Return to previous page

Importing Product Variations with Multiple-Images

This topic has 6 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 10 hours, 39 minutes ago ago by Jack Richardson

Digital-Boutique

Participant

December 7, 2025 at 05:37

Hello,

Our project includes a requirement to import 100’s of products with 1000’s of variations into WooCommerce via CSV.
We’ve spent a number of months now getting the data cleaning requirements for that process perfected.
One problem we’ve faced for a long time, is how to show Front, Back & Side photos for each product.
I don’t mean just a standard Product Image Gallery. I mean for every Apparel Color Variation.

There were many reasons for why we decided to port our entire site to XStore.
But, one of them was your built-in support for variations with multiple images.

Now when it comes to being able to import 3 images per variation,
we’ve hit a serious wall that we don’t know how to resolve.

You keep the multi-image variation data in this field:
meta:et_variation_gallery_images

The stored data looks like this: [197861,197859]
This would be Post ID #’s for the extra images.

PROBLEM:
When you are importing 100’s of products, and the CSV
includes 1000’s of lines for all the Size & Color variations…
import tools let you add images by file name(s) or URL(s).
And, you can add multiple images separated by by commas.

But you support multiple images per variation via Image Post ID only.
As you can imagine, we don’t know the internal post ID for every image
that we want to attach to every variation in a CSV file that is 15,000 rows in size.

WooCommerce Import Tools expect image file names.
You have added a wonderful feature, but…
it only works if every variation is
quite literally edited by hand.

How can we resolve this conflict?
Please tell me there’s a way around this?

Thank You

#461776 Copied

5 Answers

Jack Richardson

Support staff

December 7, 2025 at 16:21

Hello @Digital-Boutique,

Thank you for reaching out to us and for providing such a detailed explanation of your project requirements. We truly appreciate the time and effort you have invested in preparing your data and choosing XStore for your WooCommerce site.

Regarding your concern about importing multiple images per variation via CSV, we understand the challenge of managing image post IDs for a large number of variations. At this time, the XStore variation gallery feature stores additional images using the image post IDs, which are generated once the images are uploaded to the WordPress Media Library.

To work around this limitation, we recommend the following options:
1. Use a custom import script or plugin that allows mapping image URLs or file names to post IDs automatically during import. This can be achieved by extending the import process to upload images first, retrieve their post IDs, and then assign them to the et_variation_gallery_images meta field.
2. Consider third-party import tools such as WP All Import, which can be customized with PHP functions to handle this mapping automatically.
3. If you have a developer on your team, they can create a small function to process the imported data after the initial import, converting image URLs to post IDs and updating the variation meta accordingly.

We understand this may require additional setup, but it will allow you to maintain your bulk import workflow while taking advantage of XStore’s multi-image variation feature.

Also, could you please, clearify if you exported your products from another web-site or you have all images in local folders and are going to manually upload each product. Did you use a custom plugin on another store for those products for making the variations images ? If so, then it might be also as a solution to analyze the plugin import/export feature and then migrate those images to our built-in functionality from plugin post meta keys.

Best Regards,
Jack Richardson
8Theme’s Team

#461806 Copied

Digital-Boutique

Participant

December 7, 2025 at 17:39

Hi Jack,

Thank you as well for the thoughtful response.
Here are answers to the questions and solutions you posed.
I do very much appreciate your input and thought on this mattter.

1. We obtain CSV products data from an apparel vendor.
It is not formatted in any way usable for WooCommerce products data importing
So there is a very complicated process that we’ve engineered to clean & edit that data.
It took about 3 months of work to perfect a method using TypeScript & SQL data transforms.

The vendor’s CSV data includes 3 image URLs for each product color variations.
We have to collect & isolate those image URL’s into a separate text files,
then use Bulk Image download tools to get those images.
After which they are uploaded to the WP Media Library.

2. We are using “WebToffee Import/Export Pro” (WTIE) to handle the import process.
https://www.webtoffee.com/product/product-import-export-woocommerce/
The WTIE UI allows for CSV columns data-mapping.

The import process works best if images area already available in the media library.
And the CSV includes 1 or more image filenames, to associate to each variation.
I am attaching an example file of what Variable Product import data looks like.
Please note the very last column for each product?
Three images separated by commas.
Please see attached sample.

3. We can add and map extra meta data fields during import.
Please see attached screenshot.

I was very excited when I discovered your “Variation Images Gallery” feature.
I had believed that I could (finally after months of work) add extra images per variation,
and “Presto” we could import 15,000 variations with extra Front, Back & Side view images.

YOUR RESPONSE (above):
It sounds like you are suggesting that we do something like this:
1. Upload all the Images we need to use ( so that have Post ID’s)
2. Complete the already working products & variations import process.
3. Either during or after the import process, call to a PHP function to run an update.
4. The extra PHP hook would resolve import CSV Image file-names to their Post ID’s
5. Find each variation’s extra image Post ID’s, add them to your custom meta data field.

Is that right?

Files is visible for topic creator and
support staff only.

#461817 Copied

Jack Richardson

Support staff

December 8, 2025 at 07:41

Hello @Digital-Boutique,

Based on the details you have provided, we recommend that you consult with your developers regarding the implementation steps we previously suggested. Since you have been collaborating for three months, you may be able to find a suitable solution based on those recommendations.

Additionally, please review the code of your importer to determine whether there are any available hooks or filters that would allow you to inject custom code during the import process. Your developers can then implement a custom PHP snippet following the steps we outlined earlier.

As you are using the PRO version of your importer plugin, you may also consider submitting a request on their support forum to explore any additional solutions they can offer.

We look forward to your feedback.

Best regards,
Jack Richardson
8Theme Team

#461835 Copied

Digital-Boutique

Participant

December 8, 2025 at 08:54

Thanks Jack,

But – I am the developer. 🙂
And I was hoping to find an answer here
for this issue of adding extra images to variations.

Thank you for taking time to review and respond.
I will continue working on this.

#461843 Copied

Jack Richardson

Support staff

December 8, 2025 at 10:30

Hello @Digital-Boutique,

Thank you for your understanding that this request is quite specific and may require certain adjustments or customizations. We appreciate your consideration of our suggestions. You may also submit your request to the support team of the plugin you are using for the import, as previously mentioned. If you need any further assistance, we will be happy to help.

Best regards,
Jack Richardson
8Theme Team

#461860 Copied
Viewing 6 results - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)