First – story for pause in posting … many reasons …
OK –Can DFIU be broken ..again ?? I have a large X line ( an X line is a non-CARQUEST line the stores maintain ) that needs price updates – especially with this period of inflationary price increases. I know that the max number of lines I can ( err…could ?? ) do is approx 25,000 – again subject to the max size of the entire file.
This price update was 3 rows ( part # – updated current cost – and sales class 2 ( which we use as a place holder for the year it was updated …so 2023 = 3 )). Tried the first go –with approx 19,000 parts … got this error …
I have seen this error before …. but …. this one was just a bit different … you will see below the more normal ‘error’ that Autologue gives me. In the past we get the ‘Table” error – on large files — we know that it typically updates – just doesn’t give us a Clean ending report. BUT –not this time … it was odd — NOTHING updated. … keep reading …this story gets better
So – I try the data with half the data ( approx 9,000 entries ) … get the same error .. but – also not updated …wait a minute – what is going on.
So I try with test item with only 30 lines — all is fine …..then I try approx 7,200 parts – this goes thru …hmmm. …with a CLEAN ending and report as shows below
So I have approx 19,000-7,000 = approx 10,500 parts left … remember that 9,000 parts didn’t work … so I do 8,000 this time I uncheck the “Only Include Desc for new inserts” –as –well-there are no descriptions in the file …. and guess what this goes thru … but I still get the ‘normal error …. this first image shows how I can check the progress of the file …abpve the blue line was changed –below the blue line is pending action ( the smc2 = 3 is the tip off – in this case it was a price decrease )
Here is the final ….well …not quite final … message …. that I typically get on larger files …. but I check the last # and that data has finished
The I do the remainder ( 2,543 ) and all ends well
So what is different –the first 9,000 attempt –the Data did NOT update …. and the error message was ‘just different’ from the 2nd error message that really isn’t an error message ….when you check the data
Also –where to check or un-check the update descriptions when there are no descriptions … Hmm …is there something going on here …. calling the help desk and see if they will read this account …
Call # with help desk is 0488-7287 if this helps others power users of DFIU to follow this requested review & fix.
Got any answers …drop me a line as greg(dot)henderson(at)wrenchead(dot)ca ( doing it this way to avoid spammers ) …:-)
This has been a slow simmer of problems with DFIU. But now for all apparent purposes DFUI Import Utility seems broken. The more recent example is a 61kb file that we use to update the desc # 2for our line of Calipers to show optional data when we have a hard time getting from the CARQUEST DC.
TOO BIG of a file …hmm … significantly broken. We have been doing this update for more than a year … as we have to keep doing it –the Desc # 2 gets wiped out when CQ does an update on the product line…. so now it is too big …. BS ….Come on Tier 2 ( yes -I know you have problems with the stability of the system staying up …. but once you finally get this under control — lets have look at what the party os that is broken in DFIU /// Please. Any help from Autologue is appreciated , as well
I have written many articles about Multi-Store Creator-Editor for Exploris ( Parts Watch by Autologue ) – many of them critical of the errors that still exist and are afraid to fix due to the complexity of the program ( a fact told to me by someone at Autologue).
But – here is one positive item … every time a store calls a part up and doesn’t sell the part … after month end the MS C-E program gets updated with a ZERO in that month. This is handy to see how many calls ( and often in our stores we source fro an XBO Buy Out that is hard to track – since CQ Toronto doesn’t stock a lot of the slowest parts … ps when you see a positive # – we sold as a CARQUEST # buy got it elsewhere …
Look at this example DOIR 624-577 ( that came from Andrew at Petes when he wrote catalogPRS to verify the part fits a 2007 ( which he sold and our customer did say it does fit ) so all other jobbers can benefit. The e-cat shows 2005-06 Ford F150.
Now — need to talk our secondary supplier into stocking this -( we have given up on asking CQ Canada to add more stock ) …. and we have an order point awaiting … based upon our past ‘touches’
The Blue X is the sale where Andrew wrote a follow up to E-Cat …this won’t show until after end of Aug month end … Multi-Store Creator-Editor … is a GREAT program — but the problems that should have been corrected … would make it a super-duper program for multi-store jobbers.
I always get a chuckle out of the help desk – when they tell me to ask my DSM ( sales rep ) for help with DFIU. I could teach him …:-)
Just updated a new X line for tools and tried some LONGER DESCRIPTIONS — as the new version of Exploris ( Parts Watch by Autologue ) can handle them …. got the error that the column data doesn’t match the header ( typically you have a comma in some field you forgot to replace with a dash )
Now the error message could be accurate – but I have also found it is a catch all for their programming limits. In this case I had used an excel formula =LEFT( original desc , 70 ). to limit at 70 characters ….
So I tried at 60 – same error code
So I tried at 40 characters … it is now updating as I type this. Wonder what the sweet spot for this version of DFIU is … may experiment with the next price sheet.
What great find by Ryan at D&T … this is important for guys ( and gals ) to keep learning Exploris ( Parts Watch by Autologue ) …anyways … we have some situations where we may have to keep a 2nd sourced item due to CoVid shortages or other reasons … how to make sure the counter staff see the ‘tiny’ alternate window … here is how
go to Controls> Store > Invoice Options > Replacements — and change the ‘prompt for alternates’ from NEVER to ( options are ALLWAYS or WHEN ZERO )
2. See attached video … trying to sell a WIR 35-7101 that is store doesn’t … but it does have an alternate # …. this short video shows a couple of options …. enjoy
Again – kudos to Ryan for this great discovery …. it will help our stores …
I have a call in to the EXPLORIS ( CARQUEST’s Name for Part Watch ) help desk # 444874 to ask why ..
Why don’t we have access to. customize the security settings like it shows in this Autologue YouTube video posted 3 years ago …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7ggKZY2cIU
Or – at least to have a new paper copy of the security settings – the image below is from 2014
Why ? When is the last time you checked your staff’s list and security settings … ?
When Parts Notes were added some years ago – the adoption of their use was slow at our 4 stores … but the more we use them the more uses we can see a great use for them … mainly for counter staff help.
For instance … special notes about torquing a bolt to something special ( which we print on the invoice as well ) – or for sourcing an alternate part when we want more ATTENTION that the standard ‘Alternate’ gives the staff
BUT — with CoVid and the crazy parts shortages we are seeing .. it would be REALLY REALLY REALLY nice to have the ‘PURCHASING NOTE’ actually do something … ( anything ?? call # 420644 to Exploris help desk that went all the way to Autologue and back .. )
For Instance … in a Back Order report … how about the sales movement code ( sales class ) and ANY Parts Notes …that flag attention for the person on what they need to do on optional sourcing to fill the stock … that would be a pretty nice start to a system that could and should be better than it is for us
Another small nit picking issue –if you have multiple stores … how about a way to add a note to some/all stores … like we do to add a sub line ( PN Code ) …. and then a way to modify nd delete the same note .. once … not 10 times if you have 10 stores … what a waste of manpower.
Can anyone help me understand DFIU import program for adding X lines into Exploris ( PartsWatch ). Updating Stens small engine – notice they have doubled their data with the additional of Atlantic Quality Parts ( Tractor Parts ) that their master company had purchased
The list was 19,000 parts — ok –now that is too large a file … we used to get 26,000 parts into a file – but the file size too large — OK – I will cut into 2
First part … breaks ( typical reply from DFIU – columns do not match …well – that is not the only reason … in this case Stens had some parts if monster sized descriptions I didn’t catch –the recent update to 58.10 allows for longer part descriptions..but this was excessive – used a =LEFT( part, 50 ) to trim to 50 characters –and part # 1 goes into system
BUT part # 2 –omg …kept erroring out. Finally I import just the part# and price… goes in …then I import the part # and the desc –that goes in …finally I import the part # and the misc stuff we add ( smc1 – smc2 – PN code – pac qty ) –and that goes in …
so what caused the 2nd full data to error out when the individual parts went in ….
Ah –DFIU … what a mystery you are
I use Note Pad to look at the file –sometime I get extra line feeds or carriage returns -or extra blank lines that is death to the data file
Above image is a part of the data section #2 broken into parts …. and you wonder why some of drink?
This problem with DFIU ( Autologue PartsWatch Import utility used by CARQUEST Exploris ) has been driving me crazy …. but …figured it out
Doing some clean up in data ( we added a PN Code of 999 to move crap to — then delete all items with a PN Code of 999 ) in brake pads — did the first 3 stores –then I wondered ( since this is such a small file … and on large files I often click continue twice ( to hurry it up …:-) — what would happen if I double -or in this case triple clicked continue … see the video
It works when you click continue once ….lesson learned … but …had the program been better written … well …that’s my story & I am sticking to it….
ps – still thinking about this …. I fond hard to understand how my file will open in Notepad++ with no blank lines – but when I send to Tier2 help – it shows every other line as a blank line … who & how did this file get modified ?? There may be more to dig up on this – stay tuned.
DFIU is the name of the side program that allows to you upload data into Exploris. Many years ago when I was on the Exploris Committee when it was rolling out – I remember others mentioning how important it was for their ability to add lines like Sthil Power products in the USA market …. an X line — as any line note supported or sold by CARQUEST.
Over the years we have used DFIU quite a bit … but recently more than normal ‘snags’ have come up. And some were my fault ( that hurts to say ) …. in part because I love using my Mac for as much as I can … ( remember I have VMWare only Mac running Exploris )
OK – lets look at issues ….
#1- too many blank lines …. in the past I could open a csv ( or text ) file back into MS Word and see the offending CR LF issues ( side note – Windows handles line feeds & carriage returns different than Mac different than Linux – google this ) .. but I can’t see to do this now — finally I grabbed Noteplus++ for my Windows side of the computer … and when I see this … I know I have a problem
But — there are other issues … presently working with Tier 2 to help figure out why DFIU posts errors ( similar to when your columns do not match your header ( like you forgot to strip out a comma in the parts description ) … short answer to a very long problem … it seems when moving ‘some’ data from Mac to Windows side for entry in DFIU –I am getting more blank line issues …BUT …if you open in Note Pad++ and save … these extra backlines go away .
And-here I was thinking that suppliers had special non-ascii characters in their part # or desc ( I have examples in the past of this — unsure if Autologue have changed any limits??
One can only hope that Autologue speeds up their improvements in DFIU to give better explanations of error messages … stay tuned …more is coming.
======. update ==== info from Tier 2 =====
Something is happening to make blank lines …it is the Mac-PC-Linux this in some way …..Image #1 is Notepad++ from my windows side of laptop
Image #2 is what Tier 2 sees for the same file also on notepad++ –any idea’s out there ?
PS – Mind you –Autologue could add some code to DFIU to skip blank lines and not send an error message that doesn’t match the problem … ?? hint …please …
Exploris Computer Stuff ( Exploris is CARQUEST's name for PartsWatch Software ) 