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Auto Loader

42 bytes added, 16:46, 1 June 2008

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The Autoloader feature provides you with the ability to automatically update SmartSimple information with information from external text files. This feature is vital if you need to keep SmartSimple customer or project data in sync with an existing ERP or other legacy system.

An Autoloader can be triggered whenever a file is added to a designated SmartFolder. These files can be added manually or uploaded automatically using the file synchronization plug-in – [[SmartSync]].

* Once a file is added to the SmartFolder, the autoloader process will recognize that a file has been added and start the upload process.* Once the file has been processed, it will not be processed a second time unless a new file of the same name is added to the folder.* Each record from the upload file will update the associated record in the database.* A log file created indicates the success or failure of each record update and an email can be sent to a designated user indicating the success of the upload.* If a new version of the file is added to the folder, then this flag is reset and new file will be processed.* You can create any number of Autoloaders within the system to provide for different upload processes.* An Autoloader can upload [[company]], [[contact]] or [[Universal Tracking Application]] Level 1 or Level 2 data.

Once the file has been processed, it will not be processed a second time unless a new file of the same name is added to the folder.

Each record from the upload file will update the associated record in the database.

A log file created indicates the success or failure of each record update and an email can be sent to a designated user indicating the success of the upload.

If a new version of the file is added to the folder, then this flag is reset and new file will be processed.

You can create any number of Autoloaders within the system to provide for different upload processes.

An Autoloader can upload company, contact or Universal Tracking Level 1 or Level 2 data.

Before you can deploy this feature it is necessary to:

• * Define the SmartFolder where the upload file will be stored.• * Define the format and layout of the data file – the number of columns in the upload file, the delimiter between each field and the field order.• * Specify a field in the upload file that the system will use to match an upload record to an existing customer record.• * Determine if you wish to use an automated process for files by using the SmartSync utility or manually add the files to the folder. 

Each record in the upload file is used to update one set of fields in the entity to be updated.

The existing value in the SmartSimple field will be replaced by the value on the field in the upload file.

* You must be able to specify the field that will be used to link each record in the upload file to each record in the customer record and you cannot use a standard field such as customer name or phone number.

* This common field needs to be present in each record on the upload file and in each customer record. For instance, a unique account number field that you add to the customer table can be linked to the same account number field in the upload data.

* The file to be uploaded must be in '''ASCII ''' format. There is no specific file naming convention.

* Each record in the file must be separated by a CR/LF (ASCII 13,10 /D,A) character combination.

* Each field must be delimited by one of the following characters:

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Mike Reid

Smartstaff

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