Exporting Categories

How to Export

1. Open the Data Exchange Center from the Business menu
2. Click Export on the Categories card
3. The wizard displays the number of category records available for export
4. Click Export to CSV and choose a save location

What Gets Exported

The export includes your complete category structure. Each row in the CSV represents one category, including its name, parent category (if any), and description. The file captures the full hierarchy so you can see which categories are top-level and which are nested under a parent.

Exported Columns

Understanding the Hierarchy in the Export

The Parent Category column shows the hierarchical relationship between categories. Top-level categories have an empty parent_category value. Subcategories show the name of their immediate parent.

For example, an exported file might contain:

category_name,parent_category,description
Electronics,,All electronic products
Computers,Electronics,Computer hardware
Laptops,Computers,Portable computers
Desktops,Computers,Desktop computers
Clothing,,Apparel and garments
Shirts,Clothing,All types of shirts

In this example, Electronics and Clothing are top-level categories. Computers is a child of Electronics, and Laptops and Desktops are children of Computers.

Common Uses

• As a template — If you have not yet created any categories, the export produces a CSV with only the column headers. Use this as a blank template for preparing your category import file with the correct column names.
• Reorganizing categories — Export your current category structure, rearrange the hierarchy in Excel by changing Parent Category values, and re-import the file. The upsert mechanism (matched by category name) updates existing categories with their new parent assignments. This is the easiest way to restructure your category tree without editing each category individually.
• Backup — Keep a periodic export of your category structure as a reference point. If you make changes that you want to undo, re-import the backed-up file to restore the previous structure.
• Documentation — Share the exported category list with your team so that everyone understands how products are organized. This is especially useful when onboarding new employees who need to learn your product taxonomy.
• Migration — Export categories from one AccuArk system and import them into another to replicate the same organizational structure.

Re-Import Compatibility

The exported file uses the same column format accepted by the categories import. Because the import supports upsert (matching on category name), you can:

• Export, rearrange the hierarchy in Excel, and re-import to restructure categories
• Export from one AccuArk system and import into another
• Export, add new categories to the file, and re-import to both update existing categories and add new ones in a single operation

Tips

• Review your hierarchy — After exporting, scan the parent_category column to verify that all categories are nested correctly. Look for categories that should have a parent but show a blank value, or vice versa.
• Maintain ordering for re-import — If you plan to re-import the exported file, ensure that parent categories appear before their children in the CSV. This guarantees the parent exists when the child row is processed.
• Identify unused categories — Cross-reference the exported categories with your inventory items to find categories that have no items assigned. You may want to remove unused categories to keep your structure clean.
• Standardize descriptions — Use the export as an opportunity to review and improve your category descriptions. Clear, consistent descriptions make it easier for employees to choose the right category when adding new items.