Skills-for-architects sif-to-csv

Convert a SIF (Standard Interchange Format) file to a clean, readable CSV or Google Sheet.

install

source · Clone the upstream repo

git clone https://github.com/AlpacaLabsLLC/skills-for-architects

Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/

T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/AlpacaLabsLLC/skills-for-architects "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/plugins/06-materials-research/skills/sif-to-csv" ~/.claude/skills/alpacalabsllc-skills-for-architects-sif-to-csv && rm -rf "$T"

manifest: plugins/06-materials-research/skills/sif-to-csv/SKILL.md

source content

/sif-to-csv — SIF to CSV Converter

Converts a SIF (Standard Interchange Format) file from a dealer or procurement system into a clean, human-readable CSV or Google Sheet. Translates field codes to column headers, expands options and attributes, calculates pricing, and computes totals.

When to Use

Received a SIF file from a dealer and need to review it as a spreadsheet
Importing dealer pricing back into your FF&E schedule
Comparing a dealer quote (SIF) against your original specification
Loading dealer data into the master Google Sheet

SIF Format Reference

SIF is a text-based key-value format. Each line is

CODE=VALUE

, terminated by CRLF. Products are separated by records starting with

PN=

Core fields

Code	Name	Description
`SF`	Specification File	Project reference (header)
`ST`	Specification Title	Display title (header)
`PN`	Product Number	SKU — starts a new record
`PD`	Product Description	Product name
`MC`	Manufacturer Code	3-5 char code
`MN`	Manufacturer Name	Full name
`QT`	Quantity	Integer
`NT`	Quantity (alt)	Some systems use NT instead of QT
`GC`	Category / Group Code	Product category
`G0`	Vendor / Group ID	Vendor identifier

Pricing fields

Code	Name	Description
`PL`	List Price	Unit list price
`P1` - `P5`	Price Tiers	Alternate price tiers
`I1`	Unit List Price (Cyncly)	Cyncly Worksheet
`I2`	Purchase Price (Cyncly)	Cyncly Worksheet
`S-` / `S%`	Sell Discount %	Sell = PL - (PL × S- × 0.01)
`P%` / `B%`	Purchase/Buy %	Cost = PL × (P% × 0.01)

Product detail fields

Code	Name	Description
`TG`	Side Mark / Tag	Room, area, or project tag
`ON` / `OD`	Option	Number + description pair
`AN` / `AD`	Attribute	Number + description pair
`WT`	Weight	Product weight
`VO`	Volume	Product volume
`PRC`	Product Category (Cyncly)	Cyncly category

Link fields

Code	Name	Description
`ProductURL`	Product Page URL	Link to product page
`ImageURL`	Product Image URL	Link to product image
`PV`	Picture Path	Local file path

Alternate manufacturer codes

System	Code	Purpose
Standard	`MC`	3-5 char manufacturer code
Cyncly	`MG`	Manufacturer code (replaces MC)
CET	`EC`	Manufacturer code (alt)

Step 1: Accept Input

SIF file:

/sif-to-csv ~/Documents/project/dealer-quote.sif

Pasted SIF content:

/sif-to-csv
SF=Project Alpha
ST=Dealer Quote - March 2026
PN=670
PD=Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman
MC=HMI
QT=3
PL=5695.00
S-=42
TG=Executive Lounge
OD=Santos Palisander / Black MCL Leather

Step 2: Parse SIF

Read the file and parse each record:

Header fields: Extract
```
SF
```
and
```
ST
```
Records: Split on
```
PN=
```
boundaries
For each record, extract all fields
Detect manufacturer code variant: look for MC, MG, or EC — normalize to brand name
Detect price variant: look for PL, P1, I1 — use whichever is present
Detect quantity variant: look for QT or NT
Calculate derived values:
- Sell Price:
```
PL - (PL × S- × 0.01)
```
  if discount present
- Net Price:
```
PL × (P% × 0.01)
```
  if purchase % present
- Extended List:
```
PL × QT
```
- Extended Sell:
```
Sell Price × QT
```

Manufacturer code expansion

MC	Brand	MC	Brand
HMI	Herman Miller	BLU	Blu Dot
MKN	MillerKnoll	DWR	Design Within Reach
KNL	Knoll	FRH	Fritz Hansen
STC	Steelcase	VIT	Vitra
HAW	Haworth	ARP	Arper
TEK	Teknion	FLS	Flos
HUM	Humanscale	LPO	Louis Poulsen
KIM	Kimball	ART	Artemide
OFS	OFS	HBF	HBF
GEI	Geiger	BRN	Bernhardt

For unknown codes, keep as-is and flag.

Options and attributes

Multiple
```
ON
```
/
```
OD
```
pairs → concatenate into "Options" column, separated by
```
|
```
Multiple
```
AN
```
/
```
AD
```
pairs → concatenate into "Attributes" column, separated by
```
|
```
If
```
AN=DIM
```
, parse dimension string back into W/D/H if possible

Step 3: Present Preview

## SIF Import: Project Alpha — Dealer Quote March 2026

3 records parsed from dealer-quote.sif

| # | SKU | Product | Brand | Qty | List $ | Disc % | Sell $ | Ext Sell | Options | Tag |
|---|-----|---------|-------|-----|--------|--------|--------|----------|---------|-----|
| 1 | 670 | Eames Lounge Chair | Herman Miller | 3 | $5,695 | 42% | $3,303 | $9,909 | Palisander/Black | Exec Lounge |
| 2 | 164-500 | Saarinen Table 54" | Knoll | 1 | $4,750 | 38% | $2,945 | $2,945 | Arabescato/White | Dining |
| 3 | 462-CG | Gesture Chair | Steelcase | 8 | $1,189 | 45% | $654 | $5,232 | Cogent/Licorice | Open Office |

**Totals:**
- List: $22,147 · Sell: $18,086 · Savings: $4,061 (18.3%)

Step 4: Output

Ask the user for output format:

CSV file

Save as

{input-name}-parsed.csv

Item #, SKU, Product, Brand, Qty, List Price, Discount %, Sell Price, Ext List, Ext Sell, Category, Weight, Options, Attributes, Tag, Product URL, Image URL, MC Code

Google Sheet (master schema)

Write to the 33-column schema (defined in

../../schema/product-schema.md

, CRUD patterns in

../../schema/sheet-conventions.md

): See

../../schema/sif-crosswalk.md

for the full column-to-SIF mapping. Key fields:

Column J (Link) ← ProductURL
Column E (Product Name) ← PD
Column I (SKU) ← PN
Column B (Brand) ← MC expanded
Column A (Category) ← GC or PRC
Column L-P (Dims) ← parsed from AD where AN=DIM
Column Q (Weight) ← WT
Column U (List Price) ← PL/P1/I1
Column V (Sale Price) ← calculated sell price
Column T (Selected Finish) ← OD
Column AC (Image URL) ← ImageURL
Column AD (Tags) ← TG
Column AE (Notes) ← "From SIF: {ST}. Discount: {S-}%. Qty: {QT} · Ext: ${ext_sell}"
Column AF (Status) ← "quoted"
Column AG (Source) ← "sif-to-csv"

Markdown

Output the table in conversation.

Step 5: Summary

✓ Parsed dealer-quote.sif
  Specification: Project Alpha — Dealer Quote March 2026
  3 records · 12 units
  Total list: $22,147 · Total sell: $18,086 (18.3% avg discount)
  Manufacturers: HMI (1), KNL (1), STC (1)
  Saved to: ~/Documents/project/dealer-quote-parsed.csv

Pairs With

```
/csv-to-sif
```
— round-trip: create SIF, send to dealer, parse their quote back
```
/product-data-cleanup
```
— normalize the parsed data
```
/product-data-import
```
— reformulate dealer data into a formatted schedule
```
/product-enrich
```
— add categories and tags to imported products