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HeadlessDB is a Shopify embedded app that lets you manage Shopify Metaobjects through CSV import and export — directly from the Shopify Admin. It's built for merchants and developers who work with structured content at scale.

Install HeadlessDB from the Shopify App Store. Once installed, it appears in your Shopify Admin sidebar under Apps. No additional configuration is required to get started.

Metaobjects are Shopify's flexible, structured content system. They let you define custom data types — like FAQs, team members, or product specs — and attach them anywhere in your storefront. Think of them as a lightweight CMS built into Shopify.

HeadlessDB requests read/write access to your store's metaobjects and metaobject definitions. It does not access orders, customers, or payment data.

Any standard CSV with a header row. For a new table, HeadlessDB analyzes the headers and proposes a Shopify metaobject definition. For an existing table, you map each metaobject field to a column from your CSV before starting the import.

• First row must be a header row.
• Column names can be mapped in the app, but clear names like product_name make matching easier.
• Save your file with standard CSV quoting and encoding so Shopify field values import cleanly.

HeadlessDB does not add its own fixed row limit. Imports run asynchronously through Shopify bulk operations, so larger files can take longer and remain subject to Shopify's bulk-operation limits. The import page updates as the job moves through upload, processing, and completion.

HeadlessDB imports valid rows and collects errors for invalid ones. After the job completes, you can download an error report CSV that shows which rows failed and why. Successful rows are always published to Shopify.

Imports use Shopify's metaobjectUpsert API with handles generated from the metaobject type and CSV row number. Re-importing the same table in the same row order can update entries created by a previous HeadlessDB import, but the app does not currently use a CSV handle column to target arbitrary existing entries.

Open a table in HeadlessDB and click Export. The job runs asynchronously, then the export detail page shows download options once Shopify finishes the export and HeadlessDB has converted it to CSV.

Export downloads are shown as available until the export's expiry time, currently 7 days after completion. If you need the file again after it expires, re-run the export.

Exports are started as Shopify JSONL bulk operations and then converted to CSV by HeadlessDB. When Shopify provides the original JSONL download URL and it has not expired, the export detail page can show both Download CSV and Download JSONL options. There is no format selector before starting an export.

A metaobject definition is the schema for your custom content type — it declares each field's key, type, and validation rules. HeadlessDB can create a new definition from a CSV analysis, or connect an existing Shopify definition so you can import and export data for it.

You can edit the proposed definition in HeadlessDB before publishing it to Shopify. After it is published, schema changes should be made in Shopify Admin; HeadlessDB will use the published definition for future imports and exports.

HeadlessDB is free until further notice. See the pricing page for the latest plan details, or contact support if you need billing information.

You can uninstall HeadlessDB from your Shopify Admin to remove the embedded app from your store. If you have questions about billing or data retention after uninstalling, contact support so we can help with your account.