Taxonomy CSV check
Shopify CSV Product Category Validator
Check Product Category taxonomy values before a Shopify bulk import appears to work but leaves product categories blank.
Browser-side scan
Drop a Shopify product CSV
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This validator focuses on the Product Category column, where header spelling can be correct while taxonomy values still fail. It helps merchants review taxonomy paths, category IDs, encoded ampersands, exported-category roundtrips, and the small-batch checks needed when the import preview is ambiguous.
Import blockers
Common causes this scan checks
- The Product Category header is correct but the taxonomy path does not match Shopify's expected category value.
- Category IDs, breadcrumb paths, and exported category labels are mixed in the same file.
- Ampersands, punctuation, or encoded characters change the taxonomy value during spreadsheet editing.
- The import preview can make a category look missing even when a final small-batch import should be verified.
Workflow
How to use the cleaned CSV
- Confirm the file uses the Product Category column before reviewing row-level taxonomy values.
- Compare category IDs and taxonomy breadcrumb paths against a known exported Shopify row.
- Flag encoded ampersands, duplicate category formats, and blank category cells before bulk import.
- Import a small verified batch and check the final product admin category before scaling up.
Auto-fix policy
What the export can safely change
- Trims Product Category cells without rewriting merchant taxonomy decisions.
- Flags rows that mix category IDs, breadcrumb paths, and free-text category names.
- Highlights encoded ampersands and punctuation that may not roundtrip cleanly.
- Preserves original category values while producing a row-level verification checklist.
FAQ
Shopify CSV questions
Why does Shopify drop Product Category without an import error?
The header can be valid while the taxonomy value is not accepted or is hard to confirm from the preview, so category rows need value-level checks.
Should I use category ID or breadcrumb text?
Use the format that matches a trusted Shopify export or current taxonomy guidance, then keep that format consistent across the file.
Can this guess the right category for every product?
No. It validates the CSV category values and highlights risky formats, but final taxonomy choice remains a merchant decision.