How to delete multiple items?

[bandoraone]

We created over a period of time too many items which we don't use anymore. Is there a way to clean it up massively instead of one by one?

[Chad]

Hello @bkb2018, have you tried deleting the items in a CSV and then re-uploading it to your item library? 

The CSV file will allow you to easily delete a number of items, because all you need to do is delete the rows! 😊

[bkb2018]

Can you attach a sample of a CVS file to delete items? Thanks!

[Helen]

@bkb2018 I'm afraid we can't attach files to posts in the Community! You should be able to export the CSV file from your online Square Dashboard.

If you're having trouble I see that @The100thSheep shared some great tips in their post but if you need additional help please call our CS team directly.

[CAdesignco]

I wont even give an option of deleting 

[BernadetteA]

Hi @CAdesignco 👋

This is an older thread, and I noticed Sellers are asking to delete items from various locations. Are you trying to delete items from the Square dashboard, or from your Square Online site? Or are you using a third party commerce option like Etsy or Woo Commerce? 

Can you post a screenshot of the screen you are viewing when you say "it won't give an option of deleting"? Thanks in advance! 

I'll be on the lookout for your reply. 😊

[EarthlyBeauty]

The problem with this solution is that you then would need to manually add all the fields and images that aren't defined in the import.

[cosrl]

It is ridiculous that this wasn't thought of during design time. Its a very basic feature and very easy to implement. The fact you have to post a "workaround" instead of just implementing the feature that apparently a lot of users would in fact use speaks volumes.

[rootsdover]

I completely agree with this. SO much frustration for no reason, this thread was started in 2016. How is it 2021 and Square users still can't batch edit/delete inventory.

[worldcon]

Do not use the CSV option on export. Use the XLSX option.
Delete everything except 1 line. Save. If you use Open Office Libre etc. Save as .csv. Then import.
Took me a few times of trial and error to figure this out.

[rootsdover]

SQUARE Instead of offering this mega complicated workaround that doesn't work for the people who have responded to this, including me, please make a batch item editing option available to your customers 😕 It seems like a straightforward feature to include in a POS inventory system.

[SoapStop]

Before I attempt this, I just want to confirm that this is the best and only way to delete 200 of 5000 items in my library.  If I use the "replace" method to delete those 200 items, how will that affect my other 4800 items that I wish to keep?  Won't this delete the photos and report statistics for my other 4800 items?

[Kassi_]

Hey there, @SoapStop -

Welcome back to the Community. 

There is actually an easier way to go about doing a bulk delete of those items in your Item Library. Check out the Best Answer by Goldeneye in this thread. 

Please let me know if you have any other questions. 

[SoapStop]

Unfortunately that doesn’t solve my problem.  I’m not using SquareOnline.  I’m trying to bulk delete from my main library via the Square dashboard, not from the online Square store which I don’t use.  The dashboard doesn’t give me the same option as that which Goldeneye suggests unless I’m missing something.  Thanks!

[BernadetteA]

Hi @SoapStop You will want to use the Best Answer suggestion. Using the replace option will only remove the deleted lines you have removed from the edited csv file. 

[WataugaArts]

I did this exactly as stated. I replaced the items essentially with a blank CSV and it did not work. I have hundreds of items I want to delete. Square needs to make it easier to bulk delete items. 

[AnswerS33k3r]

Having worked with other POS systems, might I make a suggestion for Square.

On the bulk export spreadsheet, include a "Delete Item" column.

Then users can input either a Y or a N to denote if the items requires deletion. Then upload the spreadsheet and Square would recognise that item as requiring deletion,

Also, the ability to archive products with a "Archive Item" / Y or N would be handy as an interim step to full deletion if required.

[decdesign]

This seems so tricky because it risks corrupting our whole inventory. WHY doesn't Square provide bulk delete checkboxes in the main Item dashboard like you do in the Online Store??? 

[NV_Rue_Cler]

@Kelly 

If I wanted to replace all the items in an entire category (but not other categories), here is the process I'm planning:

1. I would download the catalog,
2. I would delete all the items I no longer want 
3. I would enter all the new items in that category
4. I want to add quantity, do I will enter that in New Quantity Rue Cler (not Current Quantity Rue Cler)
   I do not want to change any other category , so I will leave them the same 
5. I will also fill in the other fields (e.g. Price, Tax, etc.)
6. I would import that catalog using "replace"

That would net me all the items I want to keep along with my entire category replaced. I'm assuming that the new items in my category will automatically get assigned a token, is that correct?

How does this process sound?

[tfsingleton]

How do I delete all the items in my inventory? 

[Sean]

@tfsingleton - You can just follow Kelly's instructions here. If you import a blank .CSV and chose the replace option, it will clean out your entire inventory. 

[primordialsoup]

That isn't working. I tried that first, and I got an error - "row without item name". I then downloaded the inventory list, deleted only a few rows and left others in there, and got the same error. Kelly's instructions do not work.