How to Import and Export Shopify Metafield Definitions with StoreRobo

Shopify metafield definitions determine how custom data is configured, including its type, validation rules, access settings, capabilities, and constraints. Importing these definitions is useful when cloning or migrating a store because it allows you to create the required definitions in the target store before importing the corresponding metafield values.

With the StoreRobo – Shopify Import Export App, you can export metafield definitions from one store and import them into another by going to Apps > StoreRobo in your Shopify admin and selecting Metafield Definitions as the data type.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to export and import Shopify metafield definitions step by step.

Once you have the app on your store:

1. From the Shopify admin dashboard, go to Apps > StoreRobo > Home.

1. Under the Export section, choose an export template:
   • Shopify CSV
   • Shopify Excel

2. Click Proceed to continue.

1. Under Select data, select Metafield Definitions as the data type.
2. Expand the selected data type.
3. Under Columns, select the metafield definition columns you want to export. Select all columns when migrating the complete metafield configuration to another store.
4. Under Filters, click Add new filter to filter the metafield definitions included in the export.
5. Configure the required filters. You can filter metafield definitions based on:
   • Owner type
   • Created date
   • Key
   • Namespace

6. To export the file to an FTP or SFTP server, enable Export file to FTP/SFTP.
   • Select an existing FTP/SFTP profile.
   • Alternatively, create a new FTP/SFTP profile.

For more information, refer to Setting up an FTP/SFTP Profile in StoreRobo.

7. Choose the separator or delimiter to use in the exported CSV file.

8. To reuse the current export configuration, go to the Save preset section, click Save, and enter a name for the preset.

You can now export the metafield definitions immediately or schedule the export for a later date.

1. Click Export to begin the export immediately.
   
   Alternatively, click Schedule to schedule the export. For more information, refer to Scheduling Shopify Import Export with StoreRobo.

2. Monitor the export until the status changes to Completed.

Once the export is completed, StoreRobo will notify you by email.

If you selected FTP/SFTP export, the exported file will be uploaded to the configured server. Otherwise, you can download the exported file from the completed job.

Once you have the app on your store:

1. From the Shopify admin dashboard, go to Apps > StoreRobo > Home.

1. Under the Import section, choose an import path. The supported import locations are:
   • Local storage – Upload the CSV file directly to the app.
   • URL – Provide the URL of a CSV file hosted on the web.
   • FTP/SFTP server – Provide the location of a CSV file hosted on an FTP or SFTP server.

2. Under Choose Separator, select the delimiter or separator used in the CSV file.

Make sure you select the correct delimiter. You can verify the imported data using the file preview.

3. Under Select data type, select Metafield Definitions.
4. Click Proceed. When importing from local storage, click Upload.

Review the metafield definition data identified from the uploaded CSV file.

For each metafield definition, the import file uses the following fields as its identity:

• Namespace
• Key
• Owner type
• Type

StoreRobo checks for an existing definition using the combination of owner type, namespace, and key.

Updating existing metafield definitions

Enable the option to update existing metafield definitions if matching definitions are found in the store.

The following fields cannot be changed when updating an existing metafield definition:

• Type
• Namespace
• Key
• Owner type

If the CSV file contains changes to these fields, StoreRobo skips the unsupported changes and updates the remaining supported fields.

1. Click Import to begin the import immediately.
   
   Alternatively, click Schedule to schedule the import. For more information, refer to Scheduling Shopify Import Export with StoreRobo.

2. Monitor the import until the status changes to Completed.

Once the import is completed, StoreRobo will notify you by email. Review the job results for any warnings or errors reported while creating or updating the metafield definitions.