Tutorial: Creating Your First Items in Arda

Last updated: January 26, 2026

Learn how to add external items to your Arda Instance using four different methods: manual data entry, Amazon URL import, Amazon search, and scanning a UPC. This tutorial will guide you step-by-step so you can quickly populate your items table.

Prerequisites

  • Access to your Arda.cards workspace

  • Navigation to the Items Table

  • External item details such as name, source link, UPC, or search keywords

  • A scanner for UPC method (optional)

Steps

1. Adding an External Item Using Manual Data Entry

  1. From your Items Table, click External Items.

    Figure 1.1.jpeg


    Figure 1.1 – Navigating to External Items from the Items Table

  2. Tip: Switch to Fewer Options view for a simpler layout.

    Figure 1.2.jpeg


    Figure 1.2 – Switching to Fewer Options view

  3. In the Name field, type the item name (e.g., Box Knives).

  4. Fill in item details — purchase source, quantity, and other relevant fields.

  5. If you have an image URL, paste it into the Image URL field.

  6. Choose Create (Create & Add Another or Create & Print) when complete.

    Figure 1.3.jpeg


    Figure 1.3 – Finalizing creation of a manually entered item

2. Adding an External Item by Scanning a UPC

  1. In the External Items view, click into the UPC field.

  2. Scan the item’s UPC barcode using your scanner.

    Figure 1.4.jpeg


    Figure 1.4 – Scanning a UPC into the External Items view

  3. The system will automatically populate the UPC field and retrieve the product details.

  4. Review the details and click Create to finalize.

3. Adding an External Item Using an Amazon URL

  1. In the External Items view, locate the Amazon Link field.

  2. In Amazon, find the product you want to add (e.g., Box Knife Blades).

  3. Copy the product URL from your browser.

  4. Paste the URL into the Amazon Link field.

    Figure 1.5.jpeg


    Figure 1.5 – Pasting an Amazon product link into the Amazon Link field

  5. Click Import — Arda.cards will pull in product data automatically.

  6. Shorten the product name if needed (e.g., change long SEO title to Dried Apricots).

  7. Assign a Location (e.g., Office), then click Create.

4. Adding an External Item Using Amazon Search

  1. In the External Items view, locate the Amazon Search field.

  2. Enter a keyword for the item you want (e.g., Box Knife Blades).

  3. Wait for results to appear, sorted by price per ounce.

  4. Select the item you want and click Add.

    Figure 1.6.jpeg


    Figure 1.6 – Selecting an item from Amazon search results

  5. The new item is now added to your table.

Summary

You’ve learned how to add external items in Arda using:

  • Manual data entry

  • Scanning a UPC

  • Importing via Amazon URL

  • Searching Amazon from within Arda

By using the method that best fits your situation, you can keep your inventory up-to-date efficiently. If you'd like to bulk import items. See the tutorial Bulk Importing and Updating Items.