The Price file setup option enables you to upload price data from a remote computer, convert uploaded data to the correct format and update the Autoline system. The option uploads and converts price files, and price mapping files if supplied by the manufacturer, but not supersession files. In order to use this option, you need a login of priority 8 or higher.
In exceptional cases, some franchises are supplied with raw (source) data by the Data & Software Integration (DASI) department at ADP Dealer Services UK Ltd. In these cases, the Price file setup option is normally used to convert the data after it is uploaded via ISDN. When a new release of data is made available, you are notified by DASI via E-mail. The notification contains instructions on how to update the Autoline system.
You can run the Price file setup option manually or via a Timed Operation. When you run the Price file setup option manually, you have the choice of converting mapping files (if they exist) and/or initialising the existing price file. If the option is run automatically by a Timed Operation, the price file is not initialised before the source files are converted but the price mapping file is.
Note: You must ensure that the price parameters are set up correctly before you upload data from a remote computer.
To manually upload price files and price mapping files:
WARNING: If you run the Price file setup option manually, and choose to convert mapping files or initialise the price file, all existing master price file and price mapping records are removed from the existing files before the source files are converted, and any local modifications are lost. Before you begin, ensure that the new files are in place and that you have a recent backup.
From the OPERATIONS menu, select the Parts price file menu option.
The MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU is displayed.
Select the Price file setup option.
The Update master price file form is displayed.
If you want to convert price mapping files, select the Convert mapping files check box. (This check box is only displayed if price mapping files are supplied by your manufacturer.)
If you want to initialise the master price file, select the Initialise price file check box.
Note: If you select the Initialise price file check box, a warning is displayed that all existing master price file records will be replaced and any local modifications will be lost.
Click Upload.
A Confirm input dialog displays the message:
Upload data?
Click Continue
The system logs onto the remote host computer and starts to transfer the main files into the local directory. The message Loading remote files... is displayed in the status bar, and the Progress gauge indicates how much of the task is completed. When the upload finishes, the system normally selects the Update button automatically.
You can now convert the data files uploaded to the Autoline system.
Note: If for any reason the upload fails, contact the Data & Software Integration (DASI) department.
Before you can convert price files or price mapping files, you must upload the data to the Autoline system. The method that you use to upload price data depends on the requirements of your manufacturer:
If you are supplied with raw (source) data by the Data & Software Integration (DASI) department, the data is normally uploaded via ISDN.
To manually convert price files and price mapping files:
Note: If you experience problems updating the price file, refer to the Troubleshooting topic in the first instance.
Click the Update button on the Update master price file form.
Note: If you uploaded data via the Price file setup option, the Update button is normally selected automatically by the system.
A Confirm input dialog displays the message:
Update price file
Click Continue.
The Progress gauge indicates how much of the task is completed, and the status bar displays messages to indicate which files are being converted. For example:
Converting MS.PRICE.## (where ## is normally the two-character franchise ID)
When the price file conversion finishes, a dialog box displays the message:
Update completed successfully
Click OK.
You are returned to the MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU.
You must now update the stock file with the price file changes. Do this for all stock companies used by your franchise.
This form is displayed when you select the Price file setup option from the MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU. It enables you to upload and convert a new release of price data from a remote computer.
Group box:
This group box contains information about the price conversion. The group box heading indicates whether a previous price conversion has been attempted and, if so, the outcome. For example:
If no previous attempt has been made to update the price file, the message No previous price conversion recorded is displayed.
If the last attempt to update the price file was successful, the message Ended successfully on [date] at [time] by [user ID] is displayed.
If the update failed or was cancelled after the data files were uploaded, a message similar to the following is displayed: (Failed) CANCELLED on [date] at [time] by [user ID].
Depending on the requirements of your manufacturer, other messages may be displayed to indicate, for example, whether a full or partial price file update was performed, and the revision number of the update.
Progress: Indicates the progress of the update.
Initialise price file: Depending on your system setup, this check box might be selected by default and not editable. If it is editable, select it if you want to initialise the existing price file before the source data is converted. You can initialise the price file only when you manually run the Price file setup program. When the program is run automatically by a Timed Operation, the existing price file is not initialised before the source files are converted.
Warning: If the Initialise price file check box is selected, all existing master price file records will be replaced and any local modifications will be lost.
Convert mapping files: This option is only displayed if a price mapping file is supplied by your manufacturer, and causes the system to upload and convert price mapping files. During the conversion, the system initialises the price mapping file, and builds a new mapping table using generic index files identified in the Source mapping files group box on the Files tab of the price parameters.
Currency Change Factor: This field is only displayed if the Curr. conversion fact field on the Price file parameters form is not set to 0.0000. (The Price file parameters form is displayed when you select the Price parameters global edit option on the MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU. This is a priority 9 option, and is not normally visible.) When the update is performed, the system uses the currency change factor displayed here to convert the retail price in the price file into Euro.
PUSH BUTTONS:
Exit: Returns you to the MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU.
Upload: Retrieves price files from the remote host computer and uploads them to the Autoline system.
Update: Converts the files uploaded to the Autoline system. The system normally runs this option automatically after the files are uploaded.
Help: Displays help on the current application using the default browser.
