Use these fields to create and maintain download instructions for each pricing service or vendor that provides electronic pricing updates.
*1. Service Code
Specify the pricing service code or vendor number that was previously set up in AP Vendor F/M. Press Enter to default to the next service code on file. To perform a search, press F2-Search and select Service code file or the Vendor file.
2. Download Command
Specify the full path to the download script/batch file for this service code. The download command is used to move the flat file from the media to the hard-drive. The command entered here will be the default command displayed during Flat File Import.
3. Filename
Specify the full path including the filename that will be used to store the data prior to being processed. This filename will be the default filename displayed during the Flat File Import.
4. Update Program
Specify the program name FACTS should use to translate the data from this provider’s flat file to the pending file. Press Enter to default to the Pending File Update program (ICU451).
If you are importing your data from a CD Catalog and a flat file needs to be created, specify program ICU452 to use the Flat File Preprocessor Program.
If a flat file already exists but the data requires manipulation prior to being translated to the pending file, specify the pre-processor ICU455. For example, if the file format is tab delimited, the pre-processor can be used to correct the format of these fields so that the data can correctly translate. If you have attempted to translate a flat file, and the data in the pending file is unrecognizable, import the flat file again but specify ICU455 as the update program.
Database Id
This prompt appears if ICU452 is entered in the Update Program prompt. Specify a Database ID that has been created in the CD Catalog Control F/M. F2 allows a search of IDs that exist in the system.
Record parameters tell the system the structure of the data that is contained within the flat file. The pricing service or vendor should provide the file format.
1. # Records to Skip
Enter the number of records to skip at start of file (number of header records to ignore). Press Enter to default to 0.
2. Use Record Type ID
Enter Y or N to indicate whether to use a record type identifier. Records with this record type will be selected from the flat file. When using Vendor Direct Data, this option is normally set to No. Press Enter to default to Y.
3. Record ID Position
This parameter is accessible only if a record type id will be used. Specify the position of the record identifier.
4. Record Type ID
This parameter is accessible only if a record type id will be used. Specify the record identifier value. Press Enter to default to blanks.
5. Media Records/Item
Enter the number of records each item occupies within the flat file. Press Enter to default to 1.
6. Record Format
Enter the record format: Fixed length or Variable length. Press Enter to default to F.
7. Record Length
This parameter is accessible only if the record format is Fixed length. Specify the record length in bytes.
8. Record Terminator
This parameter is accessible only if the record format is Variable. Specify the record terminator value(s) in hex: Carriage Return, Line Feed, or Press F1to display a window to add an ASCII character.
9. Field Format
Enter the field format: Fixed length or Variable length. Press Enter to default to F.
10. Field Delimiter
This parameter is accessible only if the field format is Variable. Specify the field delimiter value(s) in hex. Press F1 to display a window to add an ASCII character.
6. Action Field
Specify the action field parameters. Vendor Direct Data, typically, does not contain a action field.
7. Action Codes
Action codes tell the system the type of change contained in each flat file record. For example, the record could contain the action code N to indicate it is a new item, or a +/- to indicate a price increase or decrease. The documentation provided by the pricing service or vendor will indicate the specific codes to expect in the flat file. The codes that the service provider uses are mapped to the following categories of changes. When setting up these action codes, each category that is not used may be left blank indicating "not applicable". For each category that is used, enter the specific code from the service provider or enter "ALL" to indicate all records will be of that particular category.
Vendor Direct Data will not contain an action code. This field is CRITICAL for proper updating when writing to the FACTS IC files from the pending file. "ALL" must be placed in the value field corresponding to the desired action parameter. All records imported from the flat file will have the action parameter chosen in the pending file record.
1. New Item from Mfg - N
Enter the action code for the new item from the manufacturer.
2. New Request by User - R
Enter the action code for a new request.
3. Miscellaneous Change - X
Enter the action code for a miscellaneous change.
4. Price Increase - +
Specify the action code for a price increase.
5. Price Decrease - -
Specify the action code for a price decrease.
6. Price Change (+/-) - P
Enter the action code for a price change.
7. Discontinued by Mfg - D
Enter the action code for an item discontinued by the manufacturer..
8. New Service Item # - C
Enter the action code for a new service item number.
9. Item Deleted by Mfg - Q
Enter the action code for an item deleted by the manufacturer.
10. Item Skipped by Mfg - U
Enter the action code for an item skipped by the manufacturer.
11. MSDS Information - M
Enter the action code for an item skipped by the manufacturer.
12. To Be Discontinued - T
Enter the action code for an item skipped by the manufacturer.
13. Factor Info Changed - F
Enter the action code for an item skipped by the manufacturer.
The following prompts require field parameters. Field parameters tell the system the structure of the data that is coming from the pricing service.
Record Number - Specify the record number for this field. If the field is not in the flat file, enter 0 to skip.
Start Pos/Field# - Specify the starting position for each field or enter the field number.
Field Length - Specify the length of this field.
Assumed Decimal - Specify the assumed decimal position. This parameter is not applied to most fields.
Number of Skips - Specify the number of characters to skip from the last field to this field. For example, if a field contains three pieces of data separated by spaces, the first two spaces must be skipped to find the third piece of data.
Skip Character - Specify the character to signify a skip. If defining the first piece of data in the field, choose F1-No first skip. For example, if a field contains three pieces of data separated by spaces, the skip character is the space.
Skip Stop Character - Specify the character that marks the end of the field. For example, if a field contains three pieces of data separated by spaces, and the last piece of data is being defined, the skip stop character is the space for the first two pieces of data. Choose F1-Skip to end for the third piece of data.
8. Vendor Field
Specify the vendor field parameters. This field is skipped since Vendor Direct Data, typically, does not contain a vendor number. If skipped, the Flat File Import program will expect to find the vendor number from the UPC Manufacturing number from the Service Code F/M record.
9. Primary Item
Specify the item field parameters from the flat file layout.
10. Secondary Item
Specify the item field parameters from the flat file layout.
11. 2nd Item Handling
When the primary item is present, handle the secondary item by: Ignore secondary item, Use secondary item as primary, or Create item interchange.
12. Model Number
Specify the field parameters from the flat file layout.
13. New Item #
Specify the new item number field parameters. Vendor Direct Data, typically, does not contain this field.
14. Interchange #
Specify the interchange item parameters. Vendor Direct Data, typically, does not contain this field.
15. Catalog
Specify the catalog field parameters. Vendor Direct Data, typically, does not contain this field.
16. Standard Pack
Specify the standard pack field parameters from the file layout or skip this prompt.
17. Commodity Code
Specify the commodity code (or class) field parameters. Vendor Direct Data, typically, does not contain a commodity code. Be sure that "ALL" has been defined in the Commodity Code/Item Class F/M.
18. Description
Specify the field parameters from the flat file layout.
*. Service Code
Access to this field may be limited.
2. Weight Field
Specify the weight field parameters from the file layout or skip this prompt.
3. UM Field
Specify the unit of measure field parameters from the file layout or skip this prompt.
4. Zero Price
Indicate how the system is to handle zero prices. Select Repeat first valid price or Skip change for zero price. When using Vendor Direct Data, set this option to Skip. Press Enter to default to S.
5. Zero Quantity
Indicate how the system is to handle zero prices. Select Repeat first valid quantity, treat as Zero, price Level only, no quantity breaks, or Skip change for zero quantity. When using Vendor Direct Data, set this option to Skip. Press Enter to default to S.
6. List Price
Specify the list price field parameters from the file layout or skip this prompt.
7. Manual Cost
Specify the manual cost field parameters from the file layout or skip this prompt.
8. Standard Price
Specify the standard price field parameters from the file layout or skip this prompt.
9-14. Price Levels and Qty Breaks
Price levels may be created by mapping each level to the basis (List Price, Std. Price or Manual Cost) field provided by the vendor. The Flat File Import program use the multipliers in the Vendor Defaults F/M and write the calculated price levels to the pending file.