Configurable Item (SOC) Import Guide

General Data Import Notes

Refer to the Data Import General Information page for information and guidance on general import timeline, formatting import templates, as well as how to ensure you are using the most current template information for data imports.

Configurable Item (SOC) Import Notes

Timing and Preparation

The Configurable Item (SOC) Import should occur soon after the Item Master records have been imported and reviewed. Importing the SOC details is essential for testing configurable items in the sales and production processes.

General Notes

The import template file for the SOC Import is generated by using the Export Configurable (SOC) Items screen, detailed below. The Export Configurable Items (SOC) can be requested from any system with configurable items. The export screen has multiple filters to help with selecting the right records for building an import file. The data can also be filled in manually, but it is much easier to use existing SOC records as a reference when creating a new import file.

If you intend to use most of the field data from an SOC Export file, review the data critically before attempting to associate it with a customer's item file. We do not want to propogate bad data.

The safest practice is to pick an accurate example of each question type and copy the single, reviewed question down to all new customer items. This way, the same data is used for all questions.

Be extremely careful when copying data in Excel that you don't accidentally increase values down the page. Use the correct procedures in Excel to copy, rather than copy and sequence, data down columns.

The SOC Import will add records if they do not exist, but can also be used to update existing records. The SOC Import will also create the Configurable Item (SOC) attribute for the associated item, if it doesn't already exist.

Configurable Item (SOC) Import File Data Scrubbing

Every customer's data will have different issues that need addressing. Some of the issues will not make themselves visible until after the data has been imported and is in use during parallel testing. This is why it is critically important to perform an early import, and keep accurate notes on issues that need to be addressed on a supplemental import, or for a complete re-import.

The SOC import file is generally built 'from scratch' or by exporting a known good list of SOC items and editing it heavily to match the customer's data. Because there is typically no single source data file from the customer, creating the SOC import file will typically involve pulling bits of data from one or more customer files to create the import. Below are some of the key data columns to review carefully prior to import:

Keyno: Remove the data in the keyno column before importing. The keyno value is not used during the import, and it can lead to confusion when reviewing and researching SOC imports. The SOC import process will generate new keyno values upon import, and the ones on the import file will no longer relate to anything.

Item: When copying data into the file, review the item number fields carefully. Carefully review any items that are being renumbered in Adjutant and make sure the item numbers are correct. Review for any transposed numbers or faulty copy and paste issues.

QuestNo: Re-sort the import file by item and look for any question numbering gaps or duplicates.

Question: Review the import file to standardize question labels for spelling and capitalization. Avoid importing things like 'LENGTH', 'Length', and 'length' for the same type of question. Make them all match before importing.

RCode (Report Code): Carefully review the report code values for all questions and ensure that there are no mismatched codes. Review to ensure that questions of the same type all use the same report code. For example, all weight questions should use 'W', rather than some using 'W', and some using 'WT'. If the customer needs multiple versions of the same question, such as Punch Code 1 and Punch Code 2, make sure the associated report codes are consistent.

Configurable Item (SOC) Export Screen (SOCEXPORT)

Menu Location: Transaction>>Importers/Exporters>>Item Control>>Configurable Item (SOC) Export

Class: Enter a single item class value or a range to filter the SOC Export results by Item Master class.

Item Range: Enter an item code range to filter the SOC Export results by all item numbers that fall between the from and to values.

Item Like Block: Enter up to 6 item-like searches to filter the SOC Export results by custom item number searches.

Commodity Code: Enter a single commodity code or a range to filter the SOC Export results by Item Master commodity code.

Held For: Enter a Held For name to filter the SOC Export by Held For.

Owner: Enter an Owner name to filter the SOC Export by Owner.

Configurable Item (SOC) Import Screen (SOCIMPORT)

Menu Location: Transaction>>Importers/Exporters>>Item Control>>Configurable Item (SOC) Import

Item File Name/Browse: Use the Browse button to locate and select the completed SOC import template file (in XLS format).

Configurable Item (SOC) Import File Definitions

KeyNo - Keyno value of the exported SOC Question. This column should be cleared of all data prior to import, but the column position or header should not be changed.

Item - Item number in Adjutant

QuestNo - SOC question number

Question - SOC question text (maximum 50 characters)

QType - SOC question type code. Valid entries are LIST, TEXT, NUM, and CAL.

RCode - Report code for the associated question. Question 1 should always be report code A. The Length question is always report code B and generally the second question. Some other standard report codes are S=Roof Slope, Q=Square Feet, and W=Weight.

CalcVal - Enter 'Y' to indicate this is a calculated value, which sets the CALC checkbox. Enter 'N' otherwise.

CalcExp - Enter a custom formula using report codes, numerical values, and Excel-style formula codes. An example of the formula structure would be (B/2) + 100.

DecQty - Updates the Dec. Quantity for the associated question. Valid entries are 0 through 5.

InOnly - Enter 'Y' to check the Inches box for the associated question. Either the InOnly or the FtInOnly box should be checked for length questions, but not both.

FtInOnly - Enter 'Y' to check the Ft-Inch box for the associated question. Either the InOnly or the FtInOnly box should be checked for length questions, but not both.

MinLen - Enter the minimum length, if needed, for the length question. Enter 0 if there is no minimum length.

MaxLen - Enter the maximum length, if needed, for the length question. Enter 0 if there is no maximum length.

Inc - Enter the length increment value (in decimal form) to control the valid length entries. For example, to limit length entries by the 16th of an inch, enter 0.0625.

AItem - Additional item number that can be used for contract or special pricing options

Unit - UNit of measure associated with the Additional Item number

PAdjustable - Enter 'Y' to check the Price/Cost Adjust box in the Price and/or Other Adjustment Settings area

PriceAdj - Enter the dollar value for the price adjustment, or if no price adjustment, enter 0

QNum1 - Price/Cost Adjustment question number. Enter the SOC question number to fill in the 'or From Q#' value for the Price/Cost Adjust fields

ConQuest - Enter 'Y' to check the Controlling Qty box

ShowAdj - Enter 'Y' to check the Display Price Adjustment box

OtherAdj - Enter the dollar value for the Other Adjustment field, or if not other adjustment, enter 0.

QNum4 - Other Adjustment question number. Enter the SOC question number to fill in the 'To Q#' value.

QNum2 - Pass 1 question number. Enter the SOC question number to fill in the Pass 1 'Multiply Q#' value.

QNum3 - Pass 2 question number. Enter the SOC question number to fill in the Pass 2 'Adjustment by Q#' value.

CostAdj - Enter the dollar value for the cost adjustment, or if no cost adjustment, enter 0

Spacer1-Spacer10 - The spacer fields are placeholder entries for future expansion. They should not be used.

Ans1-Ans43 - List item descriptive name (max 100 characters) for LIST type questions. 43 list item entries are available for each question. List items display in the order according to the sequence identifier (1-43) on the import.

AnsPA1-AnsPA43 - Price adjustment dollar value for the associated list item.

AnsCA1-AnsCA43 - Cost adjustment dollar value for the associated list item.

AnsOPA1-AnsOPA43 - Other adjustment dollar value for the associated list item.

Item1-Item43 - Additional item number for special or contract pricing for the associated list item.

Configurable Item (SOC) Import Reconciliation

Reconciling imported data should begin with spot-checking several records field-by-field for complete data import. Pick records from the source file that have the most data columns filled in. Verify that all source file data fields imported correctly and display as expected.

Run the SOC Export with filters to match the data just imported, and compare to the SOC Import file used. Verify that the number or records exported matches the number of records that should have been created/updated. Compare the export and import details for any any discrepancies.

Try to sell various configurable items on a sales order to verify that the configurations and pricing are working as expected.

Configurable Item (SOC) Import Additional Steps

There are no additional steps required for the SOC Import.

Configurable Item (SOC) Import Database Tables

SOCQUESTION - Each imported question will create a KEYNO in this table. The KEYNOH value ties to the KEYNO value of the SOCITEM table which creates the link to the item number. This table holds most of the question details, length control options, and price/cost adjustment values. The SOC Export file Keyno value refers to the Keyno value from this table. Repeated imports for the same item number will generate new SOCQUESTION KEYNO values and delete the previous SOCQUESTION KEYNO.

SOCITEM - The KEYNO value in this table links to the KEYNOH value in the SOCQUESTION table. This table holds the IKEY and ITEM values.

SOCANSWER - Each imported question will create a KEYNO in this table. The KEYNOH value ties to the KEYNO value of the SOCQUESTION table for the associated question number. This table holds the list item details. Repeated imports for the same item number will generate new SOCANSWER KEYNO values, but will NOT delete the previous values. The previous values will remain in the table, but will no longer be linked to valid SOCQUESTIONs.

PCXREF - The Configurable Item (SOC) attribute added to item records will create a cross-reference entry in the PCXREF table. The TYPE will be 'SOC'. The PARENTID and CHILDID will match the IKEY value of the associated item.