Including images for a product can help increase sales. For this reason, we recommend adding at least one image per product in your catalogue. Unite supports the file formats JPG, GIF and PNG.
Below you can see how product images and visuals are displayed:
General information
Naming instructions
File names may only contain lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, or underscores.
Do not use spaces or special characters (such as umlauts, <, >, etc.).
Please avoid image names that start with tn_ or gr_.
File names must match the image names in your catalogue.
Technical requirements
Formats: JPG, GIF and PNG
Colour scheme: RGB
Minimum size: 200 x 200 px
Maximum size: 8 MB or 3000 x 3000 px
Optimum size: 1200 x 1200 px; larger files will be automatically resized by the system.
If the content of an image changes, a new file name must be assigned.
Content requirements
The first image must be a representative product image.
There must be at least one unique product image in JPG, GIF or PNG format.
The image must show the product as accurately as possible, i.e. without additional extras.
The image description should include the product name and, if applicable, a note on the view (e.g. “side view printer XYZ”).
Please do not use company logos as the main image. Manufacturer logos may be used as a secondary image.
Please do not use alternative images or placeholders (e.g. “No image available”, “No image”).
Data transfer
The data is transferred via SFTP. Also, the file names must be specified in the catalogue to enable correct assignment in our system.
Once Unite connects you as a supplier with your first catalogue, we‘ll set up an SFTP account for you to transfer data. To use SFTP for data transfer to Unite, you‘ll need an FTP client, the server address and your personal login details.
You can find your SFTP access details in the catalogue management section under ‘SFTP settings’, where you can generate a new password at any time if required.
Referenced image files can be specified from column X (MIME_SOURCE1):
We recommend using columns X to AO for images. Columns AP to AR are reserved for specifying the product data sheet details, and columns for AS to AU for the safety data sheet, if available.
Image download via URLs
It is possible to download images via URLs during catalogue processing. Please contact our Technical Support (support@unite.eu), who will be happy to assist you.
Please also refer to the important information stated below.
Example for implementation in CSV format:
Important information:
The URL is specified as MIME_SOURCE. In the ‘products-file’, this starts at column X (MIME_SOURCE1).
The URL must link directly to an image. Downloading from overview pages is not supported.
The image file name must be at the end of the URL, e.g.: http://www.supplierwebsite.co.uk/images/copypaper.jpg
The image file name must be unique. If file names are identical, the images will overwrite each other (regardless of the path).
MIME_PURPOSE must be set to ‘normal’.
Transferring the file to Unite
Please transfer the catalogue file with the updated data to the corresponding directory via SFTP as usual.
Implementation in the catalogue (XML format)
Images are created in the MIME_INFO section. Unite supports the following MIME_TYPE values:
JPG files:
<MIME_TYPE>image/jpeg</MIME_TYPE>
GIF files:
<MIME_TYPE>image/gif</MIME_TYPE>
PNG files:
<MIME_TYPE>image/png</MIME_TYPE>
For images, please use ‘normal’ as the MIME_PURPOSE:
It is possible to download images via URLs during catalogue processing. Please contact our Technical Support (support@unite.eu), who will be happy to assist you.
Please also refer to our guidance on updating media files via URL.
The URL must link directly to an image. Downloading from overview pages is not supported.
The image file name must be at the end of the URL, e.g.: http://www.supplierwebsite.co.uk/images/copypaper.jpg
The image file name must be unique. If file names are identical, the images will overwrite each other (regardless of the path).
MIME_PURPOSE must be set to ‘normal’.
MIME_TYPE must also be specified. Possible values: image/jpeg, image/gif or image/png.
Transferring the file to Unite
Please transfer the catalogue file with the updated data to the corresponding directory via SFTP as usual.
Using a separate CSV file (conditions file)
Information on images can also be submitted via CSV file (conditions file). A conditions file allows you to update or add product information in the catalogue at a later stage. This method is especially recommended if it is not possible to add the images to the catalogue as described above.
Note: If a CSV file is already active for your catalogue, you can simply add the additional columns and upload the updated file as usual.
SUPPLIER_AID: the product number in the catalogue the image belongs to
MIME_SOURCE10: the name of the referenced image file including file extension
MIME_TYPE10: the file type (for images use image/jpeg, image/gif or image/png)
MIME_PURPOSE10: the purpose (for images use ‘normal’)
A suffix must be added to the headings MIME_SOURCE, MIME_TYPE, and MIME_PURPOSE. For images, for example, use the number 10, i.e. MIME_SOURCE10, MIME_TYPE10, and MIME_PURPOSE10. Check your catalogue for the highest existing number and use the next available one.
Example with multiple MIME_TYPEs:
After editing, save the Excel file and export the data as a CSV file:
File > Save as > File type: CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)
Naming convention for CSV files
To ensure your file is automatically recognised and processed by our systems, please use the following naming conventions:
If the CSV file contains various types of information:
Catalogue-ID_conditionsfile.csv
Example: P1234_conditionsfile.csv
If the CSV file contains only images and data sheets:
Catalogue-ID_mimes.csv
Example: P1234_mimes.csv
Transferring the CSV file to Unite
Transfer the separate CSV file to the SFTP directory associated with the catalogue. If you use an additional CSV file, adhere to the naming convention described above. After the initial transfer, there may be a delay as the file needs to be activated in the system.
Once this process is complete, we’ll automatically send an email to the address specified in the catalogue management tool.
Tip: Send your CSV file to support@unite.eu for review in advance. We’ll check the format and return it to you as quickly as possible.
