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.
Video tutorial:
Step by step: 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 Upload/Update
You’ll see the Bulk Update panel with step-by-step instructions.
2. Export Your Current Catalog
Click Update Existing and Export:
2. Make sure all the columns you want to edit are selected:
3. 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
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:
Upload your updated file:
Select your updated Excel file
Choose the correct sheet (if the Excel file has multiple tabs)
Click Continue
Ply will display a preview of every material and highlight what has changed.
6. Error Correction
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. Handling Duplicates
This can happen if, when editing the file, you change a value in the Material ID column. Ply will treat it as a new material and notify you that a material with the same name already exists in the Catalog.
'Some materials with the same names or item numbers already exist in the catalog. Please review them and make any necessary edits or deletions'
Example:
⚠️ 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.
How to fix it?
Simply update the material name and item number to make them unique:
Or select the material you want to remove from the import if needed.
8. Confirm and Apply
Click Upload Materials to finalize your upload.
9. 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
Still need help? Contact Support!