What this feature does
For a ready-made menu file, see the menu package guide and sample. Both formats use the same app import entry.
Use one .xlsx workbook to add or update categories and products in your on-device menu, with optional product pictures. Import is handled in the Open Meny app on your device; the workbook is not uploaded. Download this template first and keep an untouched copy of your original file.
The template has two sheets: enter menu data in Products. Guide is for instructions and examples only; its sample rows are not imported. Start in row 2, with one product per row.
How to fill in each column
Keep the English column names in row 1 exactly as they are. The headers are English, but category names, product names, and descriptions can be in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, English, or mixed text.
| Column | Required | What to enter |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Yes | The product's category. Repeat the same category name on every product row in that category. |
| Product Name | Yes | The product name. Together with Category, it is used to identify an existing product. |
| Picture | No | Embed the picture in the matching product row's Picture cell. Do not enter a URL or IMAGE() formula. |
| Description | No | Optional product details. Leave blank if not needed. |
| Price | No | Enter a number greater than or equal to 0, without a currency symbol. Leave blank if unused. |
| New | No | Enter Yes or No to control the product's NEW badge. |
| Sold Out | No | Enter Yes or No to set the sold-out status. |
| Hidden | No | Enter Yes or No to set whether the product is hidden. |
| Category | Product Name | Picture | Description | Price | New | Sold Out | Hidden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drinks | Lemon Soda | Embedded photo | Sugar free | 2.50 | Yes | No | No |
| Snacks | Sea Salt Chips | Embedded photo | Lightly salted | 3.00 | No | Yes | No |
Put product pictures in the workbook
- Select the Picture cell on the product's row.
- In supported Excel versions, choose Insert → Pictures → Place in Cell → This Device, then select a photo on your device.
- Use one picture per product row. After inserting pictures in a batch, verify that each one still matches the right row.
Embedded JPEG, PNG, and HEIC images are supported, up to 20 MB and 40 megapixels per picture. Image URLs and IMAGE() formulas are not imported. If your spreadsheet app does not offer Place in Cell, test a small workbook first; older versions may store pictures differently.
Import on your iPhone or iPad
- Get the template.In the app, tap Get Excel Template to open this guide, then choose Download Excel template above.
- Fill it in and save.Enter data on the Products sheet and save as .xlsx. Store the workbook in the Files app.
- Choose the file.In Open Meny, go to Account Center → Data Management → Import or Update Menu → Import & Update → Import Menu File, then choose your .xlsx file.
- Review the preview.Check category, product, and picture counts, plus the counts of new, updated, and unchanged products. You can also inspect the first few products.
- Confirm or cancel.Tap Import to save the changes. If the preview is not what you expected, tap Cancel; this import will not change your existing menu.
Choosing the file, parsing it, reviewing the preview, and saving it all happen in the app on your device. There is no account sign-up step and no need to upload the workbook.
Rules for adding, updating, and keeping products
- A row with the same category and product name matches an existing local product. Keep both names unchanged when you intend to update that product.
- Changing a product or category name is treated as a new item. The previous item remains; it is not automatically renamed or deleted.
- Categories and products missing from the workbook are kept and are not deleted by this import.
- For an existing product, a blank Description, Price, or Picture preserves the saved value. A blank New, Sold Out, or Hidden value means No and clears a previous Yes.
- The Category + Product Name pair must be unique within the workbook. If the same category already contains duplicate product names on the device, the app stops the import; resolve the duplicates and try again.
Checks and common issues
- Products sheet not found: Check that the worksheet is named Products; do not keep only Guide.
- Required information is missing: Every product row needs Category and Product Name. Check that the English header names in row 1 have not changed.
- Duplicate product: Check for repeated Product Name values under the same Category.
- Picture is missing from the preview: Make sure the picture is embedded on the matching product row in Picture—not entered as a URL or formula—and recheck each row's picture.
- Workbook cannot be read: Use .xlsx, not CSV or legacy .xls. Each workbook supports up to 10,000 product rows; split a larger menu across separate workbooks. The compressed workbook limit is 64 MB and the expanded limit is 160 MB.
Before importing: Review the preview. The template does not scan your photo library; only pictures that you deliberately embed and import are saved with the products in your local menu.