FAQ
[Data Interface Specifics]
Import/Export to workstation
MARS-IW is designed to function as an independent inventory management work station. This design allows purchase order requisitions, critical inventory reports and buy/no buy simulations to be accomplished without affecting the performance or functional operation of the host system. To interface MARS-IW with your host, one file must be exported from the host to your workstation, and when the purchase order is completed that P.O. information must be imported into the host computer.
The download procedure is very rapid, requiring only minutes per thousands of records and therefore can be done frequently. Typically, you may wish to have the entire file downloaded each evening, or, just prior to creating a replenishment order. It is necessary, however, to download the item file at least once per period so that the sales history for the period is entered into the item file prior to the next period. Inventory history for periods other than the current period need only be downloaded once when you begin using MARS-IW. The period end close at the end of each period saves the history for up to 36 periods for a monthly setup and 104 weeks for a weekly setup.
HOW TO GET YOUR DATA INTO THE MARS-IW WORKSTATION (DOWNLOADING)
The process of DOWNLOADING is divided into four phases:
Phase 1.) You must first extract data from your host computer and arrange it in a specific sequence and format and place it in an ASCII flat file. Additionally the file may be in comma delimited format. (File layout and mapping definitions are provided in Appendix A in the Mars Help file.)
Phase 2.) The ASCII/Comma Delimited file must be transferred to the MARS-IW workstation.
Phase 3.) The data in the ASCII/Comma Delimited file must be verified by the "File Format Checker" to insure that it is in the proper format. This step usually needs to be done only when you are setting up the "DOWNLOAD" process. After this process is set up, it should run unmonitored and the need to verify information will only be necessary if a problem develops.
Phase 4.) Update the MARS-IW data base with the information extracted above using the Mars Agent load program.