# Identify What Data You Want to Share

#### **Identify What Data You Want to Share**

Before you upload anything, it's important to define *what* you’re publishing—and *how much*. This section will help you scope your catalog, audit your data sources, and ensure you're assembling the right product information for upload.

***

**🧩 Step 1: Choose What to Publish**

You have full control over what appears in your public Canoa catalog. Brands typically take one of three approaches:

* **Full catalog** – Ideal if your product line is already organized and published elsewhere (e.g., Shopify, Akeneo)
* **Select families or categories** – Useful for brands with multiple divisions or complex product hierarchies
* **Campaign-specific collections** – Great for new product launches or regional rollouts

> ✅ You can publish in phases and add more products over time. There’s no penalty for starting small.

***

**🧾 Step 2: Audit Your Existing Data Sources**

You likely already have usable product data scattered across various internal tools. Take inventory of what’s available:

| Data Type           | Common Source                   |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| SKUs & Descriptions | ERP, Shopify, PIM system        |
| Images              | DAM platform, shared drives     |
| CAD Files (2D only) | Internal design team, Revit     |
| Pricing & Variants  | Price lists, spreadsheets       |
| PDF Cut Sheets      | Marketing teams, print catalogs |
| Website Links       | Existing PDPs, rep portals      |

Make a folder (or shared drive) that gathers these assets. Having everything organized will speed up the upload process.

***

**📦 Step 3: Include the Right Asset Types**

Canoa supports a broad range of data types. While you don’t need every field to publish, more complete data leads to better discoverability and AI-driven recommendations.

**Recommended fields:**

* Product name, SKU, and short description
* Thumbnail image (JPG/PNG)
* Product URL (for backlinks)
* Category or collection
* Optional: price, dimensions, materials, finishes

**Supported file attachments:**

* PDFs (cut sheets, brochures)
* DWG or SIF files (CAD symbols for design integration)
* Additional images (detail views, install shots)

> 🔄 We recommend including downloadable files if you want designers to specify your products directly from their workflow.


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