Mapping fields

Mapping tells Feedsmith how to fill each channel field for each product. You do it on the channel's Map fields tab. Global store fields work the same way. See Global store fields.

Fields

The tab lists the channel's fields in three groups, Required fields, Recommended fields and Optional fields. A field with no rules shows "Not mapped" and is left empty.

• To add a field, click Add field and pick one of the Channel fields, or type any name and choose Add "your name" to add a custom field.
• To remove a field, open it and click Remove field.
• To leave a note for your team, use Comments on the field.

If a required field has no rule, the page shows "1 required field isn't mapped", and Feedsmith won't build a new feed until you map it.

Feedsmith fills the fields from the top of the list to the bottom. A rule can use a channel field that's higher in the list, e.g. output:title, but not one lower down.

Rules

Each field has one or more rules. A rule has three parts.

1. Which products it's for. All products, or Only if with conditions, e.g. only if product_type includes Shoes. See Conditions.
2. A mapping type that makes the value, e.g. Use title, or Add static value new. See Mapping types.
3. Edit values that change the value, e.g. add a prefix or remove HTML. See Edit values.

Which rule Feedsmith uses

For each product, Feedsmith goes down the rules and uses the first rule that applies. It ignores the rules below it. If no rule applies, the field is empty.

So a rule for All products after one or more Only if rules works as "otherwise". The editor labels it Otherwise.

For example, the title field could have these rules:

1. Only if product_type is equal to Gift Card. Add static value Kiwi Outdoor Co Gift Card.
2. Otherwise (All products). Combine vendor, a space and title.

A rule for All products always applies, so any rule below it is never used. The editor warns you with "Never used: an earlier rule already covers all products". Move the All products rule to the bottom with the arrows.

Use every matching rule

Some channel fields can hold several values, e.g. Google's product_highlight, additional_image_link and excluded_destination. For these, tick Use every matching rule (one value each) on the field. Feedsmith then uses every rule that applies, not just the first one, and each rule adds one value. Rules after the first are labelled Also.

For example, product_highlight could have these rules:

1. Only if tags includes merino. Add static value 100% New Zealand merino.
2. Only if tags includes machine-washable. Add static value Machine washable.
3. All products. Add static value Free returns within 30 days.

A product tagged merino, machine-washable gets three values. A product with neither tag gets one. Rules that give an empty value add nothing.

How the values appear depends on the feed format:

• In XML (RSS 2.0), each value gets its own element, e.g. three <g:product_highlight> elements.
• In CSV and TXT, the values are in one cell, separated by commas.
• In JSON, the values are a list.
• When you use the field in text, e.g. {{output:product_highlight}}, the values are separated by a comma and a space.

Preview a field

Click the eye icon (Preview) on a field to test it. Feedsmith shows 15 random products with:

• Inputs, the values of the fields your rules use,
• Rule, the number of the rule that was used, or "No rule",
• Outcome, the final value.

Click Shuffle for 15 other products, or search for a product by any value, e.g. a SKU. The preview uses your unsaved changes, so you can test before you save.

Save

Your changes aren't saved until you click Save changes. Click Discard changes to go back to the saved mapping. After you save, Feedsmith rebuilds the feed a few seconds later.