In Akeneo Activation, once you have created your product catalogs, you can configure the mapping and transformation of your product data to meet the specific requirements of each retailer or marketplace. This article explains how to use the catalog mapping screen — accessed from Akeneo Activation but displayed inside your PIM — to select, map, and transform your product data before exporting it to a channel.
Akeneo Activation uses the Catalogs for apps technology to power its mapping and transformation solution. You may see references to Catalogs for apps documentation throughout this article.
Before you start
- You must have an activation channel set up in Akeneo Activation. See Connect to an activation channel.
- You must have created at least one product catalog in Akeneo Activation for the channel you want to work with. See Create your activation channel product catalogs.
- The catalog mapping screen is accessed from Akeneo Activation but opens inside your PIM interface.
Overview
The catalog mapping screen in Akeneo Activation lets you:
- Select which products to export using filters and selection criteria.
- Map your PIM Attributes to the target attributes expected by the retailer or marketplace.
- Transform your PIM data using Excel-like formulas (a domain-specific language, or DSL) to comply with channel-specific requirements.
For example, consider a scenario where multiple retailers require product information with different attribute structures:
- Retailer A requires: "Identifier," "Product Name," "Description," and "Weight (Ounces)."
- Retailer B requires: "Name in French," "Name in English," "Description 1," "ID," and "Weight (Kilograms)."
From the mapping screen in Akeneo Activation, you can transform your data using formulas to meet the unique requirements of each retailer. The catalog mapping screen is automatically synchronized with Akeneo Activation, so you always have the latest set of channel requirements. This mapping only needs to be configured once per catalog — it does not need to be repeated on every export.
Access the catalog mapping screen
To open the catalog mapping screen for a specific catalog in Akeneo Activation:
- In Akeneo Activation, open the activation channel you want to work with.
- Go to the Catalogs tab.
- Click Go to Mapping next to the catalog you want to configure.
This takes you directly to the catalog mapping interface inside your PIM.
The screenshot above shows the catalog mapping screen in the PIM, opened from Akeneo Activation via the "Go to Mapping" button. The screen is divided into a target column on the left and a source configuration panel on the right.
Configure the product data mapping
The catalog mapping screen in your PIM is divided into two main areas: the Mapping tab, where you define which PIM Attributes map to which retailer or marketplace targets, and the Filtering tab, where you select which products to include in the export.
Mapping structure
The mapping screen displays the list of target attributes required by the retailer or marketplace, paired with the PIM source you assign to each one.
The screenshot above shows the mapping structure in the catalog mapping screen, with a target column on the left listing retailer attribute labels and codes, and a source column on the right for assigning PIM Attributes.
Catalog targets
Catalog targets are the attributes expected by the retailer or marketplace:
- Each target displays a label and a target code (shown in grey).
- Yellow dots indicate required targets — these must be mapped for the export to succeed.
- Grey dots indicate conditional targets. On Amazon channels, a conditional target becomes mandatory only when a specific value is selected in another field.
- Each target has an attribute type displayed with iconography to help you understand what format the retailer or marketplace expects. Supported target types include: String, Boolean, Integer, Number, Date, URL/Links, String collection, Asset collection, Measurement, Price, and Limited list of string (possible values).
Both target codes and labels are displayed on the mapping screen to make troubleshooting easier.
PIM sources
For each catalog target, you assign one or more PIM sources. The options available depend on the attribute type expected by the target. See Select your sources below for a detailed explanation of source selection.
Product selection and preview
You can select a product from the preview dropdown to check what value would be exported for the currently configured source. This lets you validate that the correct data will be sent to the retailer or marketplace. The products available in the dropdown correspond to your catalog's product selection.
The screenshot above shows the product preview dropdown in the catalog mapping screen, allowing you to select a specific product and view its exported value for the selected source.
Search and filters
Use the search bar to find a specific target attribute by entering its name (full or partial). You can search by label or by code.
The screenshot above shows the search bar in the catalog mapping screen.
The mapping completion counter shows the total number of attributes for the selected Family and the number of targets already mapped.
The screenshot above shows the mapping completion indicator, displaying the number of mapped targets out of the total for the selected Family.
You can also filter targets by type, completion status, and nature (required, optional, or conditional).
The screenshot above shows the filter panel in the catalog mapping screen, with options to filter by target type, completion, and nature.
You can sort the AI-generated source suggestions by confidence score to prioritize human review of suggested mappings.
The screenshot above shows the sort options in the catalog mapping screen, including sorting AI-suggested sources by confidence score.
Select your sources
Sources are the PIM Attributes, system properties, or association types you assign to each catalog target. The available sources depend on the format expected by the retailer or marketplace — for example, you cannot assign a text Attribute to a target that expects a date.
You can add up to five sources per target to concatenate values.
What you can add as a source:
- Any PIM Attribute type, except the Table Attribute
- PIM system properties: Family, enabled status, categories, identifier
- Association types (via product SKU or product model code)
- Static values (hardcoded text)
Select sources manually
- Click on a target in the mapping screen to open the right-side configuration panel.
- Click Add source.
- Select the PIM Attribute, property, or association type you want to assign.
AI suggestions may appear alongside the manual selection to recommend sources that match the target's requirements.
The screenshot above shows the manual source selection flow in the catalog mapping screen, with the right-side panel open and the "Add source" button visible.
Use the Suggest button
The Suggest button uses a semantic AI approach to automatically select the source that best matches each target, based on your PIM data model.
The screenshot above shows the "Suggest" button in the catalog mapping screen.
Use Generate mapping
Generate mapping applies the same AI-based approach as the Suggest button but operates in bulk, allowing you to generate sources for multiple targets at once with additional configuration options.
The screenshots above show the Generate mapping dialog in the catalog mapping screen, with bulk generation options.
For each source suggested by AI, a confidence score and reasoning are displayed. This helps you review AI suggestions and understand the logic behind each recommendation.
The screenshot above shows the AI confidence score and reasoning panel for a suggested source in the catalog mapping screen.
Suggest a new PIM attribute
If you cannot find the PIM Attribute you need for a target, click Suggest a new attribute. Based on the marketplace target requirements and any additional context you provide, a notification is sent to your PIM Admin, who can approve or reject the suggestion and provide a reason.
The screenshot above shows the "Suggest a new attribute" button in the catalog mapping screen's source selection panel.
You can track the progress of your request in the My modeling suggestion section of your PIM account. You receive notifications and emails for every status update.
The screenshot above shows the attribute suggestion tracking panel, listing submitted suggestions and their current status (pending, approved, or rejected).
To understand what happens when you submit an attribute suggestion and how a PIM Admin reviews and acts on it, see the Data Architect Agent — attribute suggestions documentation.
Configure source parameters
Requirements helpers
When you open a target's configuration panel, the Requirements helpers section displays information derived from the retailer's or marketplace's specifications for that attribute. This may include general information about the target, expected or suggested values, and the conditions that trigger a conditional target to become mandatory. Use this information to select the most appropriate source.
The screenshot above shows the Requirements helpers panel for a catalog target, displaying the target description, expected values, and any conditions that apply.
Additional source parameters
After adding a source, additional options may be available depending on the Attribute type:
- If the Attribute has a value per Locale or Channel, you can select which Channel and/or Locale to export from.
- For some Attributes, you can choose to export the code or the label of the Attribute option, and select a separator (comma, semicolon, or pipe) if the target expects a list.
For more details on currency, variation mapping, replacement values, and source configuration, see How to configure Catalogs for apps.
Transform your PIM data to comply with channel requirements
To ensure your PIM data matches what retailers and marketplaces expect, you can use the Transformation block to apply formulas to your source data before it is exported.
The transformation block uses a domain-specific language (DSL) — similar in structure to Excel formulas — to give you maximum flexibility. Available operations and formulas depend on the source Attribute types selected.
To use a transformation in Akeneo Activation:
- Open the target's configuration panel in the catalog mapping screen.
- Expand the Transformation section.
- Enter a formula using the available DSL functions and source codes.
See the Akeneo function list for the full list of transformation functions, usage examples, and nesting rules. Functions can be nested and combined.
For practical examples, see Mapping data transformation helpers.
AI formula generator
If writing DSL formulas manually feels complex, use the AI formula generator. Describe what you want to achieve in plain language, and the AI generates the DSL formula for you. A confidence score and reasoning are displayed to explain the suggested formula.
The screenshot above shows the AI formula generator in the Transformation section of the catalog mapping screen. The panel displays the generated DSL formula, a confidence score, and the AI's reasoning.
Use ready-made examples: Start with simple operations like merging images — MERGE([image_1, image_2, image_3]) — to get familiar with the syntax.
Combine text: Use CONCATENATE to join values — for example, CONCATENATE("Product: ", name, " - Color: ", color) produces "Product: Shirt - Color: Blue".
Check the preview: Watch the product preview as you build your formula to validate the output in real time.
Clean up formatting: Use UPPER or PROPER to fix text case — for example, PROPER("lorem ipsum") returns "Lorem Ipsum".
Build incrementally: Start with a single function and add complexity step by step.
Errors on mapping
If there are issues with the data you are trying to map or transform, error messages appear in the configuration panel and red dots are displayed next to the affected targets.
The screenshot above shows the catalog mapping screen with mapping errors indicated by red dots next to the affected target attributes, and error details displayed in the configuration panel.
Configure your catalog product selection
From the Filtering tab of the catalog mapping screen in your PIM, you can define which products are included in the export for the catalog you are working with.
By default, your entire product catalog is selected. The total number of products matching your selection is displayed at the top of the screen.
The screenshot above shows the product selection filtering screen in the catalog mapping screen, with the "Add selection criteria" button and the total product count displayed.
Click Add selection criteria to filter your product selection. You can filter by Status, Category, Family, and any Attribute available as a source. You can add multiple conditions to refine the selection.
For full details on the available filtering capabilities, see How to configure Catalogs for apps — product selection.
Akeneo does not recommend including the same product in more than one catalog's selection. Having the same product in multiple catalogs creates a risk of overwriting product data when exporting to the channel.
Save and enable your catalog
Once you have configured your product selection, mapping, and transformations in the catalog mapping screen:
- Enable the catalog using the toggle at the top of the screen.
- Click Save in the top right corner to save the catalog mapping for the activation channel you are working with.
After saving, return to Akeneo Activation. Your catalog is ready for the next step: export your product catalogs to the retailer or marketplace.
Related
- Create your activation channel product catalogs — create and manage catalogs before configuring mapping
- Export your products to retailers and marketplaces — run dry-run and real product exports after mapping is complete
- Job reporting — view export reports, download generated files, and troubleshoot errors
- Akeneo function list — full reference for DSL transformation functions
- Mapping data transformation helpers — practical examples for common transformation use cases