---
title: Import and export a catalog
slug: commerce-connect-14/docs/import-and-export-a-catalog
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:22.984Z
---

In Optimizely Commerce Connect, you can import and export your catalogs. This helps in the following scenarios:

- Importing products when setting up a Commerce Connect site.
- Importing the product catalog when an external system adds new items.
- Importing or exporting to move or copy catalogs between websites.

While you can manually create a catalog and [add catalog entries,](docId\:ML4mC_-jC3MldFQV9qu7N) that option is difficult to maintain using a large catalog. Instead, use the **Import** or **Export** option to move products more efficiently.

## Import a catalog

1. Go to **Settings > Import**.
2. Click **Select File** to add your file. You can only upload files with the extension `.catalog`.

   ![UploadFile.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/dlAi8f1_5La96tiKfUbkI-20260720-150048.png)
3. Select your files to import on the **Import Dashboard**.

   ![CatalogImportExport-7-select-to-import.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/RifNjUpvc_y6KN8SYPUIl-20260720-150048.png)
4. Click **Import**. You import only one file at a time. If you import more than one file, the others will have a **Pending** status until the import completes.

![InteractwithImports.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/ivGUGbMF2Qp3eDQF9ZPQ8-20260720-150049.png)

When an import is **Processing**, you can click the **X** icon to cancel. If an import fails or you cancel it, you can click the **Retry** icon to re-import.

## Export a catalog

1. Go to **Settings > Export**.
2. Click **Select File**.
3. Select the catalogs to export.

   ![SelectExports.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/lPO9DfF7D3bfLldeivR4g-20260720-150048.png)
4. Click **Export**. The **Catalog Export** window displays the export.

   ![DownloadExport.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/Vw3n1cQ-ztJRXIX10a0fM-20260720-150048.png)
5. Click the **Download** icon beside the export. Your file will download to your device.

## Use the dashboards

The **Catalog Import and Catalog Export windows** show you any previous import or export files and let you search, sort, and delete.

![CatalogImportDashboard.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/3kQWTa3UPBTL32GzRDkn5-20260720-150048.png)

![CatalogExportDashboard.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/BH73Ytsdr7c-85UiiNEbW-20260720-150048.png)

You can search the list by file name or catalog name.

![SearchImports-Exports.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/nctFNGxg1_EJD1WSHwgkI-20260720-150048.png)

Click a column to change the table's sort order.

![SortColumns.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/wZSs92FeGlG8PtQx8ZtbA-20260720-150048.png)

Select at least one item and click **Delete**.

![DeleteExports.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/_gM_WCfwzTxEeq0QfIgki-20260720-150048.png)

## Use the API

You can also import and export catalogs programmatically using the[ import/export API](docId\:ABqmNuS1TEDYXBaDnczVC) or the [Service API](docId\:dvggu2_Y41Ee6NxmqNtAE).