Fix Invalid format for sub-attributes [product detail]

As of July 24, 2024, the Google and Youtube app has had issues submitting product detail attributes.You might of noticed an error in Google merchant center showing Invalid format for sub-attribute [product detail]

Invalid format for sub-attribute [product detail]

There are two ways to resolve the issue.

Option 1

Using feed rules to clear the attribute, the downside is that you will not know when Google fixes the issue, and you will lower the product ranking by not submitting any values, so option 2 is more suitable.
However, let’s show what to do with option 1.

Go to Google Merchant Center > Cog Icon > Data Sources > Click on your feed

Now Select Your attribute rules (if you don’t see this, go to the cog icon > add ons > enable Advanced data source management)

Click on Add attribute rule and begin typing detail

Now select Product Detail

Google Merchant Center Attribute Rule Product Detail

Cancel the edit source and select add modification

Click on Save, and save as draft.

Google Merchant Center Clear Product Detail

Now click on apply changes and within 30 minutes your issues are gone.

Google Merchant Center Apply Changes

Option 2

This is a better option, as we will be adding our own product details. Adding product details allows you to submit more information to Google, resulting in better performance and, ultimately, more sales.

Go to data sources > supplemental feeds (if you don’t see supplemental feeds add this feature first by going to the cog icon > add ons > enable Advanced data source management)

And click on Add supplemental product data

Click on Use a Google Sheets template than click on use template.

Delete all the columns except for ID and Product Detail

You can now add your product id’s and product details.

You can also get the full list of product ids using the following steps:

  1. Go to Google Merchant Center
  2. Products
  3. All Products
  4. Click on the download icon

  1. Open the zip file
  2. Change the .tsv file to .csv
Change File Format From TSV to CSV

  1. Open the file using your favorite spreadsheet editor and copy the ID column and paste it in your Google Sheet template.
  2. You can now add the product details on all products, you can temporarily apply the same product detail to all products, if it’s applicable.

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