Formatting Issue/Problem with Flat File Import in V8

[Cal]

I have recently completed a v7 to v8 upgrade for my client www.toolfastdirect.co.uk. It's a 20 000 product catalog so the upgrade has/is slow. Most major issues have been sorted, but my client has just contacted me with what is a major issue with regards to his process for updating his Actinic Catalog from a Flat File Import. In version 7 the flat file import worked fine, but in version 8 new products in the flat file do not format properly, as can be seen toward the bottom of http://www.toolfastdirect.co.uk/acat...e8_8_Zinc.html"]this page[/URL]

The tables in which the product details reside are missing, so the content is thrown onto the page unformatted and the input quantity box is missing. It seems that Actinic is trying to put in a product with an image aswell. Perhaps the issue surrounds a change in the naming conventions in Actinic 8 at the database level or something along these lines. At present I do not have all the information from my client, but would appreciate the start of a discussion about this issue. Any pearls greatly welcome.

Cheers

Cal

[los_design]

Hi Cal

I have used many FF imports and can never recall them impacting on the design whatsoever so apart from the FULL DESCRIPTION (WHEN I have added \n\n !!<<>>!! etc) my first port of call to check would be the outer layer & product layout (settings and library).

Just off the cuff mate (please do not take this the wrong way), did you send your client a snapshot AND the FF or just the FF?

HTH

[Cal]

Hi

Cheers for the reply.

My client's upgrade was done through a snapshot. His supplier has since sent him the csv stock update, he has made his usual v7 changes to it in order for Actnic to read it properly and uploaded, resulting in the formatting issue.

Obviously, v8 deals differently with this file now.

I'll look inot the library settings, thanks for the help

Cal

[Cal]

Product Template Field Missing in Version 8

Hi

I believe that that this issue is due to Actinic 8 no longer accepting the product template field in a flat file import. My client was using this field to layout the products in tables.

Can anyone verify this and suggest a way that he can update his catalog through a flat file import that allows you to map data to a layout (previously a template) without having to do it manually in the backend of Actinic?

Cheers

Callum

[jont]

Flat files do not need a layout - you can just map say the product reference and cost, stock etc and they will update accordingly.

The hierarchical import uses layouts / setting.

[Cal]

Hi

Thanks for that.

However, in v7 you could input layout/template data in the flat-file and it would update accordingly. At least that was what my client was previousliy doing. Now the ability to do that has been removed as far as we can ascertain.

Cal

[TraceyG]

Hi,

You are right in that layouts can no longer be imported via a flat file. This is because the layout fields are now user definable fields. One workaround would be to include a layout field in your flat file and then use the 'FlatFileConvertor.exe' program found in the v8 installation folder to convert it to a hierarchical file which will then import the layout. I would suggest making backups of the site before importing until your client is sure that everything is importing correctly after using this tool.