Troubleshooting and FAQ
Fix the most common IRONFEED problems: failed imports, missing source fields, blocked generation, empty or 404/410 Feed URLs, low health scores, taxonomy setup, Google Sheets access and SFTP errors.
Symptoms are listed with their usual cause and the fix. If none applies, use Contact with the shop number and channel name.
Imports
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Import failed" after Save and Download Products | The URL is unreachable, returns 403/404, or the file is not valid XML / CSV / JSON | Open the URL in an incognito window. Check the protocol, login and password under Advanced options. For Google Sheets, share as *Anyone with the link*. |
| "Import your feed first" on Master Fields | No successful import yet | Go to Input Feed and run the import. |
| Fewer products than expected | Rows without an id, duplicate ids, or a filter on the source side | Check Shop Products; ensure every row has a unique id. |
| "Your last import had a problem" banner | The last scheduled import failed; the previous products are kept | Read the error, fix the source, then re-import. Enable *Use last correct feed* to protect channels. |
| Product drop alert | The source exported fewer products | Confirm on the source side; the fallback keeps the previous feed if configured. |
Mapping
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A source field is missing from the picker | The field is empty in every product, or appears under another name (g:-prefix, different case) | Search without the namespace; check Shop Products. |
| Only the first image is exported | Repeated elements collapse to the first value | Map additional_image_link (0), (1), … individually. |
| "Condition is incomplete" on save | A rule has *Only IF* without field, operator or value | Complete or remove the condition. |
| "Default value is required" | Lookup table with *Use default value* and no default | Enter a default or change the no-match behaviour. |
| Preview shows empty values | The condition excludes the sample products, or the field is empty | Test with *All products* first. |
Channels and generation
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Cannot generate: missing required field mappings for …" | One of the nine required fields is not mapped | Map the listed fields in Map Fields. |
| "N products were skipped" | Those products have an empty required value | Review Feed Review → *Missing required field*; fill the source or exclude the products. |
| "Google taxonomy not ready" | One-time taxonomy setup pending | Click Seed taxonomy until the bar reaches 100 %. |
| "Rule Missing" when adding a variant rule | No item_group_id master field | Add it in Master Fields. |
| Low health score | Warnings such as short titles, missing GTINs or categories | Open Feed Review, fix by type, re-run. |
Feed URL and delivery
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The URL returns "No feed has been generated yet" | The channel was never generated | Open Export and click Generate Feed Now. |
| HTTP 404 | Wrong or truncated token, or the channel was deleted | Copy the URL again from the channels table. |
| HTTP 410 Gone | Trial ended or subscription inactive | Subscribe under Settings → Plans. |
| Merchant Center shows an old version | Google fetches on its own schedule; IRONFEED caches for 60 s | Trigger *Fetch now* in Merchant Center or wait for the next scheduled fetch. |
| SFTP upload failed | Wrong host, port, credentials or path; the plan has no SFTP | Check the fields and the last error message; SFTP requires Scale or higher. |
| Feed shows the old catalog after a drop | *Use last correct feed* kept the previous file | Fix the source; the next import above the threshold replaces it. |
Account
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Invitation link expired | Invitations are time-limited | Remove the pending invite and send a new one. |
| Cannot invite more users | Seat limit of the plan | Upgrade to Scale or higher. |
| No alert emails | Email notifications off, digest set to Off, or address unsubscribed | Check Settings → Notifications and your spam folder. |
| Payment failed email | Card declined or expired | Update the card under Payment Method. |
Frequently asked questions
Does IRONFEED change my store?
No. It only reads your source (feed URL, file, sheet or Shopify products) and writes its own output files. Nothing is pushed back to your store or to the advertising platform except the optional SFTP upload you configure.
How often are feeds updated?
Products are re-imported at the update times you set (up to five per day per shop), and every channel is regenerated after each import and after you save Master Fields. Advertising platforms then fetch the URL on their own schedule.
Can one shop feed several countries?
Yes. Create one channel per country (for example "Google Shopping (US)" and "Google Shopping (GB)"), each with its own mapping, filters and currency rules, all reading the same master fields.
Is the Feed URL private?
It is unlisted, not private: anyone with the token can read the file. Share it only with the platforms that need it and delete the channel to revoke access.
What happens to my feeds when the trial ends?
The URLs return HTTP 410 until you subscribe. Your shops, mappings and channels are kept, so activating a plan restores everything immediately.
Do I need a developer?
No. Every mapping, condition, transformation and filter is configured in the interface. Regular expressions are optional.
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