Hello

This blog post gives a brief about the process that needs to be followed to import structured data in PIM.

Overview

Importing structured data includes a sequence of steps that should be followed in order to complete import successfully. This process includes:

• Create a new catalog in the Supplier catalogs perspective.
• select Import in the catalog pop-up menu in the Context selection view. The Import perspective opens.
• Click on icon to start a new import . The file is loaded in the Data source view.

Next, create the assignments for the file:

1. Item data
2. Prices
3. Multimedia attachments
4. Structure assignments and attributes
5. Material group system

• Carry out the import.

Item data

The SUPPLIER_AID is used as a unique code in a BMEcat file. The assignment is made in the Repository view below the Header data node.

• Use drag & drop to move the SUPPLIER_AID entry from the Data source view to the Item no. field in the Repository view.
• Use drag & drop to move the DESCRIPTION_SHORT entry from the Data source view to the Short description field in the Repository view.
• In the Repository view, the value English is automatically displayed in the Language field. This setting can be modified at any time using the drop-down list in the Assignment column.
• Create the assignments for the other fields in the ARTICLE_DETAILS area.

Prices

An item can have several prices based on valid in different regions or for a different period. The Prices node in the Repository view is used for assignments.

• Use drag and drop to move the PRICE_AMOUNT entry from the Data source view to the Price field in the Repository view, below the Price band node.
• Enter the details under the Purchase price or Selling price node, depending on the specified price type.
• Other details such as price type, currency, etc. are automatically added using default values in the Repository view. These can either be changed using drop-down lists in the Assignment column or can be overwritten with another assignment.
• In case of items having multiple prices associated to them, the Price field in the Repository view is highlighted in red after the initial assignment to indicate that duplicate values are present. Further clarity on these is re- established by making further assignments.
• Use drag and drop to move the PRICE_CURRENCY entry from the Data source view to the Currency field in the Repository view.
• Create the assignments for the other fields in the ARTICLE_PRICE_DETAILS area.

Multimedia attachments

The assignments of multimedia attachments to items are specified under the Multimedia attachments node in the Repository view. The multimedia data itself is imported in another way.

• Use drag and drop to move the MIME_SOURCE entry from the Data source view to the Identifier field in the Repository view, below the Media Asset documents node.
• Other details such as type, quality, etc. are automatically added using default values in the Repository view. These can either be changed using drop-down lists in the Assignment column or can be overwritten with another assignment.
• In case of items having multiple multimedia attachments associated to them, the Identifier field in the Repository view is highlighted in red after this initial assignment to indicate that duplicate values are present. Further clarity on these is re-established by making further assignments.
• Use drag and drop to move the MIME_TYPE entry from the Data source view to the Quality field in the Repository view, below the Media Asset documents node.
• Use drag and drop to move the MIME_PURPOSE entry from the Data source view to the Type field in the Repository view.
• Create the assignments for the other fields in the MIME_INFO area.

Structure assignments and attributes

 To create assignments for item attributes and the structure assignment to a structure system navigate to Classification and properties in the Repository view.  Assignment to a catalog structure system is carried out separately.

• Use drag & drop to move the REFERENCE_FEATURE_GROUP_ID entry from the Data source view to the Structure assignments field in the Repository view, below the Structure assignments node. The default value is automatically entered in the Structure system field in the Repository view.
• Use the drop-down list in the Assignment column to select the corresponding structure system.
• For item attributes, drag the FNAME and FVALUE attributes from the Data source view to the
• Attribute name field below the Attributes node and the Attribute value field below the Attributes > Attribute values node respectively in the Repository view. 
• For features with multiple values, In order to import both values, use the select import function.
• Drag the FNAME entry from the Data source view to the Attribute name field in the Repository view. 
• Select the Attribute value entry in the Repository view. 
• In the Function view, use CTRL and Space to select the select function. 
• Enter [FVALUE] in the function instead of the value placeholder. 
• Enter the value 1 in the function instead of the position placeholder. 
• Click on save.
• Select the Attribute value (max) entry in the Repository view.
• In the Function view, use CTRL and Space to select the select function.
• Enter [FVALUE] in the function instead of the value placeholder.
• Enter the value 2 in the function instead of the position placeholder.
• Click on save.
• When importing, the first value of FVALUE is imported to the Attribute value field and the second value to the Attribute value (max) field.

Material group system

Material group structures for the catalog are a special feature when importing BMEcat catalogs. The catalog itself contains a structure system by which the items are classified. Assignments are made in the following way:

• Use drag and drop to move the GROUP_SYSTEM_ID entry from the Data source view to the Structure code field in the Repository view, below the Material group structure node.
• Carry out the subsequent assignments under the Structure groups node:

                  Assign GROUP_ID to the Structure group identifier field.

                  Assign PARENT_ID to the Parent identifier field.

• Duplicate the Item node by selecting it in the Repository view and calling up Duplicate node in the pop-up menu.
• The node is displayed as Item (2) below the previous Item node, which is now called Item (1).
• Use drag and drop to move the ART_ID entry from the Data source view to the Item no. field in the Repository view, below the Item (2) node.
• Use drag and drop to move the CATALOG_GROUP_ID entry from the Data source view to the Catalog structure assignments field in the Repository view, below the "Item (2) > Classification and properties > Catalog structure assignments node.
• Select the Catalog structure system field in the Repository view .
• In the Function  view specify the name of the catalog structure system in quotation marks, as listed under GROUP_SYSTEM_ID.