How to edit item library CSV so that items import as variations rather than distinct items?

[pfs-rwc]

Organizing my library by exporting/importing CSV files is working well. One thing I'm trying to figure out: Is there a way to edit the CSV file so that adjacent lines in the file get interpreted as *variations* of a single item, rather than as separate items?

Let me explain. Our store bought some inventory from another store that went out of business. I was able to export a file from that store's POS system and upload it to form the basis for our  item library in Square. But as I've gotten to learn how Square for Retail works, I've come to realize that a lot of items should really be structured as variations of the same thing, not left as separate items.

Say we sell a 5# Bag o' Stuff and also a 10# Bag o' Stuff. When I imported the initial library, these were created as separate items. I've come to learn that what I really want is one Bag o' Stuff item with two variations (5# and 10#). Up til now, what I've done is pick one, copy its SKU, append something random to the end of that SKU (like the letter "a"), save it, open the other item, edit it so that it has two variations (pasting in the SKU from the other one), saving it, then finally deleting the other one (the one with the "a" appended to the SKU) from the library.

I'm not sure this is the best way, or if some data (inventory counts?) gets lost this way.

Isn't there a way to edit the CSV file so that when I upload it back, different lines are interpreted as variations instead of separate items? That would be a lot faster. After all, Square *exports* the variations onto different lines. I thought that if I made the "Item Name" identical for both and populated the "Variation Name" fields properly, this would work, but it didn't. I left the "Token" data alone, since I never touch that.

Any way to do what I want from within the CSV file? I've searched these pages and can't find an answer. Thank you.

[LocavoreStore]

I think it would be difficult to keep inserting columns for more variations. What if you had 10 or 20 variations? Between unique SKU's, multiple locations, and different inventories, your spreadsheet would get REALLY wide, and MESSY. If someone asked me how to add variations to the CSV file, I would have assumed that it was just like you said (add another column and put it in the row). But when I really think about it, that's just not practical.

I've created variable data sets for print projects before, and the more variables you have, the more exponentially complicated your data becomes. 

I don't like using variations because when they come back in the reports, it will show the same Item Name for all variations. For instance... "Drinks, Tea/Snapple" is the item... Mango, Pineapple, Orange, and Cherry are all the variations, each with their own price and unique data... In the reports, it will all come back as "Drinks, Tea/Snapple", and I have to look in another column to find out what kind of Tea... For my purposes, it's best to avoid that, because most all of my other data hinges on what is in the Item Name cell, and no other.

But, I would like to know what the proper way to go about this is myself. I don't remember my library exporting variations as its own line item (like it currently does)... Is that new? I seem to remember the CSV containing the variation in the same row as the item.

[Chad]

Hey @pfs-rwc, something sounds off. From what you described the Items should be coming through with the variations as modifiers. I'm a little bit puzzled as to why you're getting multiple items. 

I recommend reaching out directly to our directly to our Square for Retail Support Team. They will be able to take a closer look at your CSV file!