· DataEase · Tutorials  · 2 min read

Add Metafields to Shopify Products

Adding or updating metafields for many products at once can be time-consuming if done manually. DataEase makes it easy: export your products, edit metafield values in Excel or CSV using namespace:key pairs, and import them back to Shopify—all with type-safe validation.

🎯 Goal

Add or update product metafields in bulk using CSV/Excel and DataEase. Use clean namespace:key pairs with type-safe values.

📋 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Export Products

In DataEase, go to New Export → Products. Include at minimum:

  • id
  • handle

Optionally add existing metafields to review current data.

This will give you a file with all your products ready for editing.

2. Choose How to Edit Metafields

DataEase supports two methods for editing metafields:

Dynamic columns (recommended): Add one column per key, named metafield: {namespace} / {key} (e.g., metafield: my_fields / material). Enter the value directly in the cell.

Single “metafields” column: Provide multiple entries in one cell as namespace:key = value; namespace2:key2 = value2 (semicolon-separated).

3. Edit the File

Open the exported file in Excel or Google Sheets. For every row you want to change:

  1. Set command = UPDATE
  2. Fill your metafield values using the appropriate format:
    • Strings: plain text (e.g., Organic Cotton)
    • Numbers: numeric formats (e.g., 42, 19.95)
    • Booleans: TRUE / FALSE
    • Date/Time: ISO-8601 format (e.g., 2025-11-05T10:00:00+01:00)
    • JSON: valid JSON (e.g., {"color":"red","size":"m"})

When done, save the file as .xlsx or .csv.

4. Import & Validate

  1. In DataEase, start New Import
  2. Upload your edited file
  3. Map columns (Product ID preferred)
  4. Run Validation

Open the validation report and fix any type/format issues flagged in Validation Status.

5. Run the Import

After validation passes, click Run Import to apply your metafields to Shopify.

Once complete, spot-check products in the Shopify admin to confirm everything looks correct.

📝 Important Notes

  • Clearing a metafield: Leave the dynamic column’s cell empty for that key on UPDATE to remove it
  • Types: The validator checks Shopify metafield types (string, number, boolean, date_time, json, etc.). Use appropriate formats to pass validation
  • Consistency: Keep namespaces and keys consistent (my_fields.material, not mixed casing/spacing)
  • Variant metafields: Follow the same approach on variant-level exports (see Variants guide) using Variant ID and the corresponding metafield columns

💡 Minimal CSV Examples

id,command,metafield: my_fields / material,metafield: my_fields / season
gid://shopify/Product/123,UPDATE,Organic Cotton,Summer 2025

Single “metafields” column:

id,command,metafields
gid://shopify/Product/456,UPDATE,"my_fields:material = Organic Cotton; my_fields:season = Summer 2025"

Clear a metafield (dynamic column left blank):

id,command,metafield: my_fields / material
gid://shopify/Product/789,UPDATE,

🎉 That’s it!

Your metafields are now added or updated in bulk.
If you run into any issues or have questions, feel free to contact our support team.

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