What Is the Blending Bull Extension?#

Blending Bull is a universal feed editor that merges any number of feeds into a single file, edits even the most complex feeds, resolves errors that other tools cannot handle, and prepares data for further processing in Mergado and other systems.

It helps marketing specialists and online store owners edit and merge data sources in various text formats (XML, CSV, JSON, TXT, TSV).

The extension operates on a low-level processing principle, meaning it works with data at the level of individual characters without interpreting their meaning (unlike Mergado Editor, which works with elements). This makes Blending Bull exceptionally fast and capable of handling even invalid or highly complex structures that other tools cannot process.

Who is it for:

  • Online stores with multiple suppliers whose system can only load a single unified feed.

  • Marketing agencies managing multiple client accounts that need to respond flexibly to specific requirements.

  • PPC and feed marketing specialists who need to prepare data for advanced tools (e.g. Mergado Editor) or marketplaces.

  • Advanced Mergado users who need to rapidly prototype, test new structures, or solve non-standard technical problems.

Pricing and billing#

The extension price is:

  • 286.00 CZK per month with monthly billing,

  • 228.80 CZK per month with annual billing.

The price applies to one online store (in Mergado) and is fixed, regardless of the volume of data processed, the number of projects, or the number of output files.

Due to technical dependencies, the extension is billed in line with the billing frequency chosen for Mergado Editor. Different billing frequencies cannot be selected for individual services.

The Blending Bull extension offers a 30-day free trial.

Can Blending Bull be used without Mergado?#

Blending Bull can be used without a paid project in Mergado. The extension loads data sources, processes data, and exports files independently — it does not require product data from Mergado. However, you do need to create a Mergado account for user authentication and billing, and an online store for managing user access. Both can be created in Mergado for free, without a paid project.

Key concepts in Blending Bull#

  • Data source — An input file that the extension downloads regularly for processing. You can add any number of input files by providing their URLs.

  • File — The data output (output feed) generated by Blending Bull from one or more data sources. It can be modified by applying rules and is available at a URL.

  • Rule — A function that enables data changes in the output feed. Rules are instructions that define how data in the file should be modified (e.g. Find and replace).

  • Feed formats — Blending Bull can process data sources in text format (XML, CSV, JSON, TXT, or TSV); binary files are not supported. Choosing a format sets the file extension, which helps target systems correctly identify the type of data being transferred.

  • Low-level processing — Data modification at the level of text characters, not logical fields (elements). This approach allows Blending Bull to ignore the meaning of data and treat it as plain text, increasing speed and versatility when dealing with unusual formats.

What you need to run Blending Bull#

  • An active Mergado Editor user account (creating an account is free).

  • A Mergado online store (you do not need an active paid project in Mergado to use Blending Bull).

  • URLs of the input data sources you want to edit or merge.

Key features#

1. Merging an unlimited number of feeds#

Blending Bull can merge any number of input files into one consistent output.

2. Text-level editing#

It allows direct modifications to the file code, such as adding missing headers, removing unwanted attributes, or fixing invalid characters.

3. Regular expression support (Regex)#

It supports regular expressions for advanced search and replace of text strings.

4. Format conversion#

It handles converting between formats, for example from XML to JSON, or aligning XML into a table-like structure similar to CSV.

5. Inserting dynamic content using system variables#

It allows you to insert content that is not static and changes with each data processing cycle. System variables are used for this purpose, written in the format %BB_VARIABLE% (names in uppercase, prefixed with BB_ and enclosed in percent signs on both sides). The following variables are available for inserting the current time:

  • %BB_DATE% — inserts the current date in YYYY-MM-DD format (e.g. 2022-05-23)

  • %BB_YEAR% — inserts the current year in YYYY format (e.g. 2022)

  • %BB_MONTH% — inserts the current month in MM format (e.g. 05)

  • %BB_DAY% — inserts the current day in DD format (e.g. 23)

6. High speed and data download frequency#

Input data is checked every 30 minutes. Output data regeneration can be set to intervals of 10, 30, or 60 minutes.

Working in Blending Bull#

Activate the extension in the Mergado Store: I want to activate → select the online store for which you want to enable the extension → Enable.

Blending Bull offers three main sections in the menu: Files, Data Sources, and History.

Files#

Here you will find an overview of all your output feeds (files). You can see their status, navigate to edit them (click a file to go to the Edit file page), regenerate them, or delete them. You can also copy the file’s URL here.

Data Sources#

Here you will find a list of all your saved data sources and their URLs. A single source (from one URL) can be used in multiple files.

Click New data source to add a new source.

History#

Here you will find processing records for individual sources and files over time.

How to create a new file#

To create a new file, go to the Files tab and click New file.

Step 1: File settings

  • Enter a File name.

  • The File address field shows the future URL of the new file. (Blending Bull generates the address.)

  • Choose the format of the new file (XML, CSV, JSON, TXT, or TSV).

  • Set the Processing interval. The default is 30 minutes; it can be changed to 10 or 60 minutes.

  • Click Continue to data sources.

Step 2: Data sources

  • To add a data source, click New file data source.

  • Enter a Name for the data source.

  • In the Data source field, enter the URL of the data source.

  • Add the new data source by clicking + Create new data source.

  • Or select from previously saved data sources that appear when you click the field.

💡 When merging multiple data sources, you can use the remove text from the beginning/end of the source function in this step — for example, to delete headers/footers of individual data sources. You will see a Preview of the beginning of the data source and a Preview of the end of the data source. In the fields below these previews (Remove text from the beginning of the data source and Remove text from the end of the data source), enter the parts you want to remove.

  • Click Save.

💡 If you want to add more data sources, repeat this process.

  • After adding a source, a table with a list of all added data sources will appear. If you are adding multiple sources, you can adjust their order as needed.

  • The table also shows the source status.

    • 🟢 Green dot — The source is returning data correctly.

    • 🔴 Red dot — An error on the source side (data cannot be downloaded).

  • After adding data sources, click Finish.

Step 3: Done

  • Blending Bull will start generating the file. Confirm by clicking Continue.

How to edit a specific file#

On the Files page, click the file you want to edit.

Within the selected file, you will see three tabs:

  • Edit file — On the left, you create and edit rules; on the right, you see a preview of the file.

  • File data sources — Here you will find a list of all data sources for the selected file.

  • File settings — Here you can edit the basic file settings (name, format, processing interval).

Working with rules#

In the Edit file tab for the selected file, you will see the list of rules on the left and the data preview on the right. Rules are applied top to bottom (as in Mergado Editor), meaning in the order they appear in the rule list. So if the first rule modifies a value, the next rule will already work with that modified value. The principle of how rules work is the same as in Mergado Editor.

Creating a rule#

  • Within the selected file, click Create new rule.

  • Enter a Name for the rule.

  • Choose the Rule type from the menu.

  • Fill in the required fields.

  • Click Save.

Rule types#

In Blending Bull, you can view help for individual rules by clicking the blue circle with a question mark icon next to each rule.

  • Insert text at the beginning of the file / Insert text at the end of the file — Ideal for adding a header and footer to feeds that are missing one (e.g. when merging multiple data sources).

  • Find and replace — The basic rule for changing text. It searches for a specified text in the input and replaces it with another specified text in the output. This rule supports regular expressions and case sensitivity.

  • Delete text — Deletes a specific piece of text.

  • Delete line containing text — Deletes the line that contains the specified text.

  • Delete line NOT containing text — Deletes all lines that do not contain the specified text.

  • Delete line breaks — Removes line breaks, turning the data file into one long line.

  • Delete lines by character count — Deletes lines that contain more or fewer characters than the specified count.

  • Delete empty lines — Deletes empty lines.

  • Delete whitespace at line beginnings — Removes all whitespace at the beginning of lines, including all types of spaces and tabs.

  • Delete all whitespace in the file — Removes all whitespace (all types of spaces and tabs) in the file.

  • Align XML to table — Reformats an XML file into a table structure similar to a CSV file.

  • Delete XML tag with content — Deletes a selected XML element including its content.

  • Keep XML tag with content — Deletes all XML elements except one selected tag.

  • Convert XML to JSON array — Converts XML format to JSON format. When configuring the rule, you map XML tags to the corresponding JSON attributes.

  • Deduplicate spaces — Replaces multiple spaces with a single space.

  • Delete characters — Deletes selected characters.

FAQ#

What is Blending Bull and what is it used for?#

Blending Bull is a universal feed editor that allows you to merge any number of data feeds into a single file and edit them at the text level. It is useful wherever other tools fail — for example, when working with invalid or non-standard formats. It is an extension within Mergado, but can also be used without a paid Mergado project.

Do I need a paid Mergado project to use Blending Bull?#

No. Blending Bull works independently without a paid Mergado project. You only need a free Mergado account and an online store, which is used for access management and billing.

What file formats does Blending Bull support?#

It processes text formats — XML, CSV, JSON, TXT, and TSV. Binary files are not supported.

How much does Blending Bull cost?#

286 CZK/month with monthly billing, 228.80 CZK/month with annual billing. The price is fixed per online store, regardless of the volume of data processed or the number of output files.

Can I try Blending Bull for free?#

Yes, the extension offers a 30-day free trial.

How does Blending Bull differ from Mergado Editor?#

Mergado Editor works with data at the element level (it understands their meaning), while Blending Bull works at the level of individual characters — it treats data as plain text. This makes it faster and capable of handling corrupted or unusual structures that Mergado Editor cannot process.

How many data sources can I merge into one file?#

Unlimited. Blending Bull can merge any number of input files into one output feed.

How often is the data updated?#

Input data is checked every 30 minutes. Output file regeneration can be set to intervals of 10, 30, or 60 minutes.

What are system variables and how do I use them?#

System variables allow you to insert dynamic content into the output file that changes with each processing cycle — for example, the current date or year. They are written in the format %BB_VARIABLE%, for example %BB_DATE% for the current date.

Can I convert formats in Blending Bull, for example XML to JSON?#

Yes, using the Convert XML to JSON array rule you can convert XML format to JSON. When configuring the rule, you map XML tags to the corresponding JSON attributes.

How do I know if a data source is downloading correctly?#

In the data sources overview, a problematic source will display a red dot indicating an error on the source side. A green dot means the source is working correctly.

Can I use one data source in multiple output files?#

Yes. Saved data sources are available across all your files, and a single source can be assigned to any number of output files.

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