In Akeneo Activation, once you have created your product catalogs and configured the data mapping and transformation in your PIM, you can export one or more product catalogs through your connected activation channels. This article explains how to run a dry-run export (to validate your mapping before sending data) and a real product export (to send your data to a retailer or marketplace).

Prerequisites: Your activation channel must be connected to a retailer or marketplace, your product catalogs must be created in Akeneo Activation, and your product data must be mapped in the catalog mapping screen in your PIM. See Select, map and transform your product data.

Dry-run product export

A dry-run export in Akeneo Activation lets you preview what your product data will look like on the retailer or marketplace side without actually sending it. Use this mode to validate your catalog mapping and transformation before committing to a real export.

Run a dry-run export in Akeneo Activation

1. In Akeneo Activation, open the activation channel you want to export from.
2. In the top right corner of the screen, click the dropdown on the export button and select the Dry-run option.
3. A toast notification at the bottom of the screen confirms that the dry-run export has started.
4. A spinning wheel icon and a Job in progress message appear in the top right corner while the export runs.

The screenshot above shows the Akeneo Activation channel header during a dry-run export, with the spinning wheel icon and "Job in progress" indicator in the top right corner.

Once the dry-run export completes, you can review the results in the Reports tab:

• Dry-run exports are tagged with a dry-run label next to the report timestamp.
• The report shows the number of products included in the export.
• Click Generated Files to download a file with all the product data from your PIM for the specific product Family, including all mapped attributes and their transformed values.

If there are errors in the dry-run report, you can view them directly in the Reports tab. See Job reporting for details.

Real product export

A real product export in Akeneo Activation sends your product catalog data to the retailer or marketplace, or generates a flat file for semi-automated channels. The behavior depends on the type of activation channel you are using.

Automated activation channels

Automated activation channels connect directly via APIs or SFTPs. When you run a real product export on an automated channel, Akeneo Activation sends your product data directly to the retailer or marketplace.

The export report shows:

• The number of products fetched from your PIM.
• The number of products sent for integration with the retailer or marketplace.
• For some retailers and marketplaces: the number of products accepted.
• For some retailers and marketplaces: a status report on individual products.

Semi-automated activation channels

Semi-automated activation channels use SFTPs or flat files (such as XLSX or CSV). When you run a real product export on a semi-automated channel, Akeneo Activation generates a template file containing your product data for the retailer or marketplace.

The export report shows:

• The number of products fetched from your PIM.
• The number of products included in the flat file.

Run a real product export in Akeneo Activation

1. In Akeneo Activation, open the activation channel you want to export from.
2. In the top right corner of the screen, click Launch Product Export.
3. A toast notification at the bottom of the screen confirms that the export has started.
4. A spinning wheel icon and a Job in progress message appear in the top right corner while the export runs.

Once the export completes, you can review the results in the Dashboard tab or the Reports tab (for full history):

• View the export timestamps for historical analysis.
• See the number of products included in the export.
• Click Generated Files to download the exported product data. The downloaded files include all attributes mapped in the PIM and the data resulting from the transformation. The file is named sent catalog data.

If there are errors in the export report, you can view them in the Dashboard tab or the Reports tab.

By default, the Dashboard tab in Akeneo Activation displays the latest product export, regardless of whether it was a dry-run or a real product export.

The screenshot above shows the Dashboard tab in Akeneo Activation displaying the latest product export report, with export status, product counts, and access to the Generated Files download.

Schedule product exports

To automate product exports, you can configure a schedule directly in the activation channel settings in Akeneo Activation. Scheduling lets you send your product catalogs to the retailer or marketplace at a frequency you define (by time of day, day of the week, or day of the month).

Related

• Job reporting — view detailed export reports, download generated files, and troubleshoot errors
• Select, map and transform your product data — configure your catalog mapping before exporting