Manual Personalized Interface File and Catalog from Icecat

By
Manual

With Icecat, you can generate personalized or customized CSV or Excel files that only contain product data for products that are relevant for your company. It helps to simplify your implementation process. The personalized interface file and catalog file generated by Icecat in CSV or Excel format contain both the basic information and rich media assets of the Icecat product data-sheets matching your catalog. To obtain personalized files, you first need to upload your product feed via the User Login area.

Open Icecat Fair Use Policy

The user of Open Icecat product data (in a free Open Icecat subscription or as part of the Full Icecat data) is required to respect the Open Icecat Fair Use Policy.

Explicitly relevant for website development is:

  • to mention explicitly the “Specs: Icecat” on all product datasheets, with a link to the Icecat.biz web site
  • to include explicitly an “AS IS” disclaimer, an example of which can be found https://icecat.biz/ssr/en/menu/disclaimer (available in several languages).

Advantages of upgrading to Full Icecat

The CSV interface may be accessed by all Icecat Data (XML) users – free or paid. Open Icecat users can access the data of the sponsoring brands.
Full Icecat users can access the data of all brands in the Icecat database.

However attractive the free Open Icecat database is, the Full-Icecat database still contains many, many more brands: 10,000s. If you are interested in subscribing to the Full Icecat database, please contact us via the website. If you want specific brands to be included in free Open Icecat, please, recommend Icecat to your manufacturer contacts. To sum up, what are the main advantages of Full Icecat over free Open Icecat?

  • Firstly, all product data of all 10,000s of brands are available. If you don’t see the brand logo, the brand’s product data is only available in Full Icecat.
  • Second, Icecat can also provide service levels, like coverage guarantees for your portfolio, support missing brands, and help defining new categories.

Read more about the main advantages of Full Icecat over free Open Icecat. In case you need higher catalog coverage, you will need Full Icecat. For more information, see the Icecat Subscription Plans.

If you want to upgrade to Full Icecat, please contact us via the contact form, or click on the “request Full Icecat access” link after the User Login.

1. CSV conventions used

The following CSV conventions are followed in Icecat’s CSV output files:
Column separator: , (comma)
Line break: \n
Quote symbol:
Escape symbol:
Optional quotation: N

Value separators:

  • Links separator – pipe (|)
  • ReasonsToBuy – contains a headline (text), picture link (URL) and the RTBs (Reasons-To-Buy) itself. An RTB is text that is separated by a pipe (|) symbol. Different RTBs are separated by line breaks.
  • GTIN (EAN/UPC) – links to image galleries and other multimedia objects, comma-separated.
  • Specifications – colon + space

2. Main requirements to your product feed

To generate unique personalized CSV files, the Icecat system requires a product feed (a product catalog or price file) from a user. It could be a CSV, XML or Excel (XLS or XLSX) file, with at least the main product identifiers for matching purposes:

  • Brand/manufacturer part code (alphanumerical value)
  • Brand name (alphanumerical value)

and/or

  • GTIN (EAN/UPC/JAN) code (numerical value)

The quality of your product feed is one of the main factors that determine the quality of the Icecat match.

NOTE: uploading XML product feeds might require support from Icecat. CSV or Excel product feeds hardly ever require support.

You can read more here about relevant product feed file formats and structures for CSV and Excel.

Based on the product identifiers described above, the Icecat system is performing a match between your product feed and the Icecat database. After that, Icecat automatically adds product information to your matching data and generates customized files that can be downloaded from the user interface (after loging into the Icecat.biz website) in CSV or XLS and can be used for your e-business purposes. The download can be manual or fully automated.

3. Types of personalized output files

Icecat generates the following types of personalized output files:

  • Personalized Index File (PIF)
  • Personalized Catalog File (PCF)
  • Images

Personalized Index File (PIF)

Using the PIF might simplify your implementation process by outsourcing the matching process to the Icecat platform. The PIF is a customized index file that contains basic information about matched product data-sheets, links to product XML files, and some additional columns, listed below:

PIF content:

Column titleDescription
prod_idunique manufacturer product code
supplier_namename of a product’s brand or manufacturer
ean_upccolumn that contains GTIN (EAN/UPC) numerical product code(s)
Pathlink to XML product data-sheet
timestampLast modification time
Your product ID Your product ID if set during the matching process
error_messageerror of why product XML was not found or matched

Your product ID can simplify product identification if when matched, it actually contains a different product identifier on our side, and the product was matched according to product mapping rules. It allows you to match an Icecat data-sheet with your company’s own internal product ID.

The path column will contain links to product XML files depending on the language you’ve selected during PIF creation at the Import\Export tab.

Personalized Catalog File (PCF)

In short, the PCF is a customized file with detailed information per matched product. This type of file is available only to users with an Icecat Data subscription. Icecat supports two different options of this file:

– Firstly, PCF without spec names as column headers

Spec 1Spec 2Spec 3Spec 4
Colour of product: BlackAuto focus: YesDisplay resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixelsSensor type: CMOS
Colour of product: GreyAuto focus: NoDisplay resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixelsSensor type: CCD
Colour of product: SilverAuto focus: YesDisplay resolution: 1136 x 640 pixelsSensor type: CMOS
Colour of product: WhiteAuto focus: NoDisplay resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixelsSensor type: CCD

– Secondly, PCF with spec names as column headers (default option)

Colour of productAuto focusDisplay resolutionSensor type
BlackYes3840 x 2160 pixelsCMOS
GreyNo2560 x 1440 pixelsCCD
SilverYes1136 x 640 pixelsCMOS
WhiteNo1080 x 1920 pixelsCCD

PCF content:

Column titleDescription
Requested_prod_idManufacturer’s product identifier used from your product feed
Requested_GTIN(EAN/UPC)Requested numerical GTIN (EAN/UPC) code from your product feed
Requested_Icecat_idRequested numerical internal Icecat identifier from your product feed

The first three columns contains the information for your information that allows you to understand on what basis Icecat system found a matching between an item from your file and product from Icecat database.

Column titleDescription
ErrorMessageContains a textual explanation (not an error code!) why the system did not provide information on requested identifiers
SupplierProduct’s supplier name
Prod_idManufacturer part number
Icecat_idInternal numerical product identifier used in Icecat Database
GTIN(EAN/UPC)GTIN (EAN/UPC) codes that corresponds to a product
CategoryCategory name
CatIdNumerical identifier of a product’s category
ProductFamilyProduct family name
ProductSeriesProduct series number
ModelProduct or model name
UpdatedThe date of the most recent change of the product data-sheet in Icecat
QualityData-sheet quality indicator
On_MarketOn market indicator
Product_ViewsNumerical value that shows number of data-sheet views in Icecat
HighPicLink to high resolution version of main product image
LowPicLink to low resolution version of the main product image
Pic500x500Link to medium (500px) resolution version of the main product image
ThumbPicLink to main product image thumbnail
Folder_PDFLink to the PDF leaflet
Folder_Manual_PDFLink to the PDF manual
ProductTitleThe product title
ShortDescShort editorial description of a product
ShortSummaryDescriptionAutomatically generated short summary description based on general data and key specs
LongSummaryDescriptionAutomatically generated Long summary description based on general data and key specs
LongDescMarketing text
ProductGalleryGallery of product images
ProductGallery ResolutionResolution of the product gallery images (separated by | symbol, if several)
360Content type regarding a 360 degree (or so called 3D) product view
EU Energy LabelEU Energy Label
EU Product FicheEU Product Fiche (PDF or html data-sheet)
PDFPDF files
Video/mp4Product videos
Other multimediaOther multimedia content types
ReasonsToBuyReasons to buy (feature or bullet descriptions)
SpecColumn contains feature name, feature value, and measure unit (if present)
ErrorMessageerror of why product XML was not found or matched

Images

You can download all the images you need with just one click, based on your product feed, language, and format selection. Integrate them in your webshop or PIM system, enrich your website, and improve the shopping experience of your customers.

4. How to create and download personalized CSV files

This section provides a step-by-step guide to get personal CSV files.

  • Please, login to your user panel
  • Go to the “Import/Export” tab and upload your product feed from your PC or a web URL
  • When the preview is ready, please assign the columns of your product feed to Icecat attributes (please, also assign the column with your internal unique product identifier if applicable), and click on “save settings”. A “Matching Status” bar will appear to indicate the percentage of the matching process. Once it is finalized, click on “go to my downloads and results”
  • On “My downloads”, you will be able to see the results of the matching between your product feed and the Icecat catalog. And you will be able to download the different CSV/Excel files available.
  • Choose your desired output file, language, and format (if applicable) and click on “generate”
  • You will once again see a status bar indicating the percentage of the process, once this process is finalized, you will be able to download the file.

Request daily file generation

If you want to have a daily regenerated PIF and PCF, please hit the request button. Once that is set by Icecat account management, you can daily access the updated PIF or PCF from the same address. In order to access or download your PIF or PCF without login to the User Panel, please use the deeplink formats below: 

PIF: https://icecat.biz/index.cgi?login_form=user_import_report;type=match;layout=csv;login=XXXXX;password=XXXXX

PCF: https://icecat.biz/index.cgi?login_form=csv_content;csv_file=/products_csv_lists_new/IcecatUserID_LangCode(.csv/.xlsx);login=XXXXX;password=XXXXX 

where XXXXX should be the login name and password respectively of your Icecat account. IcecatUserID can be found on the PCF user interface on www.icecat.biz. Using these deeplinks helps you to automate and simplify the process of data import from Icecat.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

  • commented on April 7, 2017 by Miler

    Hi,

    Does you service allow me to do an EAN lookup by product name?

    I have a XML/CSV file with a couple of thousand product names & brands which I need to lookup/match the correct existing EAN. Preferably by bulk uploading CSV.

    Is it possible with your system? Do i need to register for a full Icecat for that?

    Please let me know.

    Thanks in advance.
    Miler

    • commented on April 10, 2017 by Martijn Hoogeveen

      Yes it does. We reply to you separately.

  • commented on April 19, 2017 by Joaquin

    I’m trying to create csv with icecat, the truth is not clear when I ask that suva file from my pc I do not understand if it should be empty or full of products ando super lost if someone could show video or pass me a sample csv.

    Thank you

    • commented on June 1, 2017 by Gloria Serafini

      Dear Joaquin, thanks for your comment. We should better understand your path. Please contact us and we will support you. Kind Regards, Gloria

  • commented on June 29, 2017 by julie

    We also have so many laptop batteries and adapters for selling, but really I do not find the correct way to upload,how to upload the price list and product detail.
    I think it must has a templet there,where is it?

  • commented on July 3, 2017 by J. Hofmann

    In section 2 you describe that a dedicated list of product codes and/or EAN is necessary for individual download. Is there also a possibility to get all products by e.g. brand name?

    Thanks in advance

  • commented on July 11, 2017 by Gloria Serafini

    Hi Julie, thanks for your message! You can actually follow step-by-step this guide, namely at point #5. If you have questions on how to go ahead with uploading your price list, please contact us

  • commented on June 28, 2018 by Remi

    Is there a possibility to force PIF creation after uploading new price list, not via the icecat interface, but via an API call / URL request?

    • commented on June 28, 2018 by Martijn Hoogeveen

      Hi Remi, yes there is. Please, contact your account manager.

  • commented on March 15, 2019 by Sri Buwan

    I am in UK and need full products catalogue. what do i need to do to get it regularly on json format. please advice

  • commented on May 1, 2019 by Younes

    Hello team,

    I generated a csv file based on my supplier data, and the file generated is 1.34 gb csv, when I download it, it downloads too fast for a 1.34 gb file so not surprisingly the file is corrupt. What could be the problem?

    Thank you
    Younes

    • commented on May 3, 2019 by Laura van der Blom

      Dear Yuones,

      I will send you an email to understand the problem better and put you in contact with the right person to help you solve it.

      Kind Regards,
      Laura

  • commented on September 23, 2019 by Henry Withoot

    Just had a strange experience.
    I have +/- 20 suppliers that provide me in total of over 500.000 products.
    I act smart to download the icecat’s csv’s.
    – product_names
    – product_features
    – all csv’s related to product_features
    – products listings
    – products_descriptions

    Products ARE found in the products listing, yet not ALL in product_names or product_descriptions.
    Find out later, there is NO csv file that hold the productTitle…….. mmm ok…. then let’s move back to single product datasheets (.xml)
    Try to lookup:
    https://uk.icecat.biz/en/p/10zig+technology/9011/not+categorized-optional+pcie+card+for+10zig+68xx+thin+client-22551232.html
    when i click in right bottom:
    XML product data for 10ZiG Technology 9011
    i get: EN Access to this product is restricted. Please contact your account manager at Icecat.
    ( the link should be: https://data.icecat.biz/xml_s3/xml_server3.cgi?prod_id=9011;vendor=10ZiG%20Technology;lang=EN;output=productxml )

    I have THOUSANDS of these , yet….. out of the CSV products i imported from icecat, all of them exist in the database, yet i not get access to them via the output=productxml links.

    So what is going on here?
    I have FULL icecat catalog access with the vertical “Computers & Electronics” and language English.
    And i KNOW this product exists in the icecat database.

  • commented on January 21, 2021 by Bauer

    Does you service allow me to do an EAN lookup by product name?

    Hello, I have a XML/CSV file with a couple of thousand product names (Manufacturer code, EAN code) which I need to lookup/match the correct attributes like RAM, Os system, Storage type or capacity. Preferably by bulk uploading CSV.

    Is it possible with your system? Do i need to register for a full Icecat for that?

    Please let me know.

    Thanks in advance.

    • You can match via your Open Icecat account (assuming you’re registered) after login. By uploading the file and match on brand + brand product code or GTIN (EAN). For Open Icecat (sponsoring) brands you can look up all data with a free account. For non-sponsoring brands you will need a Full Icecat subscription.

  • commented on January 21, 2021 by Bauer

    thanks for the quick reply. The way i did it gives back 1 URL for every line. Is there also any ways to extract the information separated by columns directly in the output?

  • commented on March 11, 2021 by AndrewK

    Hello, I am trying to upload a product feed from URL. The file fails with the message:
    Failed to configure input file. Please check if file settings are correct, and try again.

    I have confirmed that the URL is accessible.
    That the file can be downloaded.
    That the file is in the correct format.
    I have manually uploaded the same file and it works without issue.

    Can you please assist?

    Thanks.

    • Dear Andrew, communicated this to operations. If your email is the same as your account’s, they’ll come back to you. Otherwise, use the icecat Contact form or the Chat after login.

  • commented on May 12, 2021 by Javier Camacaro

    Hi,

    Is possible to create a file with products descriptions in spanish?. I just see the “EN” buttom.

    I’m registered as a “open catalog” user

    Thanks!

    • Dear Javier

      You should have changed the user country to Spain. I did it for you. now you can get content in Spanish language.

  • commented on July 21, 2021 by Chris

    Hi,

    I have tested the deeplink example in your post and that downloads the PIF file, how do I configure that to download the PCF file instead please?
    https://icecat.biz/index.cgi?login_form=user_import_report;type=match;layout=csv;login=XXXXX;password=XXXXX

    Thanks

  • commented on October 6, 2023 by Glen Dale

    This article seems to indicate that we can generate the PIF on a daily basis by ‘hitting the request button’, but I cannot find this button.

    Also our product inventory changes quite regularly so we’d like to be able to automatically upload our product inventory on a daily basis so that we can get up to date images. Is this possible to do?

    Many thanks

    • Dear Glen
      Once you indicate in Icecat link to your feed and go to “My downloads” you will see button “Request daily updates”

      Kind regards

      Vazha Abramishvili

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