Actually, it's importing items into new inventory records that are destined to end up in an eBay store.

I'm creating new inventory records by importing a CSV file created with Excel. It's going pretty smoothly.

I'm not sure this is a problem, but looking at the Categories, Shipping Options and Item Specifics tab of a new record, I did notice that the Category field for the eBay Auction Site is set to the category I imported, while the Category field for the eBay Stores Auction Site is blank. Is this something I'm going to have to fix by hand?

The Duration of 30 days is correctly placed in the eBay Stores Duration field, even though I mapped it to "eBay Duration" in the import process.

I went back to check the import process. I mapped one of the incoming fields to the "eBay Category #". "eBay Stores Category #" wasn't a choice.

Ned

Ned,

Doesn't the Import just work so slick!! I really like it as it works perfect for all the Inventories we get. Usually anymore, everything is in Excel so it is so easy to save as a CSV, choose the fields I need and just import.

The eBay categories have to be selected just as for the regular eBay auction. You'll have to fix the eBay store category field value to reflect whatever category you are listing in. If memory serves me correctly, you are right, the option for eBay store category is not an option. I will double check on that and let you know. But I don't believe it is an option.

The eBay store duration will be set to your default for eBay store profile, not what you imported. The default settings are pulled from the Auction profile not from the import. So if the default duration for your eBay store auction profile is set to 30 days, 30 days is what will display in the Category, Shipping options and Item Specifics tab.

The regular eBay auctions does not offer a 30 day duration. Only 1, 3, 5 7, and 10.

After you have created Inventory Items, be sure to check the "Stock Item" option or you will be unable to track your Inventory. And some reports are not available.

Does that help?

Judy/blue

In reply to:

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After you have created Inventory Items, be sure to check the "Stock Item" option or you will be unable to track your Inventory. And some reports are not available.

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If you import a Quantity In Stock field, the new record has Stock Item set automatically.

Ned

I know it can be done but my thinker must be overloaded ...
How can I get a blank CSV file with all the fields needed to import to AW from Excel?
Thanks,

Marty

Ned,

Yes it does. I was only reminding you in case you did not see that option. So you wouldn't have a mess later on. I am glad you noticed it.

Judy/blue

Marty,

You can save any "Excel spreadsheet as CSV, Then fix it headers to match whatever fields you want to import into AW2000.

Make a practice one just for fun. You can "Cancel" the import process.

Go to Tools | Database tools | Import | Inventory Items.. And select your fake CSV document.

Right click on the gray headers in the AW2000 import utility. All the tags that appear are the fields you can import into AW2000.

Select Cancel and you are out of the import utility.

Does that help.?

Judy/blue

Hi Marty,

I did a fair amount of poking around before I did my real CSV file. Here's what I did:

First, do back up your DB before you start playing with this stuff. Probably wouldn't hurt to rebuild it at this time too.

I exported existing inventory to a CSV file. I exported all possible fields and checked the Headers box. I then opened the CSV in Excel and took note of what was and wasn't being exported. I saved a copy of the CSV as an XLS. The XLS file became the basis for my "blank" file later on.

I started the Import of this same CSV file. Didn't intend to go through with it, just wanted to see what would happen. When you right click on a column in the Import dialog, you see what fields you can import into AW2K. I don't think this was exactly the same list as the fields exported, so it's important to know. I aborted the import.

Meanwhile, back at the spreadsheet: The order of fields doesn't matter. When you do the import you'll assign the mapping any way you please.

You can have fields in your spreadsheet that you don't intend to import. In my case, I had 60 drill bits that differed only in their diameter and length (plus the metric equivalents). I set up my worksheet with columns for those values, and columns for Title and Description that contained formulas to generate the text. At import time, I ignored the 4 fields and simply read the ones like Title, Description, and Qty In Stock.

Creating a CSV file from scratch wouldn't be fun, and wouldn't save you much effort. Create an Excel spreadsheet, enter or generate the values you need, save in XLS format, and then save it again in CSV format. When you save in CSV format, any formulas you use are replaced by their current values. This is what allowed me to create description text with different numbers for each size of drill.

Good luck and happy to help you,
Ned

Ok, but can you go the other way? Meaning export what you want from AW2000 in to a CSV formatted Excell spreadsheet?

Marty

In reply to:

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can you go the other way? Meaning export what you want from AW2000 in to a CSV formatted Excell spreadsheet?

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No problem. As Judy mentioned, Tools/Database Tools/Export/Inventory Item Records.... Make your choices and do the export.
Start Excel. If you don't see the export file in the Open dialog, use the popup menu in that dialog to say you want to see CSV files. You should then be able to open the file. Save it as an XLS and you have an Excel spreadsheet of all your inventory.

Ned

Ned,

You got it!

Judy/blue

Ned/Judy:

Thanks!

I know I knew that but it has been a long week already!!! I just couldn't think. And this discussion got me to thinking of how to work through entering some inventory I have offsite without access to the PC with AW200 on it or internet service.

Thanks again!

Marty

Marty,

You must be working overtime on your website??!!!

Judy/blue

Judy,
Yes that is one of the many irons in the fire. The other side of my business is restoring antique furniture, and building custom furniture. I am busy with that.
Mainly because I am trying to catch up due to other priorities. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer mid February and we have been dealing with that. We have been through the surgery, radiation and are in the middle of chemo. The outlook is looking really good, it was caught early but it is still so hard to deal with. But God is good and we'll make it through this chapter of our lives!!
But because of that and that I am the "one man show" things don't get done if I don't do them! All day yesterday I thought it was Wednesday!! When I found out that it was just Monday I was so excited that I was going to have 2 extra days this weeK!

Another question about export/importing:
You have the excel file, when you add to it how does it import back to AW2000, meaning how does AW2000 handle the info?
Do you have to make a "new" file with your additions each time or can you just add to the bottom of the same excel file?

I hope I am clear as to the question.

Thanks,

Marty

Marty,

I am so sorry. I had no idea. But I will put you and your wife on my daily prayer list. And yes, I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. Have seen God first hand heal my husband more than once and restore him to health again. Tell your wife, someone else just joined the ranks for prayer warriors for her healing!

You do not add the header fields at the bottom, just along the top. Meaning all the fields you want to import, you use the column headers across the top and name those. You really don't want to import over the top of the first import. It doesn't work that way. If you add more information to the CSV file, new Inventory Items will be created all over again when you import the same CSV file.

Does that make sense?

Judy/blue

Judy,
Thanks so much for the prayers, yes the power of prayer is a working force in our lives. We know that it is the prayers of others that have made this we can deal with.

I thought that was the way the import would work but just wanted to make sure.

Marty

Marty,

Good Deal!

Judy/blue

Marty:
You have our prayers for your wife and her recovery. It is not an easy time for either one of you I know. All of the visits to the doctors, the therapy, and down time because the chemo makes your wife sick. I can understand some of it. As I said you and your wife will be in our prayers. It sounds good that the outlook is really good. It seems so trite to say hang in there - but really it helps to just hang on and fight like crazy.

Now as to the two extra days this week - I would sure like to be able to do that also. You should patent the process. There are times when a 9 day week would be so great.

Garry

Garry,

I was hoping Marty would tell us how he made an extra two days as well. I could certainly use it. I am also beginning to think cloning isn't so bad of an idea. My clone could come to work and I could go horseback riding

Judy/blue

Garry/Judy and All:

Thanks for the prayerful support it is truly appreciated!

We are actually heading off to another chemo today hopes are that this one will better than the last. But we will still fight fight fight, fortunately she has a great attitude. Many have said that she should be the poster child that she is an inspiration and I have to agree!!

About those days, it was just a pipe dream!! But if I figure it out for sure I will surely pass it along!!

I'll check in later, you all have a great day!

Thanks again,

Marty

Marty,

Hug her for me!! I can't fix it but I can certainly let you both know that I care and am praying for you.

And I will pray for her today as she goes to chemo. Not fun thing to do.

Judy/blue

Marty:

We all pray along with you that today the chemo treatment will be better for her. I understand what is happening in that I was with my dad as he went through all of those treatments. So I know a little how some treatments are better than another. Tell her hi and that we're praying and pulling for her - and for you too as you have a different time to go through but it is still difficult. It is fantastic that she has the great attitude - that in and of itself will help so much with her recovery.

Yes, please do let us know about the extra days once you have it figured out. I think it would be possible to make a ten based week and a 10 based hour - that would come up with the extra time.

Garry