CSV File Import Header

All Store Locator Plus CSV files must start with a file import header that indicates what data is in each column.

The  first row of the Store Locator Plus import file should look like this, you do not need the (sl in front of the header name for the basic import function to work):

sl_store,sl_address,sl_address2,sl_city,sl_state,sl_zip,sl_country,sl_latitude,sl_longitude,category,sl_tags,sl_description,sl_email,sl_url,sl_hours,sl_phone,sl_fax,sl_image,sl_private,sl_neat_title

Please see the Example CSV files post for a sample base file with a header.

To speed up imports you should NOT include columns that have no data.

For imports that did NOT start out as a CSV export from the SAME SITE you should NOT have an sl_id column.

For geocoding, assigning a latitude and longitude, to work during import you need to have at least one of the address fields in your file and preferably these main fields:

  • sl_address
  • sl_city
  • sl_state
  • sl_zip

All field names can drop the leading “sl_” for readability.   For example sl_address can become address. The field names usually match the field label, for example if you have  the Experience add on  or the Professional level or higher SaaS plan , you can have “Featured” and “Rank” as import columns.

How to Export Locations to CSV file

Bulk Export

You must have the MYSLP/Professional level or the WPSLP plug-in with the Power add-on .

  1. Go to the Store locator Plus side bar menu, select the Locations tab
  2. Select from the drop down  menu under BULK actions , select export  Download to CSV.
  3. You may select  the locations by clicking either individually and Apply  or click on the action bar and select the Apply /  ALL button or you may  filter what you wish to export. Screenshots, the first one is the Plug-in  menu
    Above shown is the WPSLP plug-in with Power add-on
    SLP SaaS bulk export with Professional level plan

    SLP SaaS Action bar to check off All

Example CSV Import Files

CSV Imports are the most-used feature for our MySLP Professional users and for our WordPress  SLP self managed DIY customers that purchased the Power add on.

Learn about CSV Import formatting and other import notes.

Below files are examples only, you will need to set up your own import files to add your locations.

Example CSV Import Files

9 Restaurants Basic CSV Import

We consider this the simplest usable format for most businesses.  It includes the Store Name (Store), Address, City, State, and Zip columns.

You can download our example on our server here

9 Restaurants Full Address

A full address format of the 10 Restaurants Basic CSV Import format.  It includes the Store Name (Store), Address, Address 2, City, State, and Zip, and Country columns.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jE_BZTGpHrAuZzYy-K7CwLcFanPzKGC9

9 Restaurants With Latitude and Longitude

The same 9 places with full address and latitude and longitude.   Including latitude and longitude gets the locations online and active on the site faster.  This was created from an Export CSV of the above Full Address file when we stripped the sl_id column and all the blank columns at the end, relabeled the header row to be user friendly.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jkfRlY4K2retNGFaRVcW17WSLi_tfRmj

Remote file Retrieval; (Currently being patched )

One quick way to tell if your file is accessible is to put the URL you are using for your imports into your browser. Does it download a CSV file you can open with a text editor? If No; It isn’t a “vanilla” CSV file readable by the “Internet”.

This is the link you can use to see if remote file retrieval is working

For example — if you go HERE
https://demo.storelocatorplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/9-Restaurants-With-Lat-Lng-Cat.csv

you see an option to download a file

But if you go here :
https://demo.storelocatorplus.com/9-restaurants-with-lat-lng-cat/

it shows you a web page. That second link above from our demo site is NOT a valid remote CSV file URL

Google changed how share links on drives are working and we have found no way to get to the raw CSV file with any links they provided to us.

So Google Drive hosted CSV files is likely never going to work again.   Just one more way for them to track everything you do online by using an embed object vs. a flat CSV that they give you access too.