What does Catalog Prep need from me?

Two files: the supplier catalog (CSV or Excel) and your store’s import template (a CSV with your store’s column headers). Your assistant uploads both and runs the job.

Will it guess prices or SKUs it cannot find?

No. Catalog Prep never invents a value that is not in your files, such as a price, SKU, hazmat flag, or certification. Those fields go into the unresolved list for a person to fill in.

Does it publish anything to my store?

No. It only prepares files. Nothing is sent to your store or any other system; you review the import file and upload it yourself.

Yes, while it is a prototype for sample data. A new account gets its own private sandbox: 10 jobs over 30 days, 2 at a time.

Can I use real customer data?

Not yet. Catalog Prep is a prototype for sample data. Please use sample or synthetic files until a production version is announced.

How do I delete my files?

Ask your assistant to delete the job. Deletion always needs your own approval: you get a link, sign in with a passkey, and approve (or choose “Don’t delete”). Finished jobs are removed automatically after 7 days.

Catalog Prep

An MCP connector by Dudley Development, LLC · Prototype for sample data · Free

Catalog Prep turns messy corrugated box supplier files into a clean import file for your store’s template, and lists every field it could not fill in with confidence. You run it from your AI assistant, such as Claude or ChatGPT. Nothing publishes without your review.

What it does

Give your assistant two files, the supplier’s catalog and your store’s import template. Catalog Prep returns:

importable.csv: the supplier’s rows mapped into your template’s columns.
unresolved.json: every field it could not fill, with the source rows that caused it.
summary.json and manifest.json: counts and checksums, so you can verify what changed.

Before and after

A real run. A messy supplier file:

Item #,Description,Size,Flute,ECT,Bundle,Unit Price
RSC-1210,Shipping carton,12 x 10 x 8 in,C flute,32 ECT,25/bdl,$1.25 ea
RSC-1812,Moving box,18x12x12,B,44,20,

importable.csv, mapped into a store template with separate columns for each size, board, and pack field:

sku,title,length_in,width_in,depth_in,flute,ect,pack_qty,price
RSC-1210,Shipping carton,12,10,8,C,32,25,1.25
RSC-1812,Moving box,,,,B,44,20,

unresolved.json, what a person still needs to fill in:

RSC-1812 · length, width, depth · “18x12x12” has no unit, so it is not guessed.
RSC-1812 · price · missing, and must be confirmed by a person (a price is never invented).

You get a file your store accepts and a short list of exactly what is missing, instead of silent guesses.

Try it in your assistant

Add a custom connector with this address: https://mcp.dudleyapps.com/mcp
Claude: Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector. ChatGPT: Settings → Apps → Create (developer mode).
Sign up when asked, and verify your email. You get your own private sandbox.
Attach a supplier file and your store template, and ask: “Turn this supplier price list into a CSV I can import into my store.”

No supplier file handy? Use ours

Download a sample supplier file (6 boxes, deliberately messy) and a store template, attach both, and ask your assistant to prepare the import. You should get 6 importable rows and 4 unresolved fields: the moving box’s size has no unit and its price is missing, so Catalog Prep flags them instead of guessing.

More prompts to try:

“Clean up this carton spreadsheet: sizes, board grade, and case pack in separate columns.”
“Which rows in my supplier file are missing dimensions or pricing?”
“Convert this corrugated box catalog into my ecommerce import format and show me what you couldn’t match.”

Limits and safeguards

Sample data only while Catalog Prep is a prototype.
Size: up to 5,000 rows and 4 MB per file.
Your sandbox: 10 jobs over 30 days, 2 at a time.
Retention: finished jobs are removed after 7 days, or sooner when you delete them.
Deletes need you: the assistant can ask, but only your passkey approval deletes anything.
No model on our side: files are processed by a fixed rule pack, not a language model.

Questions

What does Catalog Prep need from me?: Two files: the supplier catalog (CSV or Excel) and your store’s import template (a CSV with your store’s column headers). Your assistant uploads both and runs the job.
Will it guess prices or SKUs it cannot find?: No. Catalog Prep never invents a value that is not in your files, such as a price, SKU, hazmat flag, or certification. Those fields go into the unresolved list for a person to fill in.
Does it publish anything to my store?: No. It only prepares files. Nothing is sent to your store or any other system; you review the import file and upload it yourself.
Is it free?: Yes, while it is a prototype for sample data. A new account gets its own private sandbox: 10 jobs over 30 days, 2 at a time.
Can I use real customer data?: Not yet. Catalog Prep is a prototype for sample data. Please use sample or synthetic files until a production version is announced.
How do I delete my files?: Ask your assistant to delete the job. Deletion always needs your own approval: you get a link, sign in with a passkey, and approve (or choose “Don’t delete”). Finished jobs are removed automatically after 7 days.