Single-Tab Files

Single-tab files contain data in a single tab. SDM reads files that have a header row followed by rows representing individual product entries.

Basic Requirements

SDM can read files with a header row and a logical layout where each row corresponds to a product or item reference. 

For example, in a well-structured file, the first row would contain column headers, and each subsequent row would represent a single product entry.

Supported Features for Single-Tab Files

SDM can accommodate the following specific features:

• Skipped Header Lines: You can set the tool to skip a defined number of rows before reading data by adjusting “Advanced Options.” This is useful if the file includes extraneous header information.

• Vertical Headers: SDM can read files where certain headers are displayed vertically. These files are supported as long as they follow the basic requirements.

• Public URLs for Images: If the file includes URLs pointing to images, SDM can interpret them and display previews in the UI. If the image isn’t displayed within SDM, the URL may be broken or point to an inaccessible location.

Unsupported Features

Files with heavy formatting for visual appeal may be unreadable by SDM. The following features are not supported:

• Media Content: Physical images or videos embedded in the file are not readable.
• Merged Cells: SDM does not support files with merged cells.
• Colors: SDM ignores color-coded cells. If colors are used to convey data (e.g., red for “to be confirmed”), SDM will not interpret them.
• Column Breaks: Empty or non-data columns are not ignored, so these should be removed before uploading.

This list may evolve over time, but these are the current unsupported features.

Multi-Tab Files

Multi-tab files contain data spread across multiple tabs. SDM can process multi-tab files if the following conditions are met:

• File Format Compatibility: The file matches one of SDM’s natively supported formats (e.g., FABDIS). New formats may be added in the future.
• Tab Structure: Tabs must meet the same requirements as single-tab files and be named consistently across files. Changing tab names from file to file is not supported.
• Unique Identifiers: If the same product reference appears across multiple tabs, a unique product identifier (e.g., EAN, SKU) must appear in each tab to link the data.
• Standardized Formatting: Files should maintain a consistent format. Tabs for data extraction are determined during onboarding; irrelevant tabs can be excluded but must be consistent across files.

If the multi-tab files contain empty columns, these columns must still include headers.

Best Practices

If you’re unsure about a file format, feel free to consult your SDM contact for guidance.

Generally, SDM performs best with files that have not been reworked extensively for visual appeal. If you receive such files frequently, consider asking your data providers to send simpler extracts or less modified versions for quicker processing.