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Not steeped in Shopify CSVs? Here is what actually happens.
The Everyday Problem
A product spreadsheet is like a packing list for a clothing store — every shirt size and color needs its own label, and that label has to point back to the right parent shirt.
Why Computers Reject It
If one label is missing, two labels say the exact same size twice, or a size's label points to a parent that was never listed, Shopify or WooCommerce refuses to import the whole list — not just the one bad label.
What Our Tool Does in 1 Second
Drop the spreadsheet in: CatalogClean finds every broken label, instantly fixes the ones that only have one right answer, and lists the rest so you can decide — all inside your browser, the file never leaves your computer.
Root cause & deterministic fix
Root cause
WooCommerce resolves a variation's Parent column against another row's SKU (or an id: reference) in the same import and requires that parent row's Type to already be variable. This fails silently when the parent SKU is misspelled or absent, when the parent row is listed after its variations in the file, or when the parent was left as Type=simple because someone added variations to it later without changing the type.
What CatalogClean does
CatalogClean matches every variation row to its parent by SKU or id: reference, reorders the file so parent rows always import before their variations, promotes a parent's Type to variable whenever it has matching variations, appends any variation attribute value missing from the parent's Attribute value(s) list, and flags the rare variation whose parent truly cannot be found anywhere in the file.
AsinglemissingHandleorduplicateoptionvaluemakesShopifyorWooCommercerejecttheentireproductfile—notjustthebrokenrow.CatalogCleanfindseveryonebeforeyoure-upload.
The exact import rules, checked row by row.
Each rule is a plain, inspectable check — not a model's best guess.
Every row checked against the real import rules
Missing Handle, unknown option values, non-unique options and WooCommerce's missing-parent error are detected with the same validation Shopify and WooCommerce run at import — not a guess.
Parents and variations, matched correctly
Variation rows are matched to their parent by SKU or id:, reordered so parent rows import before their variations, and promoted to Type=variable automatically when they have variations.
One fix when there is one right answer
Blank handles are backfilled from the Title, duplicate option tuples are deduped, and mismatched option names are normalized — an unresolvable parent SKU is flagged instead of guessed.
Code level determinism when you need it. Browser simplicity when you do not.
The same CSV produces the same fixed CSV every time. No AI guessing at your catalog, no account to create, nothing uploaded to a server.
What it costs compared to the usual options.
Published list prices as of October 2026. No sales call required.
| CatalogClean | Matrixify | Manual re-export | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $15 one-time Import Pass | $20–$200 / month | Staff hours |
| Fixes an existing CSV | Yes | Rebuild in Shopify admin | Retype by hand |
| Missing Handle / Options not unique | Automatic | Manual review | Manual |
| WooCommerce missing-parent repair | Automatic | No | Manual |
| Where the file is processed | Your browser | Shopify app install | Your desk |
Questions we hear most.
Which columns does my CSV need?
For Shopify/Matrixify exports: Handle, Title, Option1-3 Name/Value and Variant SKU at minimum. For WooCommerce exports: Type, SKU, Parent and Attribute N name / Attribute N value(s). CatalogClean auto-detects which format you pasted or uploaded.
Does it work with WooCommerce exports too?
Yes. CatalogClean detects WooCommerce's Type/SKU/Parent/Attribute column layout automatically and runs a separate set of checks for variation-to-parent matching, alongside the Shopify option/handle checks.
What exactly does "Options are not unique" mean?
Shopify rejects the whole import if two rows under the same Handle have the identical combination of Option1/2/3 Values — it cannot tell the two variants apart. CatalogClean finds the duplicate tuple and removes the repeated row, keeping the first one.
Why does WooCommerce say "Missing parent ID or parent does not exist yet"?
A variation row's Parent column has to match another row's SKU (or an id: reference) that appears in the same file, and the parent product's Type must be variable. If the parent is listed after its variations, or is still Type=simple, WooCommerce throws this exact error — CatalogClean reorders the rows and fixes the Type automatically.
Is my product data uploaded anywhere?
No. Parsing and fixing both run in JavaScript inside your browser tab. You can disconnect from Wi-Fi after the page loads and it still works.
Is there a paid Pro tier?
Not yet. The free tier above finds and fixes everything that has one correct answer and exports a clean CSV at no cost. A paid Pro Import Pass ($15 one-time) for larger, multi-file batches is coming soon — use the waitlist link in the top right and we will email you at launch.