Overview

Amazon flags Error 99056 whenever a value in a flat‑file or API feed exceeds the character limit set for that attribute. The error appears during the feed validation stage, causing the offending field to be ignored while the rest of the file may still be processed. Sellers need to understand the rule, locate the offending attribute, and correct the length to keep listings live and complete.

Key Points

• Attribute‑specific limits — Every catalog field, from product title to backend search terms, has a maximum character count defined by Amazon; exceeding any limit triggers Error 99056.
• Partial acceptance — When the error occurs, Amazon discards only the over‑length value; all other correctly sized fields continue to load.
• Clear error reporting — The response payload names the exact attribute and states the allowed character maximum, making it easy to pinpoint the problem.
• Universal enforcement — Whether you upload via flat files, the Listing Loader, or a Marketplace Web Service (MWS) API, the same length constraints apply.
• Common culprits — Titles, bullet points, product descriptions, and search term fields are the attributes most frequently over the limit.

How Error 99056 Works

1. Feed submission — You upload a CSV or XML feed containing product attributes. For example, a notebook listing includes a 210‑character title, three 250‑character bullet points, and a 300‑character search term field.
2. Attribute validation — Amazon’s ingestion engine checks each cell against the catalog schema. The 210‑character title exceeds the 200‑character ceiling, so the system flags it.
3. Error generation — The engine returns a response line such as “Error 99056 – Title exceeds 200 characters.” The message also lists the attribute name and the permitted limit.
4. Selective processing — Amazon skips the over‑length title but continues to ingest the remaining valid fields—bullet points, price, SKU, etc. The product may go live with a truncated or missing title.