Treat blank cells as deletions

By default, Shift ignores blank or empty cells in import files. This is to ensure that no data is accidentally deleted or unset.


The Treat blank cells as deletions option is available when you explicitly want Shift to consider any blank cell as an instruction to delete or set the field to an empty value.

For example, with this option enabled, blank/empty cells can be used to:


  • Unset a top level, optional field, e.g. description, warranty text, etc.
  • Delete a custom field
  • Delete a metafield
  • Unassign product from a category.

Ignored on sub-resources

Even with this setting enabled, blank cells will be ignored on sub-resources that have been included in the import, e.g. product variants, and product images.

To delete sub-resources, you would need to replace the entire product using import modes.

We're working on the ability to define import modes for specific sub-resources, e.g. Images Import mode. Please get in touch for more information.


Ignored on Required fields

Even with this setting enabled, it will be ignored on required fields, e.g. price.

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