I'm trying to import a list of products into CRM 1.2 - can anyone provide
direction on the best approach here?

My product list comes in two forms:
1. an ASCII, comma delimited, double-quote text qualified file (similar to
the text files that can be used to import Contacts)
2. several DBF files that cross reference one another - one for product
pricing, one for product description, one for manufacturer codes, etc.

What are my options? I would prefer the quick and easy approach.

Once the data is imported we will need to update the entire database on a
daily basis - it would involve replacing all the data with updated entries.

Any suggestions? I could not find any documentation on how to import
products into the CRM catalog nor do I see any training resources and/or
classes that cover this.

There a re a few ways

1 - use a tool called the data migration framework -requires sql skills
2 - buy a tool called scribe migrate from scribesoft
3 - write your own code to import the products

--
John O'Donnell
Microsoft CRM MVP
http://www.mscrmfaq.us


"FiMA" <FiMA@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
newsCC5B66F-BFCA-4459-81A3-8082064B1539@microsoft.com...

Thanks John.

I've started to work with the Data Migration Framework (DMF). Unfortunately
I'm realizing that even this solution isn't going to be what I want. From
what I'm reading it looks like DMF is used to migrate data on a one-time
basis. I'm interested in updating the SQL tables on a daily or weekly basis
- and it doesn't look like DMF supports this. I'm *very* rusty with my SQL
and relational database skills but I'm thinking I'm going to have to delete
the tables that hold my product information and recreate them to perform
updates. In other words, I'm going to have to perform DMF migrations
everytime I want to perform updates. Does anyone know if this is even
possible?

These products I'm trying to import are from a set of DBF files our
distributor makes available to their customers. The other solution the
distributor offers is an XML API to connect to their product database - then
I'm guessing that I would have to use ODBC? or something similar to connect
to the SQL database and update the products that way. This is essentially
writing directly to the SQL tables, which I think I remember reading is not
recommended?

Has anyone done anything like this? Maybe a better question is - Is anyone
even on the same page with me here? I'm trying to avoid having to re-invent
the wheel if at all possible.

Thanks for all of your help in advance.

Fima Leshinsky
NetXperts, Inc.
www.netxperts.com

"John O'Donnell" wrote:

I have written ongoing loads of product data from a feed. unless you are wiling
to purchase a product like Scribe, you will need to develop this yourself using
the SDK calls.

Matt Parks
MVP - Microsoft CRM

----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 20:27:12 -0700, "FiMA" <FiMA@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

Thanks John.

I've started to work with the Data Migration Framework (DMF). Unfortunately
I'm realizing that even this solution isn't going to be what I want. From
what I'm reading it looks like DMF is used to migrate data on a one-time
basis. I'm interested in updating the SQL tables on a daily or weekly basis
- and it doesn't look like DMF supports this. I'm *very* rusty with my SQL
and relational database skills but I'm thinking I'm going to have to delete
the tables that hold my product information and recreate them to perform
updates. In other words, I'm going to have to perform DMF migrations
everytime I want to perform updates. Does anyone know if this is even
possible?

These products I'm trying to import are from a set of DBF files our
distributor makes available to their customers. The other solution the
distributor offers is an XML API to connect to their product database - then
I'm guessing that I would have to use ODBC? or something similar to connect
to the SQL database and update the products that way. This is essentially
writing directly to the SQL tables, which I think I remember reading is not
recommended?

Has anyone done anything like this? Maybe a better question is - Is anyone
even on the same page with me here? I'm trying to avoid having to re-invent
the wheel if at all possible.

Thanks for all of your help in advance.

Fima Leshinsky
NetXperts, Inc.
www.netxperts.com

"John O'Donnell" wrote: