When it comes to .xml files
that you will receive from Morris Costumes, you have several choices. This
webpage will: 1) Define terminology used to describe these files; 2)
Breakdown the components of each file, using examples of what they look
like and/or what the file URL looks like; And 3) Discuss when you will
receive these files, which is most often your (the customer's)
choice. From there, it's up to you to determine which file(s) will be most
relevent for your system.
Here is a list of current .xml
files available to you:
1) "Available batch"
files: a record of available inventory.
2) "Results" file: a (nearly)
immediate response to your placed order or batch.
3) "Open Orders
Summary" file: summary of ALL currently open orders.
4) "Daily Summary"
file: a record of all "changed" orders that day; includes 'picked',
'invoiced', 'added', 'deleted', etc.
5) "Weekly Summary" file: same as
daily summary, but weekly.
6) "Current Load History" file: most current
(real-time) record of orders/batches loaded, whether successful or
not.
7) "Daily Load History" file: daily record of ALL the
orders/batches loaded, whether successful or not.
8) "Weekly Load
History" file: weekly record of ALL the orders/batches loaded, whether
successful or not.
First, let's look at file Format:
"With" or "Without" Detail:
The term "With detail" refers
to the contents of the file. Files "with detail" contain the quantity, the
description, price, and weight (if known) of the item(s). Click HERE for an example of an .xml file "WITH
DETAIL".
The term "WithOUT detail" refers to the contents of the file. Files "withOUT detail" simply
do NOT contain the description, price, or weight. But DOES contain the
quantity. Click HERE for an example of an
.xml file "WITHOUT DETAIL".
Now, we'll
begin to breakdown the .xml file, and
explain some of the terminology used to name the
files:
Here is an example of a
URL (a web link) you might receive from
Morris:
http://morris.morriscostumes.com/out/available_batch_11111yyyyy.xml
Starting with
the "available_batch_" portion: this describes the content of the
.xml file. Other content descriptions you may see are
"available_batch", "openorders_summary_", or
"daily_summary_", to name a few. It all depends on the content of
the file. I'll go into more detail about each file
later.
Next, "11111" is representing
your customer number.
And finally, the
"yyyyy" stands for several things. In this case, each "y" represents a
"yes".. in other cases, you may see "nyyyn" or "nyyyy", etc. The "n",
stands for "no".
Here's what they mean:
The 1st
"y": "With detail?" y or n
The 2nd
"y": "Include the North Carolina location?" y or
n *
The 3rd "y": "Include the California
location?" y or n **
The 4th
"y": "Combine the location inventory?" y or
n ***
The 5th "y": "Includes ALL active
items?" y or n ****
* Your system must be set up to receive
inventory from the North Carolina location.
** Your system must be set
up to receive inventory from the California location.
*** "Combined"
means that the shipping location will be unknown to you. Your system must
be set up for this.
**** "All" items means the file includes ALL active
items (vs. "changes" to inventory only).
Ex:
http://morris.morriscostumes.com/out/available_batch_11111yyyyy.xml
The
example above indicates that you've been sent an "available batch";
that your customer number is "11111"; that your system is set to receive
inventory from both NC and CA; that you are set up to receive
"combined" location files; and that this file includes "ALL" active
items.
So which files will I get, and
when:
As indicated earlier, it's
up to you to decide which files you wish to receive from Morris Costumes.
It's not necessary to receive any of them, if you do not wish. It's
also up to you to determine when you'd like to receive them. We
already have a schedule of when these files are being sent, but this can
be modified to your request.
*NOTE: When you receive the link to
these file(s), they will be COMPRESSED and end with
".tgz"
1) "Available Batch"
files:
If you are set up to receive
"COMBINED" location information, your "available batch" options
are:
1)
The "Changes" file, without detail, which is currently being
sent out every 30 minutes. ex:
[available_batchnyyyn.xml]
*NOTE: Every time a new file goes out, the old one is OVERWRITTEN.
There is only ONE existing file.
2) The
"All" active items file, with detail, which is currently
being sent out on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month.
ex:
[available_batch_customeryyyyy.xml]
3)
The "All" active items file, without detail, which is
currently being sent out every night. ex:
[available_batchnyyyy.xml]
*NOTE: Every time a new file goes out, the old one is OVERWRITTEN.
There is only ONE existing file.
If you are set up to receive "SEPARATE"
location information, your "available batch" options are:
1) The
"Changes" file, without detail, which is currently being
sent out every 30 minutes. ex:
[available_batchnyynn.xml]
*NOTE: Every time a new file goes out, the old one is OVERWRITTEN.
There is only ONE existing file.
2) The
"All" active items file, with detail, which is currently
being sent out on the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month.
ex:
[available_batch_customeryyyny.xml]
3)
The "All" active items file, without detail, which is
currently being sent out every night. ex:
[available_batchnyyny.xml]
*NOTE: Every time a new file goes out, the old one is OVERWRITTEN.
There is only ONE existing file.
If you are set up to receive "REAL-TIME"*
xml information, your "available batch" options are:
*
"Real-Time" refers to your system being directly linked to Morris' system,
and has the capability of receiving the most
current
inventory
information available. For more information, email Scott Morris at morris@morriscostumes.com
1) The "Changes" file, without detail, which is currently being sent out immediately upon
any change in
inventory
AND/OR every
30 minutes. ex:
[available_batchnynyn.xml]
*NOTE: Every time a new file goes out, the old one is OVERWRITTEN.
There is only ONE existing file.
2) The
"All" active items file, with detail, which is currently
being sent out every Sunday night.ex:
[available_batchyynyy.xml]
*NOTE: Every Sunday night, this file OVERWRITES. There is
only ONE existing file.
2) "Results" file: a (nearly) immediate response to your placed
order or batch.
3) "Open Orders Summary"
file: summary of ALL currently open
orders. Currently being sent out daily.
4) "Daily Summary"
file: record of ALL "changed" orders
that day; includes 'picked', 'invoiced', 'added', 'deleted', etc. Sent out
daily.
5) "Weekly Summary"
file: record of ALL "changed" orders
that week; includes 'picked', 'invoiced', 'added', 'deleted', etc. Sent
out weekly.
6) "Current Load History"
file: most current (real-time) record of
orders loaded, whether successful or not.
7) "Daily Load History"
file: DAILY record of ALL the orders
(and attempted orders) loaded, whether successful or not.
8) "Weekly Load History"
file: WEEKLY record of ALL the orders
(and attempted orders) loaded, whether successful or
not.
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