Table of Contents
Excel updates
18. May 2026
Table of Contents
You can import values and export via Excel. This app was formerly called Data Exchange or Excel Roundtripping App.
The Excel Roundtripping app (developed by Picturepark, now Fotoware) saves you time when updating content or metadata. You can export data such as Content Items, content metadata, and List Items at scale, edit it in Excel or other spreadsheet tools, and then re-import it to update existing data in the Content Platform.
The app is also helpful when importing data from other sources, such as other DAM, PIM, or MDM systems. It also provides data exports for data reviews and analytics. Editors can use facets and simple search to filter items to export and select which fields to export. Each field represents a column in Excel. On import, the application will automatically map the Excel file's columns to the list fields if the column name matches the field ID. Alternatively, editors can select which data fields to map and whether to update them.
Create a template for metadata update
See the accepted values per individual field type.
- Edit 1-4 Content Items from your selection in Fotoware Alto using the Batch Editor and applying your desired layer and values.
- Export all Content Items you wish to update.
- Include previously edited content.
- Export layer with the metadata you edited.
- Adapt the Excel.
- Update IDs from the Content Items you edited.
- Update your values.
- Import Excel to update Content Items
Fotoware Alto uses the Fotoware Alto ID as a unique identifier. Do not delete this column.
Problem: Content Items couldn't be updated with a layer.
- Search for the ones that weren't updated to validate what went wrong.
- Conclusion: These are the 5 Virtual Items to which I cannot apply the layer. This is a layer setting called "Available for", which prevents the layer from being assigned to Virtual Items.
Export content or metadata (Export Manager)
- Find and select items using the search or the filters in the sidebar (in Content Browser, or List Browser)
- Select Export.
- The Export window will open, where you can select the layers and fields you want included in your export. You are also shown the extracted metadata (which can be exported but not imported).
- The first column of the exported Excel file will contain the Fotoware Alto ID. This is a layer setting called "Available for" that prevents the layer from being assigned to Virtual Items (the GUID of the Item in Fotoware Alto). These are the ones you are updating on import. Do not change that.
Fotoware Alto uses the Fotoware Alto ID as a unique identifier. Do not delete this column.
Update content or metadata (Import Manager)
Do not select any item.
- In Content Browser or List Browser, select Import from the toolbar.
- Upload your Excel file for updating content or metadata.
- Map the Excel column headers to Fotoware Alto fields for updating.
- While mapping, you can see validation errors if mapped columns do not contain the correct values.
- Fotoware Alto automaps fields to columns with matching names. To save time, just name columns in Excel directly like Fotoware Alto fields.
- The preview shows the items you are updating, along with any errors you need to fix, such as missing required fields. Go to the "Previous" step to adapt your mapping, update the Excel file, and restart the whole process.
- The Update will then execute updates to content, List Items, and metadata for the Content Items. The app will let you know whether your items were successfully updated or which items failed, along with their IDs.
Fotoware Alto uses the Fotoware Alto ID as a unique identifier. Do not delete this column.
Dates must be formatted as “Custom” in Excel; export date fields from Fotoware Alto to get the correct formatting.
Fotoware Alto does not create List Items (Tags) on update import. Those must be created prior to updating Content Items (using Excel Update for List Items).
Create List Items
Do not select any item.
- In List Browser, select the three-dot icon from the toolbar, then Excel Update in the extended menu.
- If you import List Items that you exported from another Fotoware Alto List, you must update the exported Excel file and remove the first column, "Fotoware Alto ID".
- Map the Excel column headers to Fotoware Alto fields for updating.
- While mapping, you can see validation errors if mapped columns do not contain the correct values.
- Fotoware Alto automaps fields to columns with matching names. To save time, name columns in Excel directly like Fotoware Alto fields.
- The preview shows the items you are creating, along with any errors you need to fix, such as missing required fields. Go to the "Previous" step to adapt your mapping, update the Excel file, and restart the whole process.
- The Update will then execute the creation of List Items. The app will let you know whether your items were successfully updated or which items failed, along with their IDs.
Fotoware Alto does not create List Items (Tags) on Content Item update import. Those must be created prior to updating Content Items (using Excel Update for List Items).
Fotoware Alto uses the Fotoware Alto ID as a unique identifier. Delete this column when you create List Items from a previously exported Fotoware Alto List.
Excel Roundtripping app limitations
- Relationship fields (single or multi) and Multi-Fieldset fields are not supported.
- For tag boxes and relationship values, the ID is exported in a separate column.
- Only Excel files can be used for import. There is no configuration for the export File Type; this will always be an "xlsx".
- Only the Channels you have permissions on and Content Items you have access to will be displayed.
- The creation of Virtual Content Items is not supported.
- The creation of List Items while updating metadata is not supported.
- All values of the required fields must be provided.
- Layers and fields available for export are limited to those already assigned to the Content Items.
- Date Fields will be recognized as custom-formatted in Excel. You can manually change them to dates in Excel.