WP All Import is a powerful tool that allows you to import data into WordPress in a flexible and efficient way. Below are the main steps required to perform an import.

Step 1: Start a new import

To begin the import process, follow these steps:

• Go to your WordPress dashboard.
• In the left-hand menu, select All Import and then choose New Import.

Step 2: Upload the data file

WP All Import allows you to import data from multiple sources:

• From a URL: If your data file, such as an XML or CSV feed, is available online, copy and paste the file URL. WP All Import will download it directly.
  This is where you will connect your Narrativa endpoint.
• From an FTP server: You can import data from an FTP server.
• From a local file: Upload the file directly from your device.

Once the file is uploaded, the system will process it.

Step 3: Select the post type

Specify the type of content you want to import. WP All Import will attempt to preselect the post type based on your data.

In this example, the wbg books plugin creates a custom post type for books. You can select books from the dropdown menu to create a new book for each record in your data file.

If the automatic selection is incorrect, for example if it selects cats instead of books, you can adjust it manually.

You can also configure filtering options to import only a subset of your data. If filtering is not required, leave the default settings and continue.

Step 4: Drag and drop data (import template configuration)

This is the core step of the import process, where you map data from your file to WordPress fields.

• On the left side, you will see all available fields for the selected post type, including title, images, custom fields, categories, and tags.
• On the right side, you will see the data from your imported file.

Drag elements from the right side and drop them into the corresponding fields on the left.

4.1 Standard fields

• Drag the title field into the WordPress title field.
• Drag the description into the content or description field.

4.2 Images

Drag the image URL into the image field. WP All Import will download the image and associate it with the imported post.

You can configure SEO-related image options, such as setting the image title and description using book data like title and author.

You can also rename imported image files, for example using the book title as the filename.

4.3 Custom fields

If no custom fields appear for the selected post type, first create a test post, for example a dummy book, and fill in the custom fields you want to import.

This allows WP All Import to detect and display those fields for mapping.

Once detected, drag the corresponding data into each custom field, such as author, publisher, ISBN, or language.

WP All Import can also handle complex data structures such as XML attributes, allowing you to drag them directly into fields.

Additional considerations:

• If you do not have data for a specific field, leave it empty.
• You can import data into SEO plugin fields such as SEOPress if detected.
• If a custom field is not listed, create it first and then map the data.

4.4 Categories and tags

This section applies to specific use cases, such as:

• When categories are not hierarchical and behave more like tags.
• When multiple categories for a single item are not comma separated in the data file.

In these cases, you can use a for each loop. This PHP snippet, available in the WP All Import documentation, allows you to iterate over multiple elements and join them into a comma separated list of categories.

WP All Import allows you to write PHP functions directly inside its fields to process data as needed.

4.5 Other post options

Additional configuration options are available, such as setting the publication date, although they are not always required.

Step 5: Configure import settings

After mapping your data, configure how the import behaves.

Unique identifier

The unique identifier allows WordPress to determine whether a record is new or already exists. This is essential for version control and content updates.

WP All Import usually auto-detects a unique identifier. To update records in future imports, configure re-run imports so the system checks for new or previously unseen identifiers.

General import settings

You can configure what happens each time the import runs. Common options include:

• Creating new items from records added to the data file.
• Updating existing items when data changes, such as cover images or categories.

In most cases, the default settings are sufficient.

Automatic scheduling

If your data file is a regularly updated feed, you can schedule the import to run automatically, for example daily at a specific time.

Advanced settings

Advanced settings can help resolve issues such as server timeouts during large imports or image heavy imports.

For testing, you can limit the number of records imported.

Important: Name your import. Use a descriptive name, such as Narrativa XML Import, for future reference.

Step 6: Confirm and run the import

• Confirm and run the import.

The process may take time, especially if many images need to be downloaded.

Step 7: Review and troubleshoot (re-run import)

After the import is complete, review your data and check whether any fields have been saved as inactive.

If issues are identified, edit and re-run the import to:

• Modify field statuses.
• Adjust how many records are imported.
• Test different import scopes.

Step 8: Verify the results

Review your WordPress site to ensure the data has been imported correctly. Open an individual post created from the imported endpoint to verify that all fields are properly configured.