WooCommerce reviews + tutorials

A sometimes overlooked, but useful feature of WooCommerce 1.5.3 is the included dummy data file, which can be imported to create a number of products, and even attaches product images! This is useful when setting up test/development environments and you want a range of products available without having to manually create them.

Step 1 – Locate the Dummy Data File

The sample data file is included with the woocommerce plugin. To verify you do indeed have it, look for dummy_data.xml in the woocommerce plugin directory: wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/. This file is simply a standard WordPress export file, and we will use the WordPress Importer to import it and fill up our store.

Step 2 – Install the WordPress Importer

From the WordPress admin, click on Tools > Import to bring up the import screen.

Click on the WordPress link at the bottom of the list, and if prompted install and activate the Importer plugin.

Step 3 – Load the Dummy Data File

Click the file picker and navigate to and select the dummy_data.xml file from the WooCommerce plugin directory, and click ‘Upload file and import’. Next you will be presented with a screen with a couple of options:

Select a user to assign the posts (products) to. Then check the box next to “Download and import file attachments”. Doing this will cause the importer to download the product images from the WooThemees server.

Step 4 – Enjoy

Your store site should now be filled with sample products:

Product Tips & How To April 2, 2012

Published by Justin Stern

Justin is one of our co-founders, and is our resident overengineer. He likes to write developer tutorials and make black magic happen in our plugins. He thinks that writing code is a lot easier than writing words.

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12 Comments

  1. brian

    Thanks for this, very handy.

    Do you know if there is dummy customer data as well?

    Thanks

    • justin

      You know, I have not seen any WooCommerce customer data; not that it would be very difficult to put together, and it would be pretty handy. Perhaps I’ll do this at some point when I have some free time (if that ever happens!)

  2. brian

    Hi Justin,

    I would be happy to pay for this, if this could expedite it. We need it asap.

    Drop me an email, to discuss further if you are interested.

    Thanks

  3. Yogesh Singh

    Thanks a lot, solved a big issue.

  4. blake

    Hi all.
    This may sound (probably is) stoopid, but – if I want to use a product .xml file from a supplier, the same import methodology would work for it, when saved correctly by ftp in my site mysql, correct?? (reply by email will be great, too~)

  5. Matt Rhys-Davies

    Lovely stuff – very useful.

    Thanks
    Matt

  6. chụp ảnh cưới

    I want download file dummy_data.xml you can share it?

  8. KJ

    Any simple method for removing the dummy data?

  9. chris

    I get this error:

    “Sorry, there has been an error.
    This does not appear to be a WXR file, missing/invalid WXR version number”

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