New setup import CSV file

[rraymond]

Hi EVeryone,

I'm new to virtuemart. We are using the latest version which I think is 2.2. I work for a car dealership in NJ. We are evaluating Virtuemart to see if it can handle our type of business. We are also using Joomla 2.5. I have a CSV file that contains car information. We get this file every day from a 3rd party provider, that updates our cars with new models and photos. I would like to ask a few questions before I spend too much time trying to figure if I can do what I need to get done.

1) I need to be able to import the car data from the CSV file daily into virtuemart. Is there a way to import the field column names from the CSV into a database that virtuemart can use? If so, can someone provide me with instructions on how to do this.
2) Can Virtuemart display images using a URL? One of the files we receive has URLS in it to point to the images.

Forgive me if I sound like a novice.. But I am..

OK update I added 2 new tables to the Virtuemart database that was imported from our CSV file. How do I link these tables to Virtuemart in order to use the data in them?

[jenkinhill]

Suggest you look at using CSVI. http://www.csvimproved.com/ or see http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=93188.0

Then you have no need to hack the VirtueMart core files, which we do not support.

[rraymond]

OK, I downloaded CSV Importer.. Thanks that will help alot. I created all my fields as Custom Fields in Virtuemart, because the automotive data format doesn't quite match up with a retail format. I need a field for VIN, Bodytype etc. So I created 61 custom fields. I used CSVI to map the fields. It says I imported 123 records. I don't see those custom fields under Products. What am I doing wrong? I'm pulling my hairout with this program.

PHP Version: 5.4.16
Joomla Version: 2.5.9
Virtuemart Version: 2.0.22

[jenkinhill]

Build a few products by hand to start, export them with CSVI to see the pattern & format and then try importing some more products using that same scheme.  That's how I worked out how to do things a few years ago. If you have issues getting CVSI right then ask on their support forum, but you need to get the manufacturer/category/product/child/customs structure sorted first. That can be a long slow process.