HiFinance
5
SECTION
3.5.7U.1.4 - DEPOT PRICES MASTER-FILE ASCII INPUT
USAGE: To import a file
containing, all or a subset, of new or changed information to be posted to the
Depot Prices master-file. The input file is required to be in a very strictly
stylised format so that HiFinance can allocate data to the correct fields on
the correct Price records.
DISCUSSION: Make sure that you have a good backup of your data
and that no-one is using HiFinance during the update. HiFinance may not update
the files as you expected and the only completely safe way to correct the
mistake is to restore your data from backup.
The import file required must be called ucpricing.csv, although case is not important in Windows. This
file must reside in your data directory, eg \HF5DATA\COMP1. Also, the file must not be in use. This is
important because if you have created the file from a spreadsheet and have
saved it but not closed it, the file will still be locked by the spreadsheet
program and HiFinance will not be able to open it.
When you start, you will be asked DO YOU WISH TO DELETE THE OLD PRICE FILE FIRST. If you enter Y, HiFinance will first delete the old file. The new input will
effectively replace the old file. If you answer N, the old
file will not be deleted. The new records will add to the existing file. If a
new record matches an old record, the old record will be updated/
The input file must be in CSV format. This is a
comma-delimited file (without quotes) with one record per line.
Exporting from Excel, choosing the CVS format, will produce the correct format
automatically. Each alphanumeric field must be left justified. HiFinance will
make no attempt to remove leading spaces (for names, etc.). Numeric fields
should not have any dollar signs or commas. Do not use commas in any
alpha fields. These will be treated as a field break and HiFinance will
not import the row correctly. A blank cell will be treated as a valid entry,
thus a blank alpha cell will clear the corresponding field in the master-file
and a blank numeric cell will reset the corresponding field in the master-file
to zero. Thus if you do not wish to change a field, either delete the row,
delete the column or make sure that the cell contains the same information as the
field in the master-file currently has.
The first line of the input file must contain only
field names. These fields are mostly identical to those exported using DEPOT
PRICES ASCII EXPORT (see SECTION 3.5.7U.3.3).
In fact the easiest way to create the initial file is to export it first using
this program with the headings option turned on. This also has the advantage of
accurately exporting the current information. There are some fields available
in the Import program that are not created in the Export program. The full list
is detailed below. Note the use of the underscore character instead of spaces.
This format must be copied exactly.
Notes:
1)
The order of the columns is not important but they must not appear more
than once.
2)
FUEL CODE must appear, as it is used to link the row
to the Inventory Code as it currently exists on the Inventory master-file.
3)
Some fields are only relevant to specific installations.
4)
If you try to import the raw file form the ASCII EXPORT program,
it will not read in successfully unless you choose to export with comma
delimiters between fields and without quotes around fields (numeric and
alphanumeric). This can be set in the options part of the export program.
Normally this is not the way this function is used, the purpose of this
function being to manipulate the file in a spreadsheet program and importing
the result.
5)
Most fields are not verified on import. You must enter valid
information. For the field that are validated, invalid data will be ignored.
6)
When the program starts, it will firstly check whether the import file
exists and is accessible. Having established this, HiFinance will read the
first line of the file and check for its correctness. If no obvious errors are
found, you will be asked to confirm that you have made a backup and then you
will be asked to confirm that you wish to proceed.
HiFinance will then read import lines one at a time
confirming firstly that the CODE field corresponds to an Inventory code and then
renaming, copying or just replacing the fields and records, as defined by the
columns you have chosen. If an invalid or blank row is encountered, it will be
skipped. HiFinance will continue processing until it reaches the end of the
import program. Finally the import file will be renamed to frtprmf.old (to stop you from
accidentally rerunning the program with used data) before returning you the MAIN
MENU.
