---
title: Metafield definition capabilities and access columns
date: 2026-08-18
description: Metafield definition imports and exports now include capability and access columns, and updates no longer turn off smart collection conditions.
tags: ["Metafield Definitions","Imports","Exports"]
categories: ["Changelog"]
url: https://www.getaltera.com/changelog/2026-08-18-metafield-definition-capabilities-and-access/
---


Metafield definitions carry more than a name and a type. This release adds columns for the capabilities and API access settings you see in the Shopify admin, and fixes an update bug that quietly turned off smart collection conditions.

### What's New

- **Capability columns** - exports and imports include Capability: Smart Collection Condition, Admin Filterable, Unique Values, Analytics Queryable, and Cart To Order Copyable as TRUE/FALSE ([see field reference](https://support.getaltera.com/en/articles/11490228-metafield-definition-fields#general-capability-smart-collection-condition)).
- **Access columns** - exports and imports include Access: Admin, Access: Storefront, and Access: Customer Account using Shopify's own values ([see field reference](https://support.getaltera.com/en/articles/11490228-metafield-definition-fields#general-access-admin)).
- **Blank means keep** - a blank cell or a missing column never changes a capability or access setting, so partial update files stay safe.

### Fixes

- **Smart collection conditions preserved** - updating a product metafield definition, even just its description, no longer turns off its smart collection condition capability.
- **Clear warnings** - if Shopify rejects a capability or access setting, the rest of the definition still saves and the row reports why ([MDEF010](https://support.getaltera.com/en/articles/11490216-error-and-warning-codes#MDEF010), [MDEF011](https://support.getaltera.com/en/articles/11490216-error-and-warning-codes#MDEF011)).