Inventory Upload - HELP!

artstiefel — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 20:10:58 GMT

PLEASE HELP! I have been trying - countless times - to "Import and Replace Item Library" using an inventory Excel file and I keep getting error messages: "All item variations must have an option set and an option." Only a few items have Variations or options. When I don't get this error I get one that asks for info for column A - which on the Inventory Excel document is the Reference Handle - which I have have no information on.

This system makes no sense. I can only enter relevant information per product. Is there a blank Inventory Template that I should be using instead of downloading my current inventory and having to repopulate it?

Re: Inventory Upload - HELP!

Candlestore — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 15:08:39 GMT

@artstiefel ;

Go to your Square Dashboard - Items then Export your current Catalog.

You need the data in a specific order under certain Headers for it to import correctly.

The Reference Handle Column you will not have unless you are updating an Item. The Item is Identified by the Token Column.

Here is something for Catalog Troubleshooting:

https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6172-import-item-library-troubleshooting

Here is a Square video on how to import your inventory to Square:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae9dpKuCc1U

With Excel file this should be a Excel Workbook File..... 3 tabs at the bottom.

The other way is a CSV which is only the First tab of Items in the Excel Workbook.

The workbook has Options for Variations and this might be why you are getting the Options error.

When I export my Excel file and want to import it again I use the same format. So if I Export the Excel XLSX file type, I edit the first Tab of items ONLY and then Import it back to Square with Merge or Update and have no issues. Sometimes when I tried updating with just the CSV file after creating the Options sets I would get errors so I just do all my Export Imports now with the XLSX file types.

If you are creating Variations that need Modifiers or Option sets you may need to create those in Square. I could be wrong but I think each Item has to be unique in Square when Creating it through the Import tool, no variations or Options. Also the Token and the Reference Handle Column I think should be Blank for New Items.

thread Inventory Upload - HELP! in Payments Troubleshooting

Inventory Upload - HELP!

Re: Inventory Upload - HELP!