Magento Dataflow Not Updating Some Columns / Attributes + Solution

Dec 10, 2010 · 3 minute read
Category: magento

If you are scratching your head trying to figure out why Magento Dataflow seems to be totally ignoring the values you are putting in some columns (for me it was qty_increments and enable_qty_increments) then this is your solution.

In a nutshell, Dataflow totally ignores some columns despite including them in the output file - quite a few actually.

I am planning to release an extension that generally tidies up the behaviour of Dataflow and also includes creation of Attribute Sets and Categories which has come up as a requirement for a client project. However this little nugget of fun has cost me a few hours so I thought I would share the solution straight away.

The columns that are updated by dataflow are controlled by the modules (in this case Mage_Catalog) config.xml file. If you want to enable extra columns you need to create a simple custom module to override that xml.

This is the contents of the config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!--
/**
 * EdmondsCommerce
 * www.edmondscommerce.co.uk
 * info@edmondscommerce.co.uk
 * +44 (0)844 357 0201
 *
 * NOTICE OF LICENSE
 *
 * This source file is subject to the Open Software License (OSL 3.0)
 * It is available through the world-wide-web at this URL:
 * http://opensource.org/licenses/osl-3.0.php
 *
 *
 * @category   EdmondsCommerce
 * @package    EdmondsCommerce_DataFlow
 * @copyright  Copyright (c) 2010 Edmonds Commerce (http://www.edmondscommerce.co.uk)
 * @license    http://opensource.org/licenses/osl-3.0.php  Open Software License (OSL 3.0)
 -->

<config>
    <modules>
        <EdmondsCommerce_DataFlow>
                <depends>
                        <Mage_Catalog />
                        <Mage_Dataflow />
                  </depends>
                <version>0.1.0</version>
        </EdmondsCommerce_DataFlow>
    </modules>
       <admin>
        <fieldsets>
            <catalog_product_dataflow>
                <qty>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <to_number>1</to_number>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                    </product_type>
                </qty>
                <min_qty>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <to_number>1</to_number>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                    </product_type>
                </min_qty>
                <is_qty_decimal>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                    </product_type>
                </is_qty_decimal>
                <backorders>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                    </product_type>
                </backorders>
                <min_sale_qty>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <to_number>1</to_number>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                    </product_type>
                </min_sale_qty>
                <max_sale_qty>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <to_number>1</to_number>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                    </product_type>
                </max_sale_qty>
                <is_in_stock>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <inventory_other>1</inventory_other>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                        <configurable />
                        <grouped />
                    </product_type>
                </is_in_stock>
                <notify_stock_qty>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                    </product_type>
                </notify_stock_qty>
                <manage_stock>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                        <configurable />
                        <grouped />
                    </product_type>
                </manage_stock>
                <!-- EdmondsCommerce added //-->
                <enable_qty_increments>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                        <configurable />
                        <grouped />
                    </product_type>
                </enable_qty_increments>
                <qty_increments>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                        <configurable />
                        <grouped />
                    </product_type>
                </qty_increments>
                <!-- EdmondsCommerce ends //-->
                <image><img>1</img></image>
                <small_image><img>1</img></small_image>
                <thumbnail><img>1</img></thumbnail>

                <store><external>1</external></store>
                <websites><external>1</external></websites>
                <sku><external>1</external></sku>
                <attribute_set><external>1</external><ignore>1</ignore></attribute_set>
                <type><external>1</external><ignore>1</ignore></type>
                <name><external>1</external><required>1</required></name>
                <description><external>1</external><required>1</required></description>
                <short_description><external>1</external><required>1</required></short_description>
                <weight><external>1</external><required>1</required></weight>
                <price><external>1</external><required>1</required></price>

                <tax_class_id><required>1</required></tax_class_id>
                <category_ids><system>1</system><ignore>1</ignore></category_ids>

                <entity_id><system>1</system><internal>1</internal><ignore>1</ignore></entity_id>
                <old_id><internal>1</internal></old_id>
                <tier_price><internal>1</internal></tier_price>
                <media_gallery><internal>1</internal></media_gallery>

                <entity_type_id><system>1</system></entity_type_id>
                <attribute_set_id><system>1</system><ignore>1</ignore></attribute_set_id>
                <type_id><system>1</system><ignore>1</ignore></type_id>
                <created_at><system>1</system></created_at>
                <updated_at><system>1</system></updated_at>
                <item_id><system>1</system></item_id>
                <product_id><system>1</system></product_id>
                <stock_id><system>1</system></stock_id>
                <required_options><system>1</system><ignore>1</ignore></required_options>
            </catalog_product_dataflow>
        </fieldsets>
    </admin>
</config>

If you look towards the middle you will see this bit:

            <!-- EdmondsCommerce added //-->
                <enable_qty_increments>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                        <configurable />
                        <grouped />
                    </product_type>
                </enable_qty_increments>
                <qty_increments>
                    <inventory>1</inventory>
                    <use_config>1</use_config>
                    <product_type>
                        <simple />
                        <virtual />
                        <configurable />
                        <grouped />
                    </product_type>
                </qty_increments>
                <!-- EdmondsCommerce ends //-->

If there are any other columns you need to enable then you will need to do something similar.