SO Creation from an external Source Data

[Chris Kelleher]

Hi All ,

What is the best method of creating a Sales Order in
the QAD system from the data gathered from an external source (Could be
a web based shopping cart)

1. CIM Load into Sales Order Quotation or may be Sales Order Maintenance

2. Doing a EDI xfer.
3. Direct Update to tables, In the case of Sales Order
quotation then it should simple be as it will not require to update
more table as mrp_det, alloations.
And once the SO is in QAD then convert it to a real Sales Order??
4. Or, any other option??

Thanks you all.

--
Praveen

 

[Chris Kelleher]

Praveen Chopra wrote:
>
> Hi All ,
>
> What is the best method of creating a Sales Order in
> the QAD system from the data gathered from an external source (Could be
> a web based shopping cart)
>
> 1. CIM Load into Sales Order Quotation or may be Sales Order Maintenance
>

Probably the most flexible for many different and new customers. You
would have to handle creation of new address, customer, and ship-to
records.

> 2. Doing a EDI xfer.

If your external source can consistantly write the data in the format
expected by MFG/PRO/s EDI Document Loader program, *and* the orders will
come in from a *small number* of *repeat* customers, use EDI. The only
problem with this method as far as I know, is that the Trading Partner
*must* be set up *prior* to the data load otherwise it will error. I
don't believe that the EDI concept was designed to handle many, new
customers easilly. If you think about the EDI trading partner concept,
it does make sense given its intended purpose.

If you are trying to import data from many different and new customers,
then EDI may not be the best bet.

> 3. Direct Update to tables, In the case of Sales Order
> quotation then it should simple be as it will not require to update
> more table as mrp_det, alloations.
> And once the SO is in QAD then convert it to a real Sales Order??

We try to shy away from direct table updates. Just make sure you hit
*all* of them.

> 4. Or, any other option??
>

Just think about your incoming data. Is it repeat business from the
same customers? Is it one-time business from many customers?

We use EDI importing and it works very well. We have a large customer
base, but it follows the 80/20 rule: the 20% of our customers who "do
EDI" easily account for 80% of our business.

> Thanks you all.
>
> --
> Praveen

 

[Chris Kelleher]

Some opinions:
* CIM load into Sales Order Maintenance can be done, but you need to be
prepared to make variations in the input file depending on the data
available. A classic instance of this is that a duplicate P.O. number
causes MFG/PRO to generate a 'press space bar to continue', which requires
an extra keystroke. Quote Maintenance is simpler than Order Maintenance.
* loading tables directly should be strongly discouraged.

John Nisbet
Kilcreggan Systems and Software, Inc.
QAD Service Alliance Partner
1191 Chestnut Street Suite 2-6
Newton, MA 02464-1351
jnisbet@kilcreggan.com
(617) 969-5432 x201

 

[Chris Kelleher]

The BEST way is to utilize the realp-time APIs built by ISS Group,
and also used by us to deliver the QAD B2B functionality. We use
a sub-set of these APIs for our QAD B2C (StoreFront) product, and
they can also be utilized by others for their own purposes.

We have used this interface to deliver orders from a main-frame
order system into MFG/PRO, and from other such tools. Take a
look at our site, and ask our product group for some ideas.

Bruce
--
Bruce A. McIntyre, CTO Phone: 215.938.7752
Integrated Systems & Services VMail: 973.812.9700 x6101
150 Clove Road, Little Falls, NJ http://www.ISSGroup.Net
BMcIntyre@ISSGroup.Net Trading Partner Transactions http://wwp.icq.com/1349309 StoreFront

 

[Chris Kelleher]

Hi Dana:

I also would not want to do direct update to the tables. because of version
upgrades and also not owning the QAD source code to figure out all necessary
tables to update. that is why I put that as the very last option. (i.e Worst
case scenerio) and if I have to use it then use it for just sales order
quatation as it does not update any real important files (because it is a
quatation not a real order). You can always convert the SO quotation into a
real order from within QAD.

Any other toughts on what is best EDI vs CIM????? or may Q/LINQ (is this
available in V 8.5F)

Is there anybody using Q/LINQ and also will CIM will be supported in furture
releases of QAD??

thanks

 

[Chris Kelleher]

> I also would not want to do direct update to the tables. because
> of version
> upgrades and also not owning the QAD source code to figure out
> all necessary
> tables to update.

Then don't do it. For ANY reason.

> that is why I put that as the very last
> option. (i.e Worst
> case scenerio) and if I have to use it then use it for just sales order
> quatation as it does not update any real important files (because it is a
> quatation not a real order). You can always convert the SO
> quotation into a
> real order from within QAD.

Do NOT directly update files involving sales orders / sales quotes. For
example, I think some inventory allocation MAY take place with quotes (not
sure). You're better off buying the sales order code and modifying it to
remove any messages and choices so it runs only one way (as far as UI).

>
> Any other toughts on what is best EDI vs CIM????? or may Q/LINQ (is this
> available in V 8.5F)

EDI is more standard, so that would be my choice. Never used Q/LINQ, don'd
know how effective it is or what versions it works with.

Dana Huse
Single-Source 'Droid

 

[Chris Kelleher]

The reasons stated below is exactly why I recommended using our
e-Framework technology and the APIs we developed for B2B and B2C.

Note that ISS Group is a QAD source-code licensee, and we have
taken the responsibility to ensure that the model closely matches
the QAD code stream, and also that we are responsible to ensure
that as new releases come out, the model will continue to be
usable and upgradeable. Figuring out EXACTLY what QAD SOs do is
decidedly non-trivial. We have invested the time and money to
do so, so that our customers don't have to. At the same time,
we give the flexibility and performance that customers desire,
and that can't be done through a batch-type process such as
Q/LinQ or CIM.

Q/LinQ is basically ASYNC in nature, B2B is SYNC in nature. And
also, since Q/LinQ is only available from V9.0 on, and our models
will fit back on MFG/PRO versions 7.3 and on, including V9.0,
it presents a strong ongoing capability.

If you can use Q/LinQ, and be satisfied with a purely static
ASYNC process, then Q/LinQ will be a strong contender. And QAD
has said that they will carry forward existing CIM formats for
as long as possible.

Bruce
--
Bruce A. McIntyre, CTO Phone: 215.938.7752
Integrated Systems & Services VMail: 973.812.9700 x6101
150 Clove Road, Little Falls, NJ http://www.ISSGroup.Net
BMcIntyre@ISSGroup.Net Trading Partner Transactions http://wwp.icq.com/1349309 StoreFront

 

[Chris Kelleher]

To reiterate what almost everyone has said, avoid direct table updates like
the plague.

Between EDI and CIM, it's really a trade-off. CIM is more flexible, but
it's also slower and prone to changes (whether from exception conditions or
from changes to the screen layout at upgrade times). EDI is less flexible
and requires you to establish the EDI relationship between you and the
trading partner in 35.1 and 35.2, but it is much faster (since it basically
does direct table updates <g>) and is much less likely to change.

If you're dealing with web-store transactions, then something like the B2C
product offered by QAD and ISS would probably be a better solution. If
you're dealing with repetitive (even once-a-month repetitive) business
transactions, the EDI path would probably be better.

Q/LinQ, which is not available until MFG/PRO 9.0, has an improved CIM
engine inside itself.

What's the best method? As with anything else, the correct answer is "it
depends...". Hopefully, you've had enough information over the past day to
clear up some of the confusion and come to a decision.

Good luck.

Scott
===============================================================
Scott M. Dulecki /* 1998061901 */ +1 616 975 6322
Product Manager scott_dulecki@qad.com
QAD, Inc. http://www.qad.com
1188 East Paris SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA

Next Michigan Progress Users Group: 17 November 1999

All opinions are my own, and don't necessarily reflect those of
any other living being.
===============================================================

 

[Chris Kelleher]

From: Praveen Chopra <praveen@ricochet.net>

> What is the best method of creating a Sales Order in
> the QAD system from the data gathered from an external source (Could be
> a web based shopping cart)
>
> 1. CIM Load into Sales Order Quotation or may be Sales Order Maintenance
> 2. Doing a EDI xfer.

Seems like between 1 and 2 it's a matter of volume/scale. If it's big
volume, several trading partners, it'd probably be worth the setup
overhead to do EDI. If it's one customer, same format all the time, not
much volume, EDI seems like overkill, and I'd go CIM. If you want the
Customer Service dept. to do it without IS intervention, I'll send you
my secure CIM front-end.

Remember, CIM also has upgrade issues, if the UI changes between
versions. Minor, granted, but a stopper if you're not expecting it.

> 3. Direct Update to tables, In the case of Sales Order
> quotation then it should simple be as it will not require to update
> more table as mrp_det, alloations.

What hasn't already been said?

> 4. Or, any other option??

Ditto.
---------------
Paul T. O'Leary
Evco Plastics, a leader in plastics injection molding
DeForest, WI USA