WP Ultimate CSV Importer - Custom Fields Import

Your spreadsheet is flat and your custom fields are not

A CSV file only knows rows and columns. Your site, on the other hand, stores repeaters inside repeaters, galleries, relationships between posts and blocks with several layouts. In a bulk load, all that structure has to fit in a table.

Importing custom fields means writing a nested structure inside a cell, so the real work starts in the file format and not at the import button.

WP Ultimate CSV Importer is an importer for WordPress, and this Custom Fields pack is devoted to bringing your data into the fields of plugins such as ACF, Toolset, Pods, JetEngine or Meta Box.

How each field is written in the file

• Repeaters: the values of each row are separated with a pipe (|).
• Nested repeaters: -> is used for inner values and | for grouping.
• Flexible content: values separated with | and a separate column with the layout names, separated by commas.
• Galleries: URLs separated by commas, or the image ID in the media library.
• Relationships: post IDs separated by commas. For bidirectional ones, IDs or slugs go in both fields.

In ACF it covers basic, content, choice and relational fields, plus date picker, color picker, Google Map, group, repeater and flexible content. In JetEngine it works with CCTs, taxonomies with their hierarchy and relations. The plugin list also includes free and PRO ACF, CMB2, Custom Fields Suite, CCTM and ACPT.

A car catalog with versions per model

Suppose a dealership with a repeater of models, and inside each model another repeater with its versions. A single cell in the file can contain:

Q5 35 TDI Premium Plus->Q5 35 TDI Technology|A6 35 TDI Matrix->A6 35 TFSI Matrix

The pipe separates the two groups and the arrow separates the versions of each. When importing, you match that column to the corresponding field. You have two modes:

• Advanced: dropdowns that pair columns with matching names, with preview.
• Drag and drop: you bring each column to its field and save the mapping under a name to reuse it.

Each field also accepts static values, formulas and your own PHP functions to transform the data.

Fields created before the first load

The importer fills fields, and it does not create them. The field group must be defined and assigned to its content type before you start.

• Partial pack: compared with the Premium edition, this pack may not bring features such as template import and export or custom post types.
• Editing records: to modify ACF records you must name a text or number field to match them.
• Scheduling: recurring imports, via FTP or URL, need a cron entry in WordPress.

Run a test with a short file first, especially with nested structures, and enable the prior backup so you can revert if the result does not convince you.

Requirements and your first import

You must have the free WP Ultimate CSV Importer plugin installed and active, because without it the pack deactivates. You also need the custom fields plugin you are going to fill.

1. Install the pack and create your fields in their source plugin.
2. Go to WP Ultimate CSV Importer, under Import/Update, and upload the file from your computer, a URL, FTP or SFTP, or the server itself.
3. Choose Fresh Import for new records or Update Content to modify existing ones, and specify the data type.
4. Match the columns to the fields and decide what to do with images: use existing ones, overwrite them or always create new ones.
5. Enable the duplicate check and the prior backup.
6. Click Import and review the summary, which lets you download the log and the list of failed media.

More importers to compare

To compare approaches, look at WP All Import Pro, which with its ACF add-on and its Toolset Types add-on also reaches custom fields. Another option is Import WP Pro.

Answers about the Custom Fields pack

Which file formats does it accept?

CSV, XML, Excel, Google Sheets and TSV.

Can I update fields without creating new posts?

Yes. Edit the file, upload it again and choose the option to update content.

Does it handle large files?

It splits them into iterations processed in turn, to avoid server timeouts.