The Import-Export tool reads import options from an import configuration file. This XML file specifies:

• What type of data to import
• How the target system should resolve import conflicts
• Where the import data package is located

The default import configuration file importconfiguration.xml is located in the Import-Export Tool's installation directory. You can change the settings in this file to meet your import requirements. Alternatively, you can make a copy of this file, change the settings in the copy, and specify the filename of the copy when you run the batch script.

The following is an example of an import configuration file:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<importconfiguration>
  <xmlvalidation>true</xmlvalidation>
  <importstrategy>
...
   <importer type="PRODUCT">
      <importstrategy>INSERT_OR_UPDATE</importstrategy>
      <dependentelements>
        <!-- FOR SINGLE AND MULTI-SKU PRODUCTS -->
        <dependentelement type="PRODUCT_ASSOCIATIONS">CLEAR_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="PRODUCT_CATEGORY_ASSIGNMENTS">CLEAR_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="PRODUCT_ATTRIBUTES">CLEAR_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="PRODUCT_CATALOG_PRICES">RETAIN_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="PRODUCT_PRICE_CURRENCIES">RETAIN_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="PRODUCT_PRICE_TIERS">CLEAR_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <!-- FOR MULTI-SKU PRODUCTS ONLY. NOT TO BE EDITED WHEN IMPORTING SINGLE SKU PRODUCTS -->
        <dependentelement type="SKU_CATALOG_PRICES">RETAIN_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="SKU_PRICE_CURRENCIES">RETAIN_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="SKU_PRICE_TIERS">CLEAR_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="PRODUCT_SKUS">RETAIN_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="PRODUCT_SKU_PRICING">CLEAR_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
        <dependentelement type="SKU_ATTRIBUTES">CLEAR_COLLECTION</dependentelement>
      </dependentelements>
    </importer>
...
  </importstrategy>
  <packager type="ZIP" />
  <retrieval>
    <method>FILE</method>
    <source>c:/temp/importexport/export.zip</source>
  </retrieval>
<transformerschain/>
</importconfiguration>

The import configuration file contains four sections:

• XML Validation Configuration
• Import Strategy Configuration
• Packager Configuration (Import)
• Retrieval Configuration