Articles on: Getting Started

What is Feed Manager (Step 1) ?

The Feed Manager is the foundational step in setting up any feed in syncX: Stock Sync, establishing the data connection between the app and your source or destination. Correct configuration ensures Stock Sync can retrieve supplier product feeds or deliver store export files accurately before field mapping and automation begin.

Available on: ✔️ Add | ✔️ Update | ✔️ Export

How to Set Up Feed Manager (Step 1)

Go to App → Feeds → Select Feed → Edit Settings → Feed Manager (Step 1)

Select Connection Method: Choose how Stock Sync accesses your source file or destination (e.g., FTP, Google Sheets, or direct Download URL).
Enter Connection Details: Input required credentials, server hosts, file paths, or authorized links.
Select File Format: Choose the matching file format extension corresponding to your source data structure.
Save and Proceed: Test the connection and proceed to Matching Column (Step 2).

Some pre-integrated supplier templates are automatically pre-configured and marked as completed based on verified backend settings.

Feed Manager Smart Settings / Detailed Breakdown

1. Connection Methods & Protocols

The connection method defines how Stock Sync communicates with the remote server or cloud service hosting the product data.

Connection Type	Common Use Case	Configuration Requirements	Direct Guide Link
FTP / SFTP / FTPS	Automated recurring batch transfers for large supplier feeds	Server host address, port, username, password/key, and directory file path	FTP Setup Guide
Google Sheets	Collaborative spreadsheets updated regularly by vendors or staff	Shareable Google Sheet URL or authenticated Google account access	Google Sheets Setup Guide
Download URL (HTTP/HTTPS)	Direct file retrieval from a public or password-protected web URL	Source URL link with optional HTTP basic authentication headers	Download URL Setup Guide
Cloud Storage	Shared folders on Dropbox, Google Drive, or Amazon S3	Cloud provider authentication and designated folder path	Cloud Connection Guide

Choose automated protocols like FTP, Google Sheets, or direct URLs if you plan to schedule hands-free recurring syncs.

Direct manual file uploads cannot run on automated schedules and require manual re-uploading for every sync run.

2. Supported File Formats

Selecting the correct file structure ensures Stock Sync parses column headers, rows, and nested nodes accurately.

File Format	Format Structure	Parsing Consideration
CSV	Comma-Separated Values	Delimiters (comma, semicolon, pipe) must match the file encoding.
XLS / XLSX	Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet	Ensure the target sheet tab name is selected if using multi-sheet workbooks.
XML	Extensible Markup Language	Requires hierarchical node path identification for product elements.
JSON	JavaScript Object Notation	Requires defining root paths and variant array structures.
TXT / TSV	Delimited Plain Text / Tab-Separated	Verify character encoding (UTF-8 recommended) and tab spacing.
EDI	Electronic Data Interchange	Standardized B2B format requiring specific field mapping delimiters.
HTML Table	Web Page Table Structure	Scrapes data rows directly from structured HTML table tags.

The chosen file format must match the actual content type of the file, not just the file extension name.

Key Rules & Technical Details

File Access Permissions: Ensure public URLs or FTP credentials grant direct read access without interactive login prompts, CAPTCHAs, or two-factor authentication (2FA).
Structure Consistency: The file format and column structure configured in Step 1 dictate which fields appear in Step 2: Matching Column.
Template Pre-configurations: When using an official supplier template, connection settings and file formats are locked to prevent configuration mismatches.

Critical warning: If your supplier changes server credentials, file paths, or file formats, you must immediately update Step 1 to prevent feed execution failures.

Troubleshooting Steps

Issue: Feed fails with "Connection Failed" or "Access Denied" error → Solution: Re-check your host address, port, username, and password in Step 1. Test your credentials using an external FTP client or browser incognito window.
Issue: Data appears blank or columns cannot be recognized in Step 2 → Solution: Verify that the selected file format matches the actual internal format of the source file (e.g., ensure a file renamed .csv is not actually an .xlsx file).
Issue: Google Sheets feed fails to fetch rows → Solution: Confirm that spreadsheet sharing permissions are set to "Anyone with the link can view" or re-authenticate your Google account connection.

Good Articles to Continue

Matching Column (Step 2) Overview → Step-by-step instructions on mapping your source file columns to store product fields.
FTP Download Connection Method → Detailed setup guide for configuring FTP, SFTP, and FTPS connections.
Google Sheets Connection Method → Best practices and permissions setup for syncing with Google Sheets.
Download URL Connection Method → How to configure direct HTTP/HTTPS web links for automated feed retrieval.

Updated on: 03/11/2026

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