Export product info from actinic to sage line 50

[chris ashdown]

Would it be possible to add this to the wish list

The way we work is to update the web sites with new products during the month and then at the end of the month enter into the database and get the

Product ref No
Short description
Price

And then export them to excel where we juggle them around into line 50 order and import into line 50

Could we have a way where we could just use the export facility to export this data into a excel file or have the reports section do it for us and avoide us having to play with the database

Failig that could not the link program transfer this data accross

[Bruce]

Chris,

Have you tried using the Export feature in Actinic, if you go to File | Export | Next .. select only 'Catalog'. This would create a Hierarchical file export of the catalog that is created in .csv format. You can play around with this to get into Sage.

Kind regards,

[chris ashdown]

Actually used Jans Profit and planning tool which exports out the description, ref no and price of the whole site into excel format, then just a case of adding other sage data

I do think actinic should look at this though as most people will build there sites first and at a latter date buy there sage software, they then need to export the actinic data into sage.

Myself I still prefer to update prices in actinic and then update the sage, and anything that stops me going into the database is a strong safety feature with my fat and dumb fingers

[rookers]

Has anyone come up with a good way of getting products into Sage ?

I too have everything in Actinic and thought the Sage link would take products across and am astonished that it does not.

Can someone tell me how to get products from Actinic into Sage ?

Jez

[cdicken]

Sage does have a fairly basic import option - available via 'File | Import' (Stock Records). The import file format is in the main help. This just does names, prices and stock levels - but will get you up and running.

A quick way to just get product data out of Actinic is to:

1. Do a 'File | Export'.
2. Open up the hierarchical file in Excell
3. Sort the file by column A - which will group all the product records together
4. Delete everything in the file except the 'Product' rows and the 'Header:Product' row.
5. Then delete column A - and you will end up with all your products in a neat spreadsheet.

The reason it works like it does is that most people using Actinic Link already use Sage before they start using Actinic. You are just coming at it from the other point of view.

[rookers]

Thanks for that - will exports going over to Sage then link up with those products is I do the initial export/import as you have just described ?

[cdicken]

Yes - as the product records in Actinic and the product records in Sage will have the same product reference.

[rookers]

Hmm I am finding this very hard work indeed. I have done the export as described and done a big tidy-up of the file so that it matches the CSV file structure from the help in sage.

I cannot even get past Line 1 Field 1 - I get error Illegal Stock Account Reference in Line 1 Field 1 !!!

This is the product code I think. My first product code is "1" - what else can I do ? It is formatted in excel as Text. I have tried the import with and without the header line - without it it just hangs.

I am also getting errors for the Stock Tax field, Sales Price etc - what is wrong with the file?

I think Actinic should seriously consider having this export built in as I am sure it is not the case that most people start with Sage and then buy Actinic. WHen we started our business from scratch buying sage was the last thing on our minds.

I have attached a 3 line sample file - could someone have a look at it and tell me what the problem is as my eyes are dizzy trying to solve this.

Many thanks

[rookers]

Can anyone from Actinic please help with this ? I really am cheesed off that after splashing out on Business Multi-user, I am still in a position where products will not transfer over to Sage. I do not, and cannot, re-type 3000 products into Sage when that feature should be a fundamental feature of the link program. I have tried and tried to make the Export file go into Sage but keep getting errors.

[cdicken]

I have tried, and failed, to get anything going into my copy of Sage either. I can't believe how difficult it is. Sorry about that - I assumed that they would give you more help than they do.

I suggest giving Sage technical support a call and see if they can supply an example import file. I can then take a look and help you with the necessary changes to the file.

[Miranda Stamp]

Just subscribing to the thread as I'd like the answer too !

Have to say that we've used Paul at Greater Vision for this before, but would be nice to know 'how' myself

[rookers]

Chris - could you guys talk to Sage as I'm sure you have more clout than me and it is in the interest of the whole Actinic Community to finally find out once and for all how to do this ?

Jez

[cdicken]

OK - please see the attached zip file for a working Sage import file. I talked to Paul Barker at Greater Vision at the end as they are Sage and Actinic partners.

Please note the following:

• You will need to remove the entire yellow area - including the header rows (that's where I was going wrong)
• Save the file as a CSV (comma delimited) - your file was tab delimited
• You will need to put correct nominal codes and supplier codes in the import file
• You need every field in the file.

Hope that puts you on the correct path. If you are still in trouble, give Paul Barker at Greater Vision a ring. 023 9287 1177.

[rookers]

Many thanks for that - I shall give it a go !

[Jarvis]

I have read the thread and to be honest, whilst I applaud Chris's work on this, (as always), I am less happy with Actinic's dismissal of ownership to this.
My viewpoint is this:
Actinic is primarily a product database with both in-built invoicing or integrated accounting into Sage Line 50.
Actinic link facilitates the updating of Sage Line 50 Accounts
Sage Line 50 is primarily an Accounts application with a link to the Actinic orders database.
Sage Line 50 has limited product update to Actinic.

Now, it strikes me that the easiest way of dealing with this is already 90% in place with Actinic looking after the Cart and Sage to looking after the Accounting, Actinic Link acting as the facilitator.
So why on earth cannot Actinic Link update the products in Sage?

Failing that, given that there is a CSV export route, (albeit with some convoluted modifications required), why cannot Actinic write a simple export that will pull from the Actinic database the information required, in the format required, for Sage to import it?