This function enables the automated upload and conversion of the manufacturer's price and supersession files. You can fully automate this process, so that no action is required on the part of the dealership to ensure that a price update is received. This ability is determined by the franchise.
You can display and manually run a job if required.
Note: If automatic updates are not in operation for your manufacturer, the following message is displayed when you select the Automatic price file update option on the MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU: PROGRAM ERROR: No parts update job types defined for this franchise.
The advantages to the business are:
These advantages save the dealership time, and keep the parts price file up-to-date to ensure greater accounting accuracy.
In order for an automatic price update to be performed, an automatic price file update job record must exist for each type of price update (full or minor), and a Generic File Transfer (GFT) record is normally required to retrieve the files. If you want the system to automatically retrieve a price file at specific times, a Timed Operation must also be created. These records are normally created on set-up by, or on advice from, an Autoline consultant. For further details, refer to the topic on Automatic Price File Update Jobs.
As well as creating job records and running a job, the Automatic price file update option enables you to edit or delete job records, view log files, make a backup of the price file, delete old backups, and restore a price file.
What do you want to do?
See help about the Automatic Price File Update form
This form is displayed when you select the Automatic price file update option from the MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU. It enables you to run, create, edit or delete jobs, view log files, make a backup of the price file, delete old backups, and to restore a price file.
Menu Bar:
| Menu bar | Action |
|---|---|
| File > New | Enables you to create a job |
| File > Edit | Enables you to edit a job |
| File > Run | Enables you to run a job |
| File > Delete | Enables you to delete a job |
| File > Exit | Returns you to the MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU |
| View > Last log | Displays the last log file |
| View > All logs | Displays a list of all log files, from which you can select the log file you want to view |
| View > Purge | Purges log files except the last five of each job type. A purge is carried out automatically when a job is run, so this command results in no action. |
| Tools > Delete old backups | Removes old backups of the price file |
| Tools > Restore price file | Restores a price file |
| Tools > Make backup of price file | Creates a backup of the price file |
Log summary: Summarizes your last action, for example, the log you last displayed
Progress: Indicates how much of the task has completed as a proportion of the whole
Buttons:
Run job: Enables you to view and manually run a job if required
Last log: Displays the log file for the last automatic price file update
A log file is created each time a job is run. A facility exists that enables you to view the last log file generated. You are also given the opportunity to see the log file when you manually run a job. Following is an example of the information you might see in the log file:
Note: The contents of the log file depend on the requirements of your manufacturer/supplier.
Date: Date the job was run
Client name: Name of the client on which the job was run
User ID: Login of the user that ran the job
Importing price data
File transfer method (for example, Generic File Transfer) and status
Update price file from source
Name of the source file and path
Making backup of price file
Name of the source file and backup file, if requested
Partial update of price table
Status of the price table update. This is shown for both the price update and supersession file update.
Creating full price table
Status of the price table build
Status of the price table update
Information is shown for both the price update and supersession file update.
Price file statistics
Number of records read in the source price file
Number of records created on the price file
Number of records updated on the price file
Total number of records changed on the price file
Total number of records on the price file
Size of the price file
Number of price file backups deleted
Building supersessions
Status of the rebuild of the supersession file
If the supersession build is successful, information similar to the following is displayed:
How the supersession file was built. For example, from the full price file
Number of supersession records created
Number of supersession records updated
Total number of supersession records changed
If the build is unsuccessful, information similar to the following is displayed:
Run completion status
Error message giving the reason the build failed
Start Time: Time the job was started
End Time: Time the job ended
To view the last log file:
From the OPERATIONS menu, select the Parts price file menu option.
The MASTER PARTS PRICE FILE MENU is displayed.
Select the Automatic price file update option.
The Automatic Price File Update form is displayed.
Do one of the following:
Select View > Last log from the menu bar.
Click the Last log button.
Note: If you have more than one type of price file update, a list of the last log files for each type is displayed. Select the log file that you want to view and click OK.
The View Log File form is displayed.
To view all log files:
Select View > All logs from the menu bar of the Automatic Price File Update form.
A list of log files is displayed for all price file update types.
Select the log file you want to view and click OK.
The View Log File form is displayed.
Note:For an example of the details contained in the log file, refer to the topic on Displaying the Last Log File.
To delete old backups of the price file:
Select Tools > Delete old backups from the menu bar of the Automatic Price File Update form.
The Keep Backups form is displayed that shows the Backup directory and maximum Number of backups of the price file you can keep. You cannot edit these fields.
Note: If a dialog box containing the message There are no backups is displayed, you cannot proceed. Click OK to return to the Automatic Price File Update form.
Enter the number of backups you want to keep in How many backup tables do you want to keep and not delete? and click OK.
You obtain one of the following results:
If you enter a number less than the number available, a RETURN box is displayed containing the message:
Backups of [filename] deleted: [number]
If you enter a number that equals (or exceeds) the number available, a RETURN box is displayed containing the message:
No backups were deleted
Click OK.
You are returned to the Automatic Price File Update form.
To restore a price file:
Select Tools > Restore price file from the menu bar of the Automatic Price File Update form.
A list of price backup files available for restoration is displayed.
Note: If a dialog box is displayed containing the message No backup files found for : [file identifier], you cannot proceed. Click OK to return to the Automatic Price File Update form.
Select the price backup file to restore and click OK.
A RETURN box is displayed containing the message:
Latest backup of [filename] restored from:
[path/filename]
Previous [filename] renamed to:
[path/filename]. You should now update supersessions from this price file
Click OK.
You are returned to the Automatic Price File Update form, where the text Restoring backup of price file is displayed in the Log summary.
Note: You can update supersessions from the newly restored price file.
To create a backup of the price file:
Select Tools > Make backup of price file from the menu bar of the Automatic Price File Update form.
A dialog box containing the following message is displayed:
Backup copy of [source file identifier] : [backup file identifier]
Click OK.
You are returned to the Automatic Price File Update form, where the text Making backup of price file is displayed in the Log summary.
Automatic Price File Update Jobs
