Getting Started with 42feeds - General Documentation
Here's comprehensive seed information for your documentation tool covering the core 42feeds workflow:
What is 42feeds?
42feeds is a feed management and optimization platform that helps e-commerce merchants import, transform, and export product feeds for advertising channels like Google Shopping, Meta, and more.
Core Workflow
The 42feeds workflow follows three main steps:
1. Import → 2. Transform → 3. Export
Step 1: Import Your Feed
Supported Import Methods
| Method | Best For |
|---|---|
| File Upload | CSV files from your local computer |
| URL Import | Feeds hosted on a web server (auto-refresh capable) |
| Google Sheets | Collaborative feeds managed in spreadsheets |
How to Import
- Navigate to the Import page
- Choose your import method
- Upload or paste your feed URL
- 42feeds automatically detects your columns
- Map your source fields to standard product fields
Field Mapping
During import, you'll map your feed's columns to standardized fields:
| Your Column | Maps To |
|---|---|
product_name | title |
product_url | link |
img_url | image_link |
cost | price |
Core Required Fields:
id- Unique product identifiertitle- Product namelink- Product page URLimage_link- Main product imageprice- Product price with currency
Step 2: Transform Your Feed
What Are Transformation Rules?
Rules let you modify, clean, and enhance your product data before export. Rules run in order and can:
- Modify values - Change text, prices, or other data
- Filter products - Include/exclude based on conditions
- Concatenate fields - Combine multiple fields into one
- Add URL parameters - Append tracking codes to links
- Set default values - Fill in missing data
Example Rules
| Rule Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Find & Replace | Replace "OUT OF STOCK" with "in stock" |
| Concatenate | Combine brand + title into a single field |
| Filter | Exclude products where price < 5 |
| URL Params | Add ?utm_source=google to all links |
Creating Rules
- Go to the Rules page
- Click Add Rule
- Select your action type
- Define conditions (optional)
- Save and preview changes
Step 3: Export Your Feed
Supported Channels
42feeds can export optimized feeds for:
- Google Shopping (Merchant Center)
- Meta (Facebook/Instagram)
- TikTok Shop
- Bing Shopping
- Custom CSV/XML formats
Export Options
| Format | Use Case |
|---|---|
| CSV | Most common, works with all channels |
| XML | Google Merchant Center, structured feeds |
| TSV | Tab-separated, some legacy systems |
Scheduling Exports
Set up automatic feed updates:
- Go to Schedule
- Choose your feed source URL
- Set refresh frequency (hourly, daily, weekly)
- 42feeds will automatically fetch and process updates
Dashboard & Monitoring
Feed Health Score
Your dashboard shows a Feed Health Score (0-100) based on:
- Completeness - Are all required fields filled?
- Validity - Are values in the correct format?
- Channel Readiness - Does it meet channel requirements?
Quality Alerts
Critical issues are surfaced automatically:
- Feed unreachable errors
- Missing required fields
- Health score drops
- Channel-specific blocking issues
Projects
What Are Projects?
Projects help you organize multiple feeds or brands. Each project has:
- Its own set of feeds
- Separate transformation rules
- Independent export configurations
- Unique field mappings
Switching Projects
Use the project selector in the sidebar to switch between projects.
Key Pages Reference
| Page | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Dashboard | Overview, health score, alerts |
| Import | Add new feeds |
| Items | Browse and inspect products |
| Rules | Create transformation rules |
| Templates | Channel-specific mappings |
| Exports | Download or copy feed URLs |
| Schedule | Automated import settings |
Quick Start Checklist
- ☐ Create your first project
- ☐ Import a product feed (file, URL, or Google Sheet)
- ☐ Map your columns to standard fields
- ☐ Review your Feed Health Score
- ☐ Fix any critical issues flagged
- ☐ Apply a channel template (e.g., Google Shopping)
- ☐ Export your optimized feed
- ☐ Set up scheduled imports (optional)
Tips for Success
- Start with your main feed - Import your primary product data first
- Fix critical issues first - Focus on required fields before optimization
- Use templates - Channel templates pre-configure field mappings
- Preview before export - Check the Items page to verify transformations
- Schedule regular updates - Keep your feeds fresh with automation
Need Help?
- Check the Diagnostics tab on the Items page for field-level issues
- Review the Feed Health Score breakdown for improvement areas
- Use Google Category Checker for proper categorization