Here are sample spreadsheets you can use to test the smart collection import functionality:

If present, the ID will be used to group multiple rows together into a single collection. When importing, the ID will be used to find the existing collection on the store. If no match is found, the app will fall back to the Handle, and then the Title.

The handle is the URL-friendly version of the collection title used in the collection's URL. If the ID is not present, the handle is used for grouping multiple rows together into a single collection and finding an existing collection on the store.

When using MERGE or UPDATE, the rules in your file will completely replace any existing rules on the collection in Shopify. The existing rules will not be combined with the new rules.

The main title of the collection that will be displayed to customers. If neither ID nor Handle is present, the title is used for grouping multiple rows together into a single collection.

The main description of the collection in HTML format. You can include plain text or formatted HTML with images, videos, links, and tables.

Allows you to use a custom template for displaying this specific collection. Work with your developer to create new templates in your theme.

The timestamp when the collection was last modified. This field is export-only and cannot be imported. ISO-formatted timestamps are also supported.

The timestamp when the collection was published. This field is export-only and cannot be imported. ISO-formatted timestamps are also supported.

Control publication status across individual sales channels by creating separate columns for each channel. This works similarly to Products, where you create one column per sales channel.

Use column names in the format Published: [Sales Channel Name] for example:

Control whether the collection is published on a specific sales channel.

When importing, each sales channel can be controlled independently. If a column value is blank, that sales channel's publication status will remain unchanged during the import process.

This field has priority over the legacy "Published" and "Published Scope" fields. If you include both sets of fields, the sales channel columns will be used.

Used when a collection spans multiple rows (e.g., when including multiple rules or products). This field is export-only.

This field is export-only.

The URL of the featured image that represents the collection. The image must be publicly accessible.

The width of the collection's featured image in pixels. This field is export-only and cannot be imported.

The height of the collection's featured image in pixels. This field is export-only and cannot be imported.

Alternative text for accessibility and SEO purposes.

The total number of products currently in the collection. This field is export-only and automatically calculated by Shopify.

Smart collections use rules to automatically determine which products belong in the collection. Each rule compares a product field against a specified condition.

When importing with MERGE or UPDATE commands, the rules in your file will completely replace any existing rules on the collection. Existing rules will not be combined with the rules from your file.

If not value is provided, the default is all conditions.

Note that Tag rules can only use Equals relation.

The value that the product field will be compared against. If the condition is empty the rule will be skipped. For Category rules, you can use ID, Name, Breadcrumb, or ID|Breadcrumb format.

The only exception is the Is Price Reduced column, which does not require a condition value.

For Tag rules, you can provide multiple comma-separated values in a single cell (e.g., summer, sale, clearance). Each value will be created as a separate rule.

To add multiple conditions to a smart collection, use multiple rows. You cannot include multiple conditions in a single row.

The first row contains the collection details and the first rule. Each additional row only needs the Handle (or ID) to group the rows together, plus the rule fields.

For example, to create a "Nike Summer" collection that matches products where the vendor is "Nike" and the tag is "summer":

To match products where any condition is true (OR logic), set "Must Match" to "any condition":

Note that the Must Match, Title, and other collection-level fields only need to be on the first row. Additional rows only require the handle for grouping and the rule fields (Rule: Product Column, Rule: Relation, Rule: Condition). All three rule fields are required for each rule row.

Products that belong to the smart collection based on the defined rules. You can also manually adjust product positions when Sort Order is set to MANUAL.

The unique identifier of a product in this collection.

The URL handle of a product in this collection. Used as an alternative way to identify products when Product ID is not available.

The position of the product in the collection. Only applies when Sort Order is set to MANUAL.

Metafields can be imported and exported with collections to store custom metadata, SEO information, and additional attributes.

For detailed information about working with metafields, see our Metafields guide.

SEO fields are special metafields:

If no SEO title or description is provided, Shopify automatically generates them from the collection's title and description.

You can use these filters to limit which collections are exported: