Previewing and Importing Data in the PDW Catalog

Use the PDW Data Import Utility to preview import data from your external sources and create or update records in the Product Data Warehouse (PDW) Catalog.

Run the utility twice, as follows:

To preview and import data into the PDW Catalog from Solar:

  1. From the Tools > Product Data Warehouse (PDW)>PDW Data Imports menu, select PDW File Upload Import Utility to display the PDW Data Import Utility screen.

  2. In the Import Map ID field, select the map ID you want to import.

The system populates the Primary Key, Primary Key Matching Catalog Item, Secondary Key, and Secondary Key Matching Catalog Item fields based on the PDW Import Maintenance settings.

Note: If you do not correctly enter a matching metadata item and enter Y in the Allow New Item Creation field, the system uses this imported data to create a new item in the PDW Catalog.

  1. In the Update Type field, select one of the following:

Note: We recommend always previewing your data before updating the PDW Catalog.

  1. Use the Allow New Item Creation check box to create a new item in the PDW Catalog if the system does not find an existing matching product. Leave it deselected to discard the import data.

  2. If you are running a preview, in the Number of Bytes to Preview field, enter the number of bytes that will process at least 10 records.

  3. If you are importing from vendor diskettes, in the Number of Update Disks, enter the number of disks.

  4. To review the import map, from the File menu, select View Import Map to display the Import Map Maintenance for the selected map.

  5. From the File menu, select Import.

  6. The Windows File Explorer window displays. Navigate to and select the file you want to import and click Open.

  1. If you run the utility in Update mode, the system updates the Product file. The system does not produce a report.

  1. From the Tools > Product Data Warehouse (PDW)>PDW Data Imports menu, select PDW File Upload Import Utility to display the PDW Data Import Utility screen.

  1. In the Import Map ID field, enter the map ID you want to import.

The system populates the Key to Import field with the Layout Key you assigned when you created the map.

Note: If you do not correctly enter a matching metadata item and enter Y in the Allow New Item Creation field, the system uses this imported data to create a new item in the PDW Catalog.

The system populates the Matching Catalog Item, Secondary Key to Import, and Matching Catalog Item fields based on the PDW Import Maintenance settings.

  1. In the Effective Date field, enter the date you want this data to be stamped as effective in the PDW Catalog. This field is required.

For example, if you are importing new pricing information on 12/01/01, but the data is not effective until the new year, enter 01/01/02 as the Effective Date to mark the information as inapplicable until the correct date.

Use the Use Most Current Eff Date if Eff Date Data Identifier Is Blankcontrol maintenance record  if you want to use the most current PDW price effective date if the Date Data Identifier field is left blank.

  1. Set the Use Data Identifier to Yes if you want to use the setup from the PDW Import Maintenance settings.

  1. In the Update Type field, press F10 and select one of the following:

Note: Always preview your data before updating the PDW Catalog.

  1. If you are running a preview, in the Number of Bytes to Preview field, enter the number of bytes that will process at least 10 records.

  2. If you are importing from vendor diskettes, in the Number of Update Disks, enter the number of disks.

  3. In the Allow New Item Creation field, enter Y to create a new item in the PDW Catalog if the system does not find an existing matching product. Enter N to discard the import data.

  4. Use the following hot keys, as needed:

Hot Key

Function

View Import Map

Displays the import map layout.

Filter

Displays the Filter Builder screen, where you can build a filter for selecting the metadata items to update.

Use a filter when you use a catalog number that might not be unique to only the vendor providing the data.

  1. Use one of the following hot keys to run the import:

Hot Key

Function

Import From DOS

Imports data from DOS files. At the prompt, enter the DOS pathname to import the file.

  • To import one file within the directory, enter the entire pathname including the file name.

For example, enter c:/directory/filename.filetype.

  • To import all files within the directory, such as when a vendor provides each line in a separate .txt file, enter an asterisk (*) in place of the individual file name.

For example, enter c:/directory/*.

This pathname instructs the system to import every file in the directory.

Note: When you import data from a DOS file, you cannot use your application until the system has completed loading the data.

Import From UNIX

Imports data from UNIX files, such as product data from your FTP file. At the prompt, enter the UNIX pathname to run the import.

  • To import one file within the directory, enter the entire pathname including the file name.

For example, enter /u2/pdw/elec/trade.dat.

  • To import all files within the directory, such as when a vendor provides each line in a separate .txt file, enter an asterisk (*) in place of the individual file name.

For example, enter /u2/pdw/elec/*.

This pathname instructs the system to import every file in the directory.

  1. Press Esc to run the utility and exit the screen.

  1. If you run the utility in Preview mode, the system generates the Preview Report and places it in your Hold file.

  2. If you run the utility in Update mode, the system updates the Product file. The system does not produce a report.

See Also:

Filtering Data for PDW

Importing I2 Data into PDW

Viewing the PDW Preview Report

PDW Importing Overview

Tasks Not Available in Solar