How to Import Ingredients

Summary: Importing ingredients with a CSV file can speed up the initial setup or later updating of ingredient information, especially if there are many ingredients involved. This is a PLUS account feature.

How to import: To import ingredients with a CSV file, click the 'Features' section to open it up and then click the Import Ingredients link inside the section.
The process of importing from CSV files is a three step process. First, the upload of the file. Then the second step is to assign data descriptions to columns. And the third step is to review and finalize if everything looks good.

Step #1: Upload the CSV file.

Simply drag-and-drop the CSV file into the box or click on 'Choose a file' to get the option to select the file to upload.

Once dropped or selected, the file will be uploaded to CKB. If the file is accepted by the system, the next step will appear.

Step #2: Assign columns to import data.

If the file is an export CSV file from CookKeepBook, you will not need to assign the columns in the CSV file. The system will show a simple box that states the changes found within the file.

If the CSV file is not a CookKeepBook file, you will be able to assign the columns of data to internal ingredient data. By being able to assign columns, CSV files from various applications can be imported without having to edit them too much before importing them.

The following is data that can be imported:

• Ingredient Name: Simply, the name of the ingredient. The only column of data that is required to be able to import.
  
• Category Name: Name of category of ingredient.
  
• Vendor Name: Name of purchase vendor.
  
• Purchase Cost: Cost of purchase. Can have currency symbol, but will be ignored.
  
• Purchase Amount: Numeric value of the amount (without unit of measure, ie. '10', '150'). This will require the unit column be set separately.
  
• Purchase Unit: Unit of the amount. Ie. 'lbs', 'grams', etc. This is required if the 'Purchase Amount' column was set.
  
• Purchase Amount/Unit: The purchase amount with unit (ie. '10 lbs', '150 grams', etc. If this is selected, 'Purchase Amount' and 'Purchase Unit' should not be set.
  
• Purchase Date: The date of the purchase.
  

To assign the columns of data to values use the dropdown boxes above the column. Data below unselected dropdown boxes (in grey) will be ignored. You will also be able to skip rows at the beginning of the CSV file (in orange) to avoid importing header or spacer rows.

Step #3: Review the import process before finalizing it.

By pressing the 'Review' button the system will do a dry run of the import process and give you a review of what the final import will do.
If the review shows satisfactory results, finalize the import by pressing the 'Finalize Import' button.