Bulk Update is the fastest way to make large-scale changes to your catalog in Ply. Whether you’re updating prices, fixing descriptions, or adjusting item names, you can download your existing catalog, edit it in one go, and upload it back into Ply, all in just a few steps.
This guide walks you through exactly how to do it.
What Is Bulk Update?
Originally, Ply allowed you to bulk upload your initial catalog from an external source (like a supplier sheet or a price book).
Now, with Bulk Update, you can:
- Download your entire catalog directly from Ply
- Edit as many items as you need in a spreadsheet
- Re-upload the sheet and apply all changes at once
Perfect for mass updates like price changes, name adjustments, updated descriptions, or reorganizing your catalog.
How to Bulk Update Your Catalog
1. Open the Catalog
- Go to Catalog in Ply.
- Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
- Select Bulk Update Catalog.
You’ll see the Bulk Update panel with step-by-step instructions.
2. Export Your Current Catalog
- Click Export.
- Make sure all the columns you want to edit are selected.
- Send the export to your email (or it may download automatically depending on file size).
Your catalog will come through as an Excel file containing all item data.
3. Edit Your Spreadsheet
Open the exported file and make your updates, for example:
- Change item names
- Edit descriptions
- Update price or cost values
- Adjust any other editable fields
⚠️ Important: Do NOT change the Material ID column
The Material ID is how Ply maps your edited file back to your existing materials.
If you change or delete it:
- Ply may treat it as a completely new item
- Or the upload may fail with an error
Everything else is safe to modify.
4. Save Your Updated File
Once you’ve finished editing, save the Excel file to your computer.
5. Upload the Updated Catalog
Back in Ply:
- Click File Upload
- Select your updated Excel file
- Choose the correct sheet (if the Excel file has multiple tabs)
- Click Next
Ply will display a preview of every material and highlight what has changed.
6. Review Changes and Errors
In the top-right corner of the preview, you’ll see two helpful toggles:
- Show Errors — Displays any issues that would prevent upload
- Show Modifications — Highlights only the items that have changed
This is especially useful for large catalogs. If something doesn’t look right, edit it in the sheet and re-upload.
7. Confirm and Apply
Click Next to finalize your upload.
You may see warnings like:
“Some materials already have the same name. Please review them.”
Review the flagged items, make any corrections, and continue. Once confirmed, Ply will process your upload and show how many items were successfully updated.
8. Return to the Catalog
Back in your catalog, you’ll now see all your updated items, names, descriptions, prices, or any other changes applied instantly.
Bulk Update is especially powerful when adjusting prices or costs across your entire catalog at once.
Tips for a Smooth Bulk Update
- Keep a backup of your exported file before editing
- Avoid renaming or removing required columns
- Never modify Material IDs
- Use “Show Errors” to quickly identify problems
- Use “Show Modifications” to verify what will be updated