Import Orders
Create an Import Definition to use with Process Orders.

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Instructions
You can use the Process Orders Action to import orders from another source (e.g, an Internet store). First, you need to define the import by matching the fields in your source file to similar fields in Mailware. You only need to define an import once. You can then reuse it every day to import new orders.

Note: If you already have an import definition created you can skip this topic. Go to the Process Orders instructions to import your orders.

  1. To create an import definition run the Process Orders Action by clicking the Actions tab on the Company Database. Locate the following item then click an icon (or, simply click a link below).

  1. Click the Add button to open the Order Import Setting dialog. (Or, select an existing Import Name and click the Edit button.)


 

  1. The Order Import Setting dialog will open.
     

     
     
  2. If you would like to use an existing definition: Click the button to open a menu of two options:

    Select the Load from a file option to use an existing definition. It will load presets for your imported file (e.g., separators, field names etc.) so you don't have to enter them manually. For example, you can load the Yahoo-MOM.mwi file that is included with Mailware. It defines an import from Yahoo stores in the MOM format. You can then proceed to the next step to make changes to the definition, or go to the Process Orders help topic to import your orders.

If you would like to create a new definition: Enter an Import Name. In the example above the Yahoo store import format for MOM is entered as Yahoo MOM Format. 

  1. Choose a Table Type of Text (usually .txt, .csv - e.g., ImportFile.txt), dBase (.dbf) or Paradox (.db). Most import files will be text.
  1. Browse to your import file name by clicking the button in the Source File Name field. Using the Windows browse dialog that appears locate your file and double click it. The file name and path will appear in the field. Note: If you load a definition in step 3 you still need to locate a file to import.
     
  2. The First Row and Last Row fields will be entered for you automatically. You can enter different values if you need to override the defaults.
     
  3. If you chose a Table Type of Text the bottom of the dialog will display a Field Separator option. You can select the character used by your import file to separate fields. The most common separators are Comma and Tab. You can open the import file with Windows Notepad to see the separator character.
  1. Next, if necessary, select a Record Separator. This is the character that separates one order from the next. Typically this will be a carriage return (CRLF).
     
  2. Select a Text Qualifier character. This is the character surrounding each whole word or phrase. Typically this will be a double quote (").
     
  3. Click the Preview tab to see a sample of your import.

  1. At this point you can click the button and save the definition. The click OK to close the dialog. Or, you can further define the definition with the additional tabs on the Order Import Settings dialog by following the next steps.
     
  2. Click the Mapping tab to see a list of Destination Fields (Mailware fields into which you will be importing your data) and definable Source Fields (fields from your import file). The Mapping tab is used to define where each of your import file fields will appear in Mailware.
     

     
  3. For each Destination Field you can select a field from your import file by clicking in the Source Field next to it. A pull down will appear. Click it to see a list of field names from your import file. For each destination field you can select the appropriate field to import into it (e.g., for the Last Name Destination Field you can choose from your import file LastName, Name, LName etc. depending on how your fields are named).
  1. Click the Translations tab to see a list of Destination Fields (Mailware fields into which you will be importing your data) and translation fields. The Translation tab is used to change imported values to a different value (e.g., If your import file shows the Country field as 001, 002 etc. you can use the translator to change it to United States, Afghanistan etc.).


 

  1. For each Destination Field you can define a translation by clicking in the Translations field next to it. A dialog will appear with two columns titled Import Value and Change To Value.


 

  1. In the sample above the Import Value of 001, 002 etc. from the import file is changed to United States, Afghanistan etc. You may enter as many translations as necessary for each field. Click the Close button to save your changes and return to the Translations tab where you can select additional fields to translate as needed.
  1. Click the Defaults tab to see a list of Destination Fields (Mailware fields into which you will be importing your data) and definable Default Value fields. The Defaults tab is used to enter the value that will be imported into Mailware when the field in your import file is blank.


 

  1. For each Destination Field you can define a Default Value by clicking in the Default Value field next to it and typing. In the example above United States is entered automatically into Mailware when no Country is specified in your import file.
     
  2. To save this definition click the button and select Save this definition to a file. You can load the definition the next time you perform an import for this type of file. Click the OK button to complete the definition. 

To use the import you created go the the Process Orders help topic.

See Also:
Orders
Process Orders
Modifying Reports