Getting XML catalogue data into Actinic

[Cal]

Hi

My client has an xml file with all his product details therein. I need to get this information into Actinic. How is this possible without a lot of donkey work. I know that it involves structuring the information as the Flat File Import does, but how do you go about this without cutting and pasting, bearing in mind the product catalogue is 10 000+.

I have developed many Actinic sites but I have never done this kind of thing.

Also I have not started the site yet and I am wondering whether or not to put in the Online Store Sections before I begin or whether these can be read into Actinic from the xml file?

Obviously my client will have to update the info from this xml file fairly often so this needs to be assured also.

The xml looks like this:

<VIPData>
<VIPproductDetails>
<SKU>4987 </SKU>
<product_group>Audio / Visual Players</product_group>
<manufacturer>Mustek</manufacturer>
<product_name>MUSTEK PERSONAL MEDIA CENTER PVR-A1 RET</product_name>
<model>PVR-A1</model>
<price1>58.20</price1>
<price2>57.62</price2>
<price3>57.04</price3>
<price4>0</price4>
<price5>0</price5>
<XMLorder>true</XMLorder>
<stock_unit>EACH </stock_unit>
<box_quantity>16 </box_quantity>
<wtyyrs>1 Year</wtyyrs>
<QoH>8</QoH>
<dueDate>Dec 25 2005 12:00AM</dueDate>
<dueQty>4</dueQty>
<smallImageLink>http://www.vip-computers.com/images/products/4987.jpg</smallImageLink>
<largeImageLink>http://www.vip-computers.com/images/products/4987.jpg</largeImageLink>
<techDataXML>&lt;VIP_product_tech_spec&gt;&lt;Product_x0020_Group&gt;Audio / Visual Players&lt;/Product_x0020_Group&gt;&lt;Manufacturer&gt;Mustek&lt;/Manufacturer&gt;&lt;SKU&gt;4987&lt;/SKU&gt;&lt;Product_x0020_Name&gt;MUSTEK PERSONAL MEDIA CENTER PVR-A1 RET&lt;/Product_x0020_Name&gt;&lt;Web_x0020_Address&gt;http://www.mustek.com.tw&lt;/Web_x0020_...;Warranty&gt;1 Year&lt;/Warranty&gt;&lt;Type&gt;Digital Video Player
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Digital Video Recorder
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Digital Photo Player Digital
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Voice Recorder
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;MP3 Player
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Lauguage Learning Player
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;USB Pocket Drive
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;SD/MMC Card Reader&lt;/Type&gt;&lt;Audio_x0020_Format&gt;MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3)
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Waveform Audio (WAV)&lt;/Audio_x0020_Format&gt;&lt;Video_x0020_Format&gt;MPEG 4 Compatible (ASF)
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Joint Picture Experts Group (JPEG)&lt;/Video_x0020_Format&gt;&lt;Recording_x0020_Format&gt;MPEG 4 Compatible (ASF)&lt;/Recording_x0020_Format&gt;&lt;Disk_x0020_Format&gt;&lt;/Disk_x0020_Format&gt;&lt;Encoding&gt;File Converter Converts Multiple Video Formats Into MPEG4 Compatible Formats&lt;/Encoding&gt;&lt;Radio&gt;&lt;/Radio&gt;&lt;Internal_x0020_Memory&gt;32MB&lt;/Internal_x0020_Memory&gt;&lt;External_x0020_Memory_x0020_Type_x0020_1&gt;Secure Digital Card&lt;/External_x0020_Memory_x0020_Type_x0020_1&gt;&lt;External_x0020_Memory_x0020_Type_x0020_2&gt;Multi Media Card&lt;/External_x0020_Memory_x0020_Type_x0020_2&gt;&lt;External_x0020_Max._x0020_Memory_x0020_Size&gt;512MB&lt;/External_x0020_Max._x0020_Memory_x0020_Size&gt;&lt;E.S.P._x0020_Memory&gt;&lt;/E.S.P._x0020_Memory&gt;&lt;Remote&gt;&lt;/Remote&gt;&lt;Display_x0020_Type&gt;2.5&amp;amp;quot; TFT LCD&lt;/Display_x0020_Type&gt;&lt;Equalizer&gt;Pop
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Jazz
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Classic
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Bass
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Rock&lt;/Equalizer&gt;&lt;TAG_x0020_Display&gt;ID3&lt;/TAG_x0020_Display&gt;&lt;Microphone&gt;Built-in&lt;/Microphone&gt;&lt;Speaker&gt;Built-in&lt;/Speaker&gt;&lt;Headset_x0020_&gt;Earphone&lt;/Headset_x0020_&gt;&lt;Signal_x0020_to_x0020_Noise_x0020_Ratio&gt;&lt;/Signal_x0020_to_x0020_Noise_x0020_Ratio&gt;&lt;Frequency_x0020_Response&gt;&lt;/Frequency_x0020_Response&gt;&lt;Max._x0020_Output&gt;&lt;/Max._x0020_Output&gt;&lt;Interface&gt;USB1.1&lt;/Interface&gt;&lt;Connectors&gt;AV In
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Headset&lt;/Connectors&gt;&lt;Music_x0020_Play_x0020_Mode&gt;&lt;/Music_x0020_Play_x0020_Mode&gt;&lt;Playback_x0020_Time&gt;&lt;/Playback_x0020_Time&gt;&lt;Record_x0020_Time&gt;&lt;/Record_x0020_Time&gt;&lt;Battery_x0020_Type&gt;Li-ion Battery&lt;/Battery_x0020_Type&gt;&lt;Battery_x0020_Qty&gt;1&lt;/Battery_x0020_Qty&gt;&lt;Mains&gt;AC Charger&lt;/Mains&gt;&lt;Width&gt;75.5mm&lt;/Width&gt;&lt;Height&gt;85mm&lt;/Height&gt;&lt;Depth&gt;21.3mm&lt;/Depth&gt;&lt;Weight&gt;0.11Kg&lt;/Weight&gt;&lt;Compatible_x0020_OS&gt;Windows 2000
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Windows XP&lt;/Compatible_x0020_OS&gt;&lt;Special_x0020_Features&gt;DPS Function
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Audio Alarm&lt;/Special_x0020_Features&gt;&lt;Package_x0020_Contents&gt;User's Manual
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;AV Lead
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Earphone
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;USB Lead
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Carrying Case
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Strap
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;AC Power Adapter
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Li-ion Battery
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Driver CD
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Ulead VideoStudio&lt;/Package_x0020_Contents&gt;&lt;/VIP_product_tech_spec&gt;</techDataXML>
<supersession>
</supersession>
<supsession_date />
<NewProduct>false</NewProduct>
<SpecialProduct>false</SpecialProduct>
<BackINProduct>false</BackINProduct>
<clearanceProducts>false</clearanceProducts>
<reducedProduct>false</reducedProduct>
<obsoleteProducts>false</obsoleteProducts>
<alternatives01>
</alternatives01>
<alternatives02>
</alternatives02>
<vat_inclusive>N</vat_inclusive>
<stock_vat_type>
</stock_vat_type>
<currency>GBP </currency>
<quantityBreak1>1</quantityBreak1>
<quantityBreak2>5</quantityBreak2>
<quantityBreak3>20</quantityBreak3>
<quantityBreak4>0</quantityBreak4>
<quantityBreak5>0</quantityBreak5>
</VIPproductDetails>


Any help massively appreciated

Best regards

Callum

[CymraegKev]

As far as I'm aware you can't do a direct XML import (V8 perhaps? - that would be excellent). In the mean time you'll have to serialize the data into an Excel file or an Access table and import through the normal routes.

Would also love to hear from anybody who has done a native XML schema import?

Kevin.

[Cal]

xml feed

Hi Kevin

I've got a programmer friend on to this one. Will let you know if he is successful.

Cheers

Callum