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15 minutes ago, El Patron said:

Share how you solved for others. 

I have done it manually for now for duplicated names but I'd prefer to see a solution in PS import, which is why I've started the thread. I would have done it in PHPMyAdmin but there wasn't enough errors to warrant this in my case right now, but I would still like to see a fix so we can export/import to a fresh shop or routinely modify trees which we do by exporting via an endpoint into google sheets and amending them there.

However, for anyone reading that is having this issue. You can manually enter duplicates in the tree as PS uses ID as the unique identifier, it is only the CATEGORY IMPORT that is an issue with duplicate names. 

Then for product import you can use CATEGORY ID if you wish (although this is bug prone, I don't think it works with Excel imports as it will use the number as a string for the name) or you can put the path separated by forward slash "/" without quotes in the Categories xyz column.

Example Product import category column would be "mens/shoes/trainers" without the quotes. this will place your product in Trainers under Mens Shoes. You can even use this to import your categories to make a category tree using "fake" products that you can delete later (a workaround of sorts - but absolutely ridiculous that you need to use PRODUCT IMPORT to make your category tree!

Example:

Product name, Category

Temporary Product 1, Mens/Shoes/Trainers

Temp Product 2, Womens/Shoes/Trainers

Temp Product 3, Kids/Shoes/Trainers

Temp Product 4, Mens/Shoes/Flip Flops (I don't actually sell shoes sorry!)

Temp Product 5, Mens/Shoes/Flip Flops/Any Other Child name you like

Then you would need to delete these temporary products.

Edit: Note, you don't need to add Mens before Shoes when doing it as above, if you used something like "Cat 1/Cat 2/Cat 3/Cat 4 in your first line, all of these categories would be created by PS and look like this in the BO once completed.

Home>Cat 1>Cat 2>Cat 3>Cat 4 (the home category is default, so your imported categories will fall under it).