Modifying ActinicCatalog.mdb in Access .....

[simonwar]

Hi,

I am using Access to add records to the Table ProductProperties in a bid to add custom properties to my products quick time.

Q. If I copy an entire RECORD, and paste the entire RECORD, it works perfectly. But if I column fill, (excel style), in a seemingly identical way, it does not?

Example if I COPY all FIELDS per RECORD,
Field1, Field2, Field3, etc and PASTE it all good,

but if I try to fast column fill, e.g.

Record 1 Field1
Record 2 Field1
Record 3 Field1
Record 4 Field1
Record 5 Field1

Record 1 Field2
Record 2 Field2
Record 3 Field2
etc etc.... it doesn't like it?

I am still using Access to input the column fills but no luck, Actinc does not include them, even though Access is happy?

Any ideas ?

[wjcampbe]

This is never a good idea. Any referential integrity requirements between different tables are being totally ignored, master detail relationships broken - potential total loss of data a constant probability.

There are key fields (note the plural) in any record that need to exist before you can move off that record and begin entry of another record.

You really should stop doing any database manipulation in this way. Study, practice and perfect the heirarchical import provided by Actnic for this purpose.

[Mark H]

Even flat file imports and/or dynamic linking to an external spreadsheet (which I find easier than hierachical imports) can offer quick access to custom variables, plus other benefits such as being able to changes all prices in seconds etc.

[los_design]

You really should stop doing any database manipulation in this way. Study, practice and perfect the heirarchical import provided by Actnic for this purpose.

Could not agree more Bill. I have extensive knowledge and formal qualifications in Access (as have many users on here) and I would not manipulate direct into the db in this manner.

It is a disaster waiting to happen and this should be added to the topic posted by Jo of things NEVER TO DO...

[pnagames]

amending the access db is a recipe for disaster.

it all depends on what fields you are trying to populate

anything you want to do in the db, take a copy beforehand

as Bill says there are a variety of keys in each table which are required.

[fergusw]

I add my agreement to the other posters.
In V7 the table [ProductProperties] is used for a variety of data from components, attributes and permutations to CUSTOMVARS and product pricing quantity schedules. Each one of which uses the same fields in the database in very different ways.

I have spent a lot of time getting to grips with many of the tables Actinic uses, understanding how the various fields interact with each other and the Actinic interface, and unless you spend a LOT of time going backwards and forwards between Actinic and Access noting ALL the amendments made with each single, incremental change in Actinic you're not going to fully understand why trying to enter data directly into the table is not working for you.

Nuances of the [ProductProperties] fields, such as [nSequence],[bFlag3], [bFlag4] etc can cause a real headache if you don't properly understand them.

If you are determined, and have spare time, I'd recommend entering a single CUSTOMVAR through the actinic interface then check the fields in the database that have been added/amended to see what Actinic does. Then add another one, somewhere else in Actinic, (e.g. product/section/site wide) and do the same and inderstand the differences between each one. It may give you a better understanding of what is going on.

Q. How much time would it actually take to manually add these CUSTOMVARS through the Actinic interface compared to the time spent testing, checking, posting here, testing, and finally succeeding in being able to manually add through Access?

[simonwar]

Thanks all.... i'm convinced.
I'll steer well away from Access for now.
(However i have added loads of content already to the Product Table ....... fingers crossed all seems to be OK at the minute. I haven't added any Records simply changed text content, and a few true false flags related to Extended Info (see thread linked below) ..... fingers very crossed )

Anyway going forward, has anyone got some notes on the flat or hierarchial imports, I don't get it.

One major advantage, as far as i can see for export and import is to use column filling tools, in say EXCEL, for fast population of many products with common detail.

What I am trynig to do is add Extended Info so that i can use it in Mole End's Google mash to add descriptions for all my products, that I cannot access at the minute.

I have started a thread on this and apologies for the duplication.

http://community.actinic.com/showthread.php?t=32889

I've tried a few exports and end up with a row based output as a opposed to a column based output and therefore the column fill tools not as effective, (if you know what I mean).

Any further help or literature on quick updating using export/imports greatly appreciated.