csv-to-sif

/csv-to-sif — CSV to SIF Converter

Converts a CSV, Excel, or Google Sheets product list into a SIF (Standard Interchange Format) file for import into dealer and procurement systems like Hedberg, CAP, CET, Cyncly Worksheet, ProjectMatrix, Studio Webware, and Design Manager.

When to Use

• Sending a specification to a dealer for quoting
• Importing product data into a dealer management system
• Sharing a standardized product list with procurement
• Converting an FF&E schedule into a format dealers expect

SIF Format Reference

SIF is a text-based key-value format. Each line is CODE=VALUE, terminated by CRLF. Products are separated by records starting with PN=.

Core fields

| Code | Name | Required | Description | |------|------|----------|-------------| | SF | Specification File | No | Project reference (header, once per file) | | ST | Specification Title | No | Display title (header, once per file) | | PN | Product Number | Yes | SKU or model number. Marks the start of a new record. | | PD | Product Description | Yes | Product name and description | | MC | Manufacturer Code | Yes | 3-5 character code (HMI, KNL, STC) | | MN | Manufacturer Name | No | Full manufacturer name | | QT | Quantity | Yes | Integer quantity | | NT | Quantity (alt) | No | Some systems use NT instead of QT | | GC | Category / Group Code | No | Product category | | G0 | Vendor / Group ID | No | Vendor or dealer identifier |

Pricing fields

| Code | Name | Description | |------|------|-------------| | PL | List Price | Unit list price (numeric, no currency symbol) | | P1 | Price Tier 1 | Primary price (some systems use P1 instead of PL) | | P2 | Price Tier 2 | Alternate price tier | | P4 | Price Tier 4 | Alternate price tier | | P5 | Price Tier 5 | Alternate price tier | | I1 | Unit List Price (Cyncly) | Used by Cyncly Worksheet | | I2 | Purchase Price (Cyncly) | Used by Cyncly Worksheet | | S- / S% | Sell Discount % | Sell = PL - (PL × S- × 0.01) | | P% / B% | Purchase/Buy % | Cost = PL × (P% × 0.01) |

Product detail fields

| Code | Name | Description | |------|------|-------------| | TG | Side Mark / Tag | Room name, area code, or project tag | | ON | Option Number | Must pair with OD | | OD | Option Description | Finish, fabric, color selection | | AN | Attribute Number | Must pair with AD | | AD | Attribute Description | Dimension, weight, or other attribute | | WT | Weight | Product weight | | VO | Volume | Product volume | | PRC | Product Category (Cyncly) | Category for Cyncly Worksheet |

Link fields

| Code | Name | Description | |------|------|-------------| | ProductURL | Product Page URL | Link to manufacturer product page | | ImageURL | Product Image URL | Link to product image | | PV | Picture Path | Windows bitmap or TIF file path |

Alternate manufacturer codes (by system)

| System | Code | Purpose | |--------|------|---------| | Standard | MC | 3-5 char manufacturer code | | Cyncly Worksheet | MG | Manufacturer code (replaces MC) | | Cyncly Worksheet | MN | Full manufacturer name | | CET / Configura | EC | Manufacturer code (alt) |

File structure example

SF=Project Alpha - FF&E Specification
ST=FF&E Schedule — March 2026
PN=670
PD=Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
MC=HMI
MN=Herman Miller
GC=Seating
QT=3
PL=5695.00
WT=92
TG=Executive Lounge
OD=Santos Palisander / Black MCL Leather
AN=DIM
AD=32.75W x 32.5D x 33.5H in
ProductURL=https://www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/lounge-seating/eames-lounge-chair-and-ottoman/
ImageURL=https://www.hermanmiller.com/content/dam/hmicom/page_assets/products/eames_lounge_chair_and_ottoman/mh_prd_ovw_eames_lounge_chair_and_ottoman.jpg

PN=164-500
PD=Saarinen Round Dining Table 54"
MC=KNL
MN=Knoll
GC=Tables
QT=1
PL=4750.00
TG=Dining Area
OD=Arabescato Marble Top / White Base
AN=DIM
AD=54dia x 28.5H in

Rules

• Each line is one field: CODE=VALUE
• Lines terminated by CRLF
• Blank line between records
• PN starts a new record — must come first in each record
• ON/OD and AN/AD pairs must stay together
• No embedded line breaks within a field value
• Empty values use CODE= with nothing after the equals sign

Step 1: Accept Input

CSV file:

/csv-to-sif ~/Documents/project/product-data-import.csv

Google Sheet:

/csv-to-sif 1FMScYW9guezOWc_m4ClTQxxFIpS6TNRr373R-MJGzgE

Pasted CSV:

/csv-to-sif
Product,Brand,SKU,Qty,Price,Finish,Room
Eames Lounge Chair,Herman Miller,670,3,5695,Walnut/Black Leather,Executive Lounge
Saarinen Table 54,Knoll,164-500,1,4750,Arabescato/White,Dining

Step 2: Choose Target System

Ask which dealer system the SIF file is for (affects which field codes to use):

Target system:
1. Standard (Hedberg, CAP, ProjectMatrix) — default
2. CET / Configura (SPEC)
3. Cyncly Worksheet (CAPSIF)
4. Design Manager

Default to Standard if not specified. The main differences:

• Standard: MC for manufacturer, PL for price, QT for quantity
• CET: EC for manufacturer, standard pricing
• Cyncly: MG/MN for manufacturer, I1/I2 for pricing, PRC for category
• Design Manager: Standard + DXSC, DXBD, DXLC, DXLN extensions

Step 3: Map Columns

Auto-detect column mappings from header names:

| CSV Column (common names) | SIF Field | |---------------------------|-----------| | Product Name, Name, Description, Product | PD | | SKU, Model, Part Number, Product Number | PN | | Brand, Manufacturer | MC + MN | | Qty, Quantity, Count | QT | | Price, List Price, Unit Price | PL | | Finish, Color, Configuration | OD | | Room, Location, Area, Tag, Side Mark | TG | | Category | GC | | Weight | WT | | Discount, Discount % | S- | | URL, Product URL, Link | ProductURL | | Image, Image URL | ImageURL | | W, D, H (dimensions) | AD (with AN=DIM) |

If using the master 33-column schema (defined in ../../schema/product-schema.md):

See ../../schema/sif-crosswalk.md for the full column-to-SIF mapping. Key fields:

| Column | SIF Field | |--------|-----------| | A (Category) | GC | | B (Brand) | MC + MN | | E (Product Name) | PD | | I (SKU) | PN | | J (Link) | ProductURL | | L-P (W, D, H, Seat H, Unit) | AD (with AN=DIM) | | Q (Weight) | WT | | R (Materials) | AD (with AN=MAT) | | S (Colors/Finishes) | OD (with ON=FIN) | | T (Selected Color/Finish) | OD (primary, replaces S if present) | | U (List Price) | PL | | AC (Image URL) | ImageURL | | AD (Tags) | TG |

If the mapping is ambiguous, ask the user to confirm.

Manufacturer code lookup

Convert full brand names to standard 3-5 character codes:

| Brand | MC Code | Brand | MC Code | |-------|---------|-------|---------| | Herman Miller | HMI | Blu Dot | BLU | | MillerKnoll | MKN | Design Within Reach | DWR | | Knoll | KNL | Fritz Hansen | FRH | | Steelcase | STC | Vitra | VIT | | Haworth | HAW | Arper | ARP | | Teknion | TEK | Muuto | MUU | | Humanscale | HUM | HAY | HAY | | Kimball | KIM | Flos | FLS | | National | NAT | Louis Poulsen | LPO | | OFS | OFS | Artemide | ART | | HBF | HBF | Restoration Hardware | RHB | | Bernhardt | BRN | West Elm | WEL | | Geiger | GEI | CB2 | CB2 |

For unknown brands, use first 3-5 characters uppercased. Flag for the user to verify.

Step 4: Preview

Show a preview of the first 3 records before generating the file:

## SIF Preview (first 3 of 12 records)

Record 1:
  PN=670
  PD=Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
  MC=HMI
  MN=Herman Miller
  GC=Seating
  QT=3
  PL=5695.00
  WT=92
  TG=Executive Lounge
  OD=Santos Palisander / Black MCL Leather
  AN=DIM
  AD=32.75W x 32.5D x 33.5H in

...

12 records total. Generate SIF file? (y/n)

Step 5: Generate SIF File

Write the .sif file with CRLF line endings:

# Output path: same directory as input, or specified path
{input-dir}/{input-name}.sif

Step 6: Summary

✓ Generated product-data-import.sif
  Target: Standard (Hedberg/CAP/ProjectMatrix)
  12 records · 8 fields per rec