Guide & FAQ
Guide & FAQ
Your first catalog in minutes, and answers to the most common questions.
Steps
Your first catalog
- 1 · Pick the fileOn the Catalog screen pick the source file (.xlsx, .xls, .ods, .csv).
- 2 · Columns and categoriesIn Columns and Categories choose what to show and how to split the catalog.
- 3 · Format settingsThe Excel / PDF / HTML switch shows only what that format can do.
- 4 · GeneratePick the output folder, tick the formats and click GENERATE CATALOG.
All settings are saved automatically and can be stored as a template. The full guide is inside the program: Help › Open the guide (PDF) — in Slovak, English or German, following the program language.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Ctrl+G | generate the catalog |
| F5 | PDF preview |
| Ctrl+O | open a file |
| Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y | undo and redo |
| F1 | help |
| Arrow keys | move the selected fields in the designer (faster with Shift) |
| Ctrl+click | selects several fields in the designer |
| Alt while dragging | turns snapping off |
Images
How the program finds product images
You never place images in the catalog by hand. The program looks for them in one folder by a file name it builds from a value in your spreadsheet — for example the code or the EAN.
Setting it up
- 1 · Image folderIn the Images settings turn images on and pick the folder that holds all images. Subfolders are not searched.
- 2 · Image name columnPick the column whose value is the file name or its varying part — the code, the EAN or the file name itself. An empty value means the product has no image.
- 3 · Name prefix and suffixIf every file has the same text before or after the code, for example
IMG_HR-101_large.jpg, enter it in Name prefix and Name suffix. - 4 · CheckPreview shows the first image found with its file name. Data check on the Catalog screen lists the products whose image is missing.
How names are matched
- File name = prefix + value from the column + suffix. Spaces at their start and end are ignored — use e.g. an underscore instead of a space.
- The extension is optional. The program tries the extension from the value, then the name as it is, then .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif and .webp.
- The whole file name must match; upper and lower case do not matter. Part of the name is not enough.
- For codes with leading zeros, how the value is stored counts, not the cell format. A code stored as text (012) is read whole even with the General format; a code stored as a number is read without the zeros (12).
Examples
| File in the folder | Column and value | Prefix / suffix | Found? |
|---|---|---|---|
HR-101.jpg | Code: HR-101 | — | yes |
2004260000044.png | EAN: 2004260000044 | — | yes |
IMG_HR-101_large.jpg | Code: HR-101 | IMG_ / _large | yes |
nordic-mug.webp | Image: nordic-mug.webp | — | yes |
HR-101.png | Image: HR-101.jpg | — | yes — other extensions are tried too |
012.jpg | Code: 012 stored as text (the formula bar shows 012) | — | yes — the whole code 012 is read |
012.jpg | Code: 012 stored as a number with the format 000 (the formula bar shows 12) | — | no — the value read is 12 |
12345 Blue mug.jpg | Code: 12345 | — | no — part of the name is not enough |
Files with different text after the code for every product (for example 12345 Blue mug.jpg) need renaming to the code — PowerRename from Microsoft PowerToys renames many at once — or add a column with the full file name to the spreadsheet.
Codes with leading zeros in Excel
Exports from stock systems often store codes as text — then the program keeps the zeros and finds the images, even when the column has the General format. The trouble starts only with a code stored as a number.
- How to tell: click the cell and look at the formula bar above the sheet — text shows
012, a number12. Text is usually aligned left, sometimes with a green triangle “Number Stored as Text”. - Careful when typing: a new code
0130typed into a cell with the General format is stored by Excel as the number 130, and its image is not found. Type it with an apostrophe:'0130— the apostrophe is not shown and the code stays text. - Changing the format to Text does not change numbers already typed — the code has to be typed again.
- Data check on the Catalog screen lists the products whose image was not found.
FAQ
Where do I find the computer code?
In the program under About › License. Copy copies it; Write e-mail prepares the whole license request.
What if I change computers or reinstall Windows?
The computer code changes and the old key will not work on the new computer. Send the new computer code to roman@magoc.sk and you get a new key.
What does the free version do?
It creates catalogs and price lists in Excel with no limit on products. You can use the PDF, web catalog and page image settings, the card designer and the PDF preview — a license creates the files in those formats.
The program does not start. What now?
Usually the .NET 8 Desktop Runtime (x64) is missing. Download it free, install it and run CatalogStudio.exe again.
Windows shows a warning when I start it.
Windows SmartScreen may flag a program downloaded from the internet. If you downloaded the ZIP from this site, click More info › Run anyway.
How do I update?
About › Updates › Check for updates. The new version is downloaded, the old one is kept as a .bak backup and the program restarts. Settings, templates and the license stay.
What is the difference between the formats?
Excel is a spreadsheet to keep working with and print. PDF is a finished document to print or send. The web catalog is one .html file any browser opens. Page images are the PDF pages saved as PNG or JPG for social media and e-mail.
Do my columns need specific names?
No. The program reads the names from the first row and you set everything up on them.
Does the program send my data anywhere?
No. Catalogs are made on your computer. The program only goes online when you click the update check.
Can I add another format later?
Yes. With a partial license the License card shows what else you can unlock. Send the request the same way, with Write e-mail.