screen walks through four steps:

1. Upload — add your file or paste data
2. Review — check classifications and fix mis-assigned rows
3. Import — confirm and write parts to My Components
4. Done — summary of what was added

The detailed mapping and classify steps below match what you see on the Review and Import screens.

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Step 1: Open Smart Import

1. In the sidebar, go to Fence → My Components. Open My Components
2. Click Catalog tools (toolbar on the My Components page).
3. Select Smart Import Tool. Open Smart Import Tool

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Step 2: Add your source

Choose one:

• Upload file: Excel, PDF, CSV export, images of a price sheet, vendor quote PDFs, or a spreadsheet from another system
• Paste data: copy rows from Excel or a vendor website (include headers when possible)

Tip: If you have both a PDF quote and a spreadsheet, try the more complete file first. You can run Smart Import again for additional vendors later.

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Step 3: Review mapping

Smart Import suggests:

• Which row contains column headers
• Field mapping (name, part number, cost, color, UOM, vendor, etc.)
• Detected vendor name

Adjust any mis-mapped columns before continuing. Wrong mapping here is the most common cause of bad costs or missing fields after import.

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Step 4: Classify and organize

Before import executes, review:

• Fence type and category assignments (bulk actions available)
• Vendor linkage: create or match vendors
• Sections / collections when detected or suggested

Goal: imported parts land in My Components already organized, not in a flat uncategorized list.

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Step 5: Execute import

1. Confirm the preview sample looks correct
2. Run import. Items appear in My Components
3. Spot-check a handful of parts: cost, UOM, vendor, and category

After import

• Fix stragglers manually or run Smart Import again for another vendor file
• Link vendors in Vendor Management if any were missed during classify

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Troubleshooting

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Related

• My Components overview
• Build a fence template
• Catalog to first quote