---
title: "Products Import & Export with Excel: Developer Hooks and Filters Reference"
description: "Developer reference for WooCommerce Products Import & Export with Excel: filters, scheduled-event actions and examples."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-import-export-developer-hooks-filters-reference/"
updated: "2026-09-26"
category: Developers
---

# Products Import & Export with Excel: Developer Hooks and Filters Reference

## Developer hooks and filters reference

[WooCommerce Products Import & Export with Excel](https://wpfactory.com/item/woocommerce-products-import-export-with-excel/) exposes filters and scheduled-event actions so you can adjust import and export behavior in code without editing plugin files. This reference lists the extension points that exist in the plugin (Pro v12.1.5), with their arguments and a worked example for each.

### Filters

| Filter | Filtered value | Arguments |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `wpfactory_wc_peie_pro_url_get_contents` | The content fetched from a remote Excel URL (return non-false to supply your own). | `$output, $url` |
| `wpfactory_wc_peie_pro_import_products_used_in_variations_checked_default` | The default checked state for an attribute's "used in variations" control on the import screen. | `$checked` |
| `wpfactory_wc_peie_pro_import_products_product_attribute_taxonomy` | The taxonomy an attribute term is assigned to during import. | `$taxonomy, $attribute_name` |
| `wpfactory_wc_peie_pro_export_products_product_attribute` | An attribute value as it is written to the export file. | `$product_attribute, $taxonomy` |
| `wpfactory_wc_peie_pro_export_products_post_name` | The slug (post name) value written for a product on export. | `$post_name` |

### Example: supply remote Excel content yourself

The plugin fetches a remote Excel URL for scheduled imports. Return a non-false value to bypass the default fetch and provide the file contents from your own transport (for example an authenticated request).

```
add_filter( 'wpfactory_wc_peie_pro_url_get_contents', function ( $output, $url ) {
    // Only intercept your own protected endpoint.
    if ( false === strpos( $url, 'my-protected-feed.example.com' ) ) {
        return $output; // leave default behavior in place
    }

    $response = wp_remote_get( $url, array(
        'headers' => array( 'Authorization' => 'Bearer ' . MY_FEED_TOKEN ),
        'timeout' => 60,
    ) );

    if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
        return $output;
    }

    return wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
}, 10, 2 );
```

### Example: change the taxonomy an imported attribute is assigned to

```
add_filter( 'wpfactory_wc_peie_pro_import_products_product_attribute_taxonomy', function ( $taxonomy, $attribute_name ) {
    // Route a legacy column name to a specific attribute taxonomy.
    if ( 'material' === $attribute_name ) {
        return 'pa_material';
    }
    return $taxonomy;
}, 10, 2 );
```

### Example: adjust an attribute value on export

```
add_filter( 'wpfactory_wc_peie_pro_export_products_product_attribute', function ( $product_attribute, $taxonomy ) {
    // Uppercase size values in the exported file.
    if ( 'pa_size' === $taxonomy ) {
        return strtoupper( $product_attribute );
    }
    return $product_attribute;
}, 10, 2 );
```

### Scheduled event actions

When you enable a scheduled import or export, the plugin registers WP-Cron events and hooks its own handlers to these action names. You can attach your own callback to run alongside a scheduled run, or unschedule an event.

| Action | Fires when |
| --- | --- |
| `wpeiePro_updateWithCron` | A scheduled product import runs. |
| `wpeiePro_exportWithCron` | A scheduled product export runs. |

### Example: run your own code after a scheduled import

```
add_action( 'wpeiePro_updateWithCron', function () {
    // Clear a cache or ping an external system after the scheduled import.
    if ( function_exists( 'wc_delete_product_transients' ) ) {
        wc_delete_product_transients();
    }
}, 20 );
```

### Need help?

If you are extending [WooCommerce Products Import & Export with Excel](https://wpfactory.com/item/woocommerce-products-import-export-with-excel/) and a hook does not behave as expected, contact [WPFactory](https://wpfactory.com/) support with the hook name and a short code sample, and we will help you find the right extension point.

Related articles

- [Product Import and Export Settings Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-import-export-settings-reference/)
- [How to Export WooCommerce Products to Excel with Filters](https://wpfactory.com/docs/export-woocommerce-products-to-excel/)
- [How to Import Affiliate and External Products with Excel](https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-affiliate-external-products-with-excel/)
- [How to Bulk Import WooCommerce Product Translations with Excel for WPML](https://wpfactory.com/docs/how-to-bulk-import-woocommerce-product-translations-with-excel-for-wpml/)
- [How to Import a Variable Product in WooCommerce from One Excel Row](https://wpfactory.com/docs/how-to-import-variable-product-in-woocommerce-with-1-excel-row/)