The Residual Values Import DP form is accessed by way of Miscellaneous Options / Data Import Options. The purpose of this form is to enable the raw data file, created by the preferred third party data supplier application and containing the latest residual value data for appropriate vehicle variants, to be imported into the Kestrel system.
Every time an import creates or amends the values then the CREATED date is updated with today's date. When the data is manually amended/created then the system populates the AMENDED dates (This is for both dpres and dpmnt files). In the Fleet quotations Review Residual Value table the Created Date (resid.CREATED) and Amended Date (resid.AMEND) are held in the file header.
The residual values data source is setup using the Residual Values Data Sources option (within Miscellaneous Options / Residual Values Management).
Once imported, additional residual value options forms (Residual Manipulation DP and Residual Group Management DP) are available for the manipulation of this data.
Third Party Supplier Data
Prior to a Residual Value or Maintenance Value import being carried out, the third-party data supplier system defaults must be verified to ensure that Age and Mileage Breaks replicate the tables set up in the Age/Mileage Tab within the Kestrel application (accessed via System Maintenance/System Controls). Both applications must have the same age range (e.g. 6mths, through to 60mths at six month intervals) and the same mileage band breaks (e.g. 10,000 miles through to 60,000 miles at 10,000 mile breaks). This will ensure that tables are created successfully and that data is positioned at the correct point.
Data Import Sequence
Prior to any data import routine being performed it is essential to consider the import sequence of data files, which should be as follows:
The Franchise Data file must be imported first as the vehicle variant record must exist prior to residual and maintenance value updates.
Data Preparation (DP) Company
The Data Preparation Company allows for data to be copied sideways from Live into DP and then updated by the import routine. If necessary, the updated data can then be manually edited and finally copied back to the Live company at a suitable time (this allows the normal working day to continue uninterrupted). Before the Import routine commences it is important to first to copy data from Live to the Data Preparation company.
The constituent parts of the Residual Value Imports form are as follows:
In addition to displaying the form name the Title Bar provides a number of useful buttons.
A List Box displaying the sources available for selection of residual values. Sources currently available are as follows:
- David Henley Systems
- Cap Monitor
A single-left-mouse-click highlights the required residual value source. As the required source is highlighted the corresponding directory path and filename location is displayed in the File to Importfield.
File to Import Path
Displays the default directory path and filename (defined within Residual Value Data Sources accessed via Miscellaneous Options / Residual Values Management) for the highlighted residual value source.
The ellipsis box directly to the right of this field allows a search of the server directory structure for the purposes of locating the appropriate directory containing the file to be imported should this for some reason be located elsewhere.
This form is divided into a number of areas. To the left of the form is a List Box displaying the directory structure of the host machine. The mouse is used to select and open the required directory and sub-directories. The List Box directly to the right displays the full contents of the selected directory. Once located, the file is selected and the name of the file is displayed in the File Name field. The Open command button confirms a selection and returns to the Residual Value Imports form. The Cancel command button cancels selection criteria and returns to the Residual Value Imports form.
A number of command buttons are available. The full list of command buttons is as follows:
Exits the Residual Value Imports form and returns to the Data Import Options menu.
This command button runs the data file import routine. A Confirm Input pop-up box displays the following two alternative options:
- Stop-now
Prevents the data import routine from taking place and effects a return to Residual Value Imports form.
- Continue
Selection of this option presents the Import Franchise Detail form (a series of blue boxes is displayed in the bottom-right corner of the form displaying progress of the file loading routine). This form displays two List Boxes side by side.
The List Box to the left of the form displays Franchise(s) found in import. All franchises that have been detected in the data import file are displayed in an alphabetical list; both the code and the description are displayed e.g. FO Ford. A scroll box is presented to enable the user to view the entire list of franchises. This can be operated in a number of ways using standard windows functionality ( see Navigating the form).
The List Box to the right of the form displays Existing Franchise(s). All franchises that have been loaded in previous data import files are displayed in an alphabetical list; just the description is displayed e.g. Ford. A scroll box is presented to enable the user to view the entire list of franchises (see above).
Entries in the two List Boxes can be compared in order to assist in the identification of any discrepancies in the import file before it is imported into the Kestrel application.
The Cancel command button aborts the import routine and returns to the Residual Value Imports form.
Selection of the OK command button proceeds to final stage of import confirmation. The final Confirm form displays the following message:
You have elected to import Residual
Values from the following data source:-
xxxxx(where xxxxx is the selected data import source)
Beneath this prompt is the final List Box with all franchises highlighted as selected for import. Within the List Box, selection/deselection of the required item(s) can be carried out in a number of ways using standard windows functionality (see Navigating the form). Franchises which are not required should be deselected at this point. When the final selection is complete, two command buttons are available:
- Cancel
Exits the import routine and returns to the Residual Value Imports form.
- Import
This command button is used to confirm and generate the data import routine. This process reads the import file QMV64RES.001, the key being the unique Variant Code, and performs a comparison routine against the data already contained in the DP company (FQDP RES). If the Variant Code exists then the relevant Table Number is retrieved and updated with amended values (for each age/mileage band) if necessary. If a Variant Code does not exist a new Table Number is created for the imported data.
FQDP RES is a single Residual Value file with three record types which are as follows:
- O Original Imported Values
- A Adjustment Values
- Q Quoted Values
The Import routine only updates record types with a value of O(Original imported values). A series of checks can then be performed within the DP company to ensure that the data is accurate and consistent. Data can be manually edited if required (edits are made to record types with a value of A (Adjustment Values). The original data values combined with the adjustment values go to make the record types with a value of Q Quoted Values. The Quotes Values within FQDP.RES are ultimately moved to FQ.RESID which is the file accessed by the quotation module. For a more detailed explanation of the location and manipulation of Residual Value files see the Residual Manipulation DP and Residual Group Management DP menu options.
A series of blue boxes is shown in the bottom-right corner of the form display progress of the file import routine.
The data import file may be generated locally and situated on a local PC or network drive. However, in some cases the data import files may be generated by the data supplier and placed on a bulletin board to be accessed remotely. If the data import file needs to be remotely accessed then the Upload command button is configured to dial-out and upload the file from the remote site. The correct Server IP Address, Login and Password, etc are defined in the FTP Site Tab of the Residual Value Data Sources form. The Execute command button is then used to import the data file in the normal way.
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