Importing from another shopping cart system

[websmith]

Joomla 4.4.5
VM 3.0.12

I would like to know if its possible to import products from another system like yahoo shopping cart? The sites old developer stated he can export data in csv, api or other formats and wanted to know if its possible to import into VM this way, and if so what would be the preferred format? They have hundreds of products and Id hate to have to enter individually.
Thank you for any insight into this.

[jenkinhill]

IF the products are in a csv, then with a little formatting/manipulation you should be able to import using CSVI Pro

[websmith]

Thanks for the heads up JenkinHill. I'm just getting around to trying this out. Can you advise if my understanding of the procedure is correct.
Create a template, then add fields to the template using the headers from old shopping cart you are wanting to import.
Basically creating categories in vm that match categories from import. This would be a sort of guide so the import would be directed to proper fields in vm.
Does that make sense and am I on right track?
I guess I would have to create multi variants that match options from import as well.

[GJC Web Design]

you can first create a csv to import cats if there are a lot of them

then for the product import u need the headers to be the correct csvi ones that carry out the import.. it isn't just importing fields.. it also imports to linked tables etc

But just experiment with the example templates and there is plenty of info on the csvi site

Custom fields can be handled with the import if you have already set them up in VM

[websmith]

Thank you very much GJC.
Im kinda stumped in one area though. Ive created a template, and when I try to create fields, Im kinda lost. I get an option to choose csvi pro, joomla category, joomla content and joomla users, but no virtuemart. The field options dont make sense to me as I dont see product sku, product name, description, base price, etc etc. My options are combine, id, level, lft, name and so on as in the attached image.

Am I missing something here? Can you point me the right direction? I think I understand the concept, but Im not seeing familiar fields or choices to choose from. Perhaps the screencaps will shed more light on my dilemma, if you can take a moment to review. Thanks in advance for any help getting past this hurdle.

[GJC Web Design]

really a question for Roland at csvi but you have to install the csvi VM plugin... from csvi download area

[PRO]

websmith, are you a developer?

do you have xampp etc?
I would work directly with phpmyadmin on xampp if you dont know CSV Pro already.

You could easily install sample data on a vmart shop.
Then, look at the
products, categories, product_categories, custom fields tables etc.

then map the fields

and what about shoppers & orders?