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Q: Can I import data like customers and stocks from my MIS system into the Metrix database?
A: Yes. Metrix can import a comma separated file (commonly called a CSV file) to populate the database tables with customers and customer contacts, plus stocks and stock sheets. For each of these, the information must be formatted in a precise way so that Metrix can unambiguously recognize each field. Notes 1. It is highly recommended that users backup the database files before importing data. For instructions on how to do this click here. Importing data cannot be undone (although items can be individually deleted) so the best remedy for an error is to replace the database files with the backup copies. 2. To import a file, open the Database dialog (select Database in the Settings menu) in Administration mode. Select the type of data (Stocks or Customers) and click Import. Select the relevant CVS file. After importing a file, Metrix will log the results in a file located in the Metrix installation folder. 2. When constructing the CSV data files to import, keep in mind that for text fields leading and trailing spaces are considered part of the text. 3. When importing data, Metrix does not allow duplicating
any existing data records. This can potentially become confusing
when the data matches previously edited or deleted database records.
So that all database projects can be viewed exactly as when they
were last saved, the Metrix database archives all edited or deleted
records for items such as Presses, Stocks, Customers, and Inks.
If a matching record has ever been entered into the database, even
if it has since been edited or deleted, it is still in the database
for archive purposes and is not permitted to be duplicated. 4. Text fields whose minimum value range is listed below as "empty" are optional fields. Optional fields whose data is empty still need to be represented by the appropriate separating commas, even though there will be no data between the commas. For example, click here to see an sample customer CSV file with all optional fields left empty. Note: only the Customers and Contacts import specification has optional fields - these fields are italicized below. 5. When the last field in a record is not empty, a carriage return character, a line feed character, or a carriage return character followed immediately by a line feed may be used instead of a comma to indicate the end of the record (rather than using a comma to separate the last field of one record from the first field of the next record). The sample stock files below use this method to create a list of all stock records as individual lines in the file. Field Specifications: Stock and Sheets
Sample stock files:
Sample customer files: |
