Importing Manufacturing Data

 

 

DE-J, Import Labor, can be used to bring in labor data gathered by an external shop floor data collection system.  Most data collection systems automatically produce ASCII files for transfer to other accounting/manufacturing systems.

DE-K, Import Material Issues and DE-L Import Work Order Receipts can be used to import the issuance of components to work orders and the receipt of finished production to stock.  This data can be collected using a portable bar code collection device reading Work Order numbers from Shop Travelers printed in WO-C  Print Travelers and part numbers of components printed in IN-G  Print Inventory Labels thus eliminating the need for additional stations on the shop floor.  Data imported in these two programs can be reviewed and edited.  Once the information is reviewed and accepted, each edit program has a Post button that will transfer the information to the work orders.

DE-M Import Physical Inventory Counts can be used to import inventory counts collected using a bar code device or entered onto a spreadsheet.  Editing and posting is done using PI-C  Enter Tag Counts and PI-G  Update Actual Inventory.

The data path and fields entered in the import programs stay on the screen until changed, so they only have to be set up once.  If your ASCII source file’s name changes each time a new batch of manufacturing data is to be transferred, then you will have to go into the program and change the file name each time the program is run.

 

The import programs (Option A on each submenu) all function identically.  You are first asked to enter the name of the file to import, including its data path.  You should keep the file names 8 characters or less and 3 character extensions with no spaces in either the file name or path.  If the file is saved to the program application folder, no path is needed.   For example, if your file was named INVENT.CSV and was located in a subdirectory named ACCT on drive F, you would enter the following:

F:\ACCT\INVENT.CSV

Next, you are asked if you want to Skip or Replace existing item numbers.  If you have already imported some records and have already edited them, you can choose the Skip option so that those records are bypassed and won’t be accidentally replaced during another import.

Next, indicate whether your file is in comma delimited or fixed length format.

The rest of the screen consists of a listing of the field names that can be imported, with two entry fields to the left of each field name.

Comma Delimited Files

If your file is comma delimited, you are only allowed entry of one field next to each field name.  In a comma delimited file, each field is separated on either side by a comma.  Alphanumeric fields may be further enclosed by quotation marks.  A comma or commas between two quotation marks do not count as field separators.  Simply identify your file field position numbers consecutively from left to right, then enter those numbers next to the appropriate field.

Fixed Length Files

If your file is fixed length, you must enter two values to the left of each field  name.  The first entry is the character position of the first character in the field, and the second entry is the number of characters in the field.  It is easy to identify each field’s starting character position and length by pulling up the file in a text editor that indicates the character location of the cursor.  Simply move the cursor to each field position and write down the location, then count the length of the field.  Then enter the starting position and length next to the appropriate field.

Date Fields

All the date fields are required to be ISO YYYYMMDD format in the import  file.  If you are creating the file using Excel, you can create such a date format by clicking Format - Cells - Custom.  Then click on the blank Type field, enter YYYYMMDD and click OK and you have created a custom date format.  Apply this format to any date fields and they will now be in the correct ISO standard format for import.