importFile: Importing and Exporting Catalog Data in Evolution CMS

importFile was built as a practical commerce tool for Evolution CMS projects that needed structured catalog import and export without custom scripts for every update.

Core capabilities

• import products into regular MODX resources or Shopkeeper catalogs
• work from XLS files
• map columns to document fields, categories, or TVs
• support nested categories
• choose between additive updates and strict sync updates
• export catalog data back to XLS

Typical installation flow

1. Upload the module to assets/modules/importFile/.
2. Grant write access to the import directory and config file.
3. Create a new module in the manager.
4. Use the following module bootstrap code:

require MODX_BASE_PATH . "assets/modules/importFile/importFile.php";

Why this module mattered

The real value was not only import. It was giving non-developers a repeatable catalog maintenance workflow. Mapping spreadsheet columns to fields and TVs in a visible interface removed a lot of one-off migration pain from product teams.

Source: original community announcement. This announcement is still the clearest public reference for the original importFile workflow.