Issue
A product failed to sync from the integration to Shopify during the outbound sync process.
After investigation, the cause was identified as an invalid character within the image file name attached to the product.
Problem File Name
RVL-701-W-WW_and_CW Terra 380 Surface Mount LED Interior Light – White.png
The file name contains the character: –
This is an en dash (–) and not a standard hyphen (-).
Cause
Some integrations and systems only support standard alphanumeric characters and common symbols within file names. Special Unicode characters, such as an en dash (–), may prevent image processing or file transfer during the Shopify outbound sync.
Although the character appears visually similar to a hyphen, it is a different Unicode character and can cause compatibility issues when files are transmitted between systems.
Character Comparison
Character |
Name |
- |
Hyphen |
– |
En Dash |
Resolution
Rename the image file and replace the en dash (–) with either:
- A standard hyphen (-), or
- A space
Working File Name
RVL-701-W-WW_and_CW Terra 380 Surface Mount LED Interior Light White.png
After renaming the file, the product synced successfully to Shopify.
Recommendation
When naming image files intended for Shopify synchronization, use only:
- Letters (A-Z, a-z)
- Numbers (0-9)
- Standard hyphens (-)
- Underscores (_)
- Spaces (if permitted by your process)
Avoid special characters such as:
- En dash (–)
- Em dash (—)
- Smart quotes (" ")
- Apostrophes (‘ ’)
- Other non-standard Unicode symbols
