Stock Control from xml data

[Truska]

I have been given an xml file of data, including a unique product ref that matches Actinic and a stock number and asked to update Actinic with current Stock levels to prevent orders being placed for products now out of stock.
There are more products sold off-line than on-line so entering individual sales to reduce stock in Actinic is not viable.

I know we can manage the buy button based on stock in Actinic so need to find a way to import this data into Actinic without altering what is already there. The xml does not have all the data needed for Actinic so I have to just update the stock field

Any ideas on the best way to approach this or information on any add-ins already available would be most most welcome.

Thank you in advance....

[fergusw]

I'd formulate a way to convert the XML into a flat CSV with only the product code and stock level as columns. A simple import/update into Actinic with this file should suffice to update the stock levels.

There are several ways to convert XML - it depends on your preferred method/knowledge.

[Truska]

Thank you fergusw - yes that was at the back of my mind - I am have asked if a simple csv is available rather than having to convert from xml.

Keep it simple I think will be the important advise from this one. Still open to ideas of clever, but easy ways, if they exist.

Thanks again for speedy response

[fergusw]

1. Pull the XML into Excel
2. Strip out all unwanted fields leaving product code and stock level
3. Save As '.csv' and try/test import.

[Duncan Rounding]

You can import xml directly into Excel via the data import menu. In many cases this allows easy manipulation of the data.

[Truska]

Thanks - the xml of the backend system is supplied in 4 different xml files and I think I need 2 or 3 of them to get the data.
1 has the product code we use in Actinic and its own unique code, another the stock with the unique code and not the product code.
Not all items are in Actinic either so that will have to be managed.
Am pushing for a simple csv as this will need to be done either daily or several times a week anyway and the less steps and data manipulation the better.

Will wait and see if csv is forthcoming, if so then I think that it will be the easiest solution, if not I will defer to Excel - or maybe same process Access so I can create the relationships and then a simple export query to create the csv anyway.

Must try the xml import as I was not aware of it, even if not for this project it may be good in others.

Again thanks for the help - was on the right lines in my thought processes but very good to get it confirmed and developed/expanded on.

Regards

[fergusw]

Thanks - the xml of the backend system is supplied in 4 different xml files and I think I need 2 or 3 of them to get the data.
1 has the product code we use in Actinic and its own unique code, another the stock with the unique code and not the product code.

In which case you will be looking at some kind of scripted solution.
Some programmed code that pulls in the data from both XML files and outputs the CSV with code and stock level together.

You could possibly use Access. Pull both XML files into two database tables and run a simple SQL SELECT/JOIN query against them to output the required fields.