This guide provides a detailed explanation of common issues users face when uploading inventory items on Tyms. It also explains the mandatory fields, how to handle optional fields, and how to fix errors related to stock, date formatting, and import structure.
1. Correct Format for Uploading Inventory Items
When uploading inventory items using the Tyms template: Ensure all required columns are correctly filled out and for any optional fields you do not need, leave them blank, do not delete them.
Required Field Name
- Name: The name of the inventory item (e.g., "Blue Ball Pen"). This should be unique and descriptive.
- Default sales_price: The regular selling price of the item. Must be a numeric value (e.g., 1200).
- Cost price: The purchase or production cost of the item. Also a numeric value (e.g., 800).
- Unit: The unit of measurement for the item (e.g., pcs, box, litre).
- SKU: Stock Keeping Unit. A unique identifier or code for tracking the item.
- Shelf life: The expected lifespan of the item before it expires. This can be in days. 365days.
- Description: A brief description of the item (e.g., "Red ball pen with soft grip").
- Item type: The type of item. For example: product, or service. Choose based on how you categorize your items.
- Inventory account: The accounting ledger where this inventory will be recorded. Select the appropriate chart of accounts name. For example Pen Inventory. The account must also exist on Tyms
- Payment account: The account used for payment transactions related to this inventory item. Must match your payment settings in Tyms (Bank, Cash or Opening balance equity account).
IMPORTANT: Leaving any of these fields blank will cause the upload to fail. Double-check for spelling, formatting, and completeness before importing.
Optional Fields (Leave Blank If Not Used)
These fields are not required for the upload to work. If you're not using them, simply leave them blank, do not delete the column.
| Field Name | Description |
| Opening stock | Quantity you currently have in stock at the time you're joining Tyms. Must be a positive number (not zero). |
| Opening stock_price | The cost price of the opening stock per unit. |
| Opening stock_date | The date you are bringing this stock into Tyms. See date format requirements below. |
| Branch | If your business has multiple branches, specify the branch this inventory belongs to. Leave blank if not applicable. |
2. Date Format Troubleshooting
One of the most common issues when importing inventory is incorrect date formatting. Tyms supports the following formats:
- YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., 2025-06-01)
- YYYY/MM/DD (e.g., 2025/06/01)
- MM/DD/YYYY (e.g., 06/01/2025)
- DD/MM/YYYY(e.g., 21/06/2025)
- YYYY-DD-MM (e.g., 2025-23-06)
Always ensure your spreadsheet or CSV file reflects one consistent format throughout the file.
