How to match a vendor file by part number only in Sync?
TB Sync · vendors · Last updated October 13, 2026 · Version 1
This process works in apps: TB Sync
This article will teach you how to VLOOKUP a part-number, quantity, and cost file against your catalog without mapping brand or size.
Some wheel distributors send only part number, quantity, and cost. Sync can look those part numbers up in the catalog you already imported (then the Tire Base catalog) and copy brand, size, and specs from the match. Matching uses a normalized part number: uppercase, with spaces and special characters removed, so ABC-123 and ABC123 are treated as the same item. Rows with no catalog match are skipped and are not written to Sync inventory — you then add specs for the misses and re-process the file. This option is off by default. Tire Base is not responsible for incorrect mapping or catalog inconsistencies when it is enabled.
Steps
- Import or confirm your wheel catalog in Sync so brand, size, and specs already exist on each product.
- Open the vendor in Sync → Vendors and go to Field Mapping. Under Preview & Header Selection, click the row that contains the column names. That row is marked HEADERS and fills the dropdowns. If a dropdown shows a part number or a price, click the header row.
- Map Part Number, Quantity, and Cost, and set Product Type to Wheel (or Tire / Part). Brand and size are not required in this mode.
- Choose Match by part number only, read the warning, and check the box that Tire Base is not responsible for incorrect mapping or catalog inconsistencies.
- Save and process the file. On the Files tab, open MATCHED to see hits and SKIPPED to see part numbers with no catalog match.
- For skipped rows, add the missing products (with specs) to your catalog, then re-process the vendor file.
Conclusion & best practices
Use this only when the file has no brand or size to map and you accept that a shared part number can attach the wrong product. Skipped rows never appear in Sync until a catalog match exists. Prefer full column mapping whenever the distributor sends brand and size.