Flat File Import (ICU450)

How To

Use this program to import flat files and update the EPU pending file based on the criteria specified during the import and file maintenances.

The import function provides the ability to remove a previously used flat file before processing the current file. Any record that contains an error during the import will be flagged in the pending file with an exception code.

During the initial setup, it may be necessary to run the import program a number of times, reviewing the pending file each time and adjusting the file maintenances as needed until the import program can successfully translate the data in the flat file.

To access this program, choose Inventory Control-->Electronic Price Update-->Flat File Import.

Use the following fields to import a flat file:

1. Service Code

Enter the pricing service code from Service Code F/M. For vendor direct data, enter the AP Vendor number. Press F2 to search.

2. Load Command

Press Enter (CR) to default to the load command entered for this service provider in Service Code F/M.

3. File Name

Press Enter (CR) to default to the flat file name entered for this provider in Service Code F/M. If the file already exists on the system, a message will display "File already exists. Download a new flat file?" Answer No to update the existing file on the system. Answer Yes to overwrite the existing file on the system.

4. Beginning Vendor

Enter the beginning vendor number to process.

• A file from a pricing service normally contains data for several vendors. To load a specific vendor’s information from that file, enter the vendor number to process. All data that does not match this vendor will be skipped. To process all data in the file, regardless of vendor, press Enter (CR) for FIRST.
  
• A file from a specific vendor normally contains that vendor’s data. Enter the vendor’s number or press Enter (CR) for FIRST.
  
• If you are importing data from a CD catalog (and this service code uses ICU452 as its update program), press Enter (CR) to default to ALL. (The system cannot select a range of vendors when its importing data from CD-ROM catalogs.) You can also enter a specific vendor number.
  

5. Ending Vendor

Enter the ending vendor number to process. Press Enter (CR) to default to LAST, unless you are importing data from CD catalog. In that case, this field defaults ALL if ALL was selected in the previous prompt. If you selected a specific vendor, press Enter (CR) to default to that vendor number.

6. Initialize

Initialize the Pending file before updating? Enter Yes to clear the pending file before processing the new data from this flat file. Enter No to leave any unprocessed records in the pending file before processing the new data from this flat file. Note: Records remain in the pending file until they are manually removed through Pending File Maintenance or updated through Pending File Update.

7. Number Of Records

Specify the number of records to import from the flat file. In the testing and setup phases of EPU, this function could be used to check the EPU Service Code record against the layout of the flat file record sent by the provider without having to import the entire flat file. Press Enter (CR) to default to ALL.

--> If you wish to continue and import the file, type YES in the selection prompt in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

--> If you are importing information from a CD Catalog, and you entered ICU452 as the update program in Service Code F/M, FACTS opens the Flat File Preprocessor Program.

This program tells FACTS what to do with the CD Catalog information. If you need to create and import a file, select B from the pick list. If you just want to create a flat file and import it later, select C. If a flat file already exists, select I to import it.

See Also

How to import a flat file