What is updated with a parts/price update?
From Catalyst
The purpose of our parts/price update service is to update your copy of Platinum to the latest details and prices set by various manufactures. The information that it updates follows quite a complex set of rules so that important data in your data files is not over written.
Process
Shadow File
The "Shadow File" is a master file containing all the parts/prices from the various manufactures you deal with; the updates change information in this file. This information is then copied into your "Main Stock Data Files" for individual stock lines that you actually deal with.
- All fields in the shadow are updated unless you have the "Sales Prices Uplifted Only" parameter in "Stock Control Parameters" -> "General Parameters (2)" set to 'Y'. When this is set the "Retail Price" will only go up; if the parts/price update wants to take the price down then this will be ignored.
- The cost price will be subjected to any "Supplier Discounts" you have set up for the "Stock Code", "Supplier" and "Cost/Discount Group". If you do not have any set up then the cost price as supplied will be used.
Main Stock File
- Once the shadow file has been updated following the above rules, the update checks to see if the stock line is in your main stock data files. If it is then the "Retail Price", supersession information and supplier packing details are updated. The description of your stock line is only set to that of the shadow file if the description on your main stock data file is blank. The short description will only be set if it too is spaces and you have the parameter {{DataPrompt|Set Short Desc. In Shadow Copy{{DataPrompt| set to 'Y'. The V.A.T. rate is set if the V.A.T. rate on your main stock data file is zero. The Stock Group will be set to that of the "Cost/Discount Group" on your shadow file if it is blank.
- Cost prices are only updated under certain circumstances. No cost prices are ever set if the "Cost Price" on the shadow file is zero (this would indicate that we have not been supplied with the cost price nor given any discount structure to apply to the retail prices by the manufacturer; in these cases you are advised to set up a Supplier/Discount system to set your cost prices). The "Standard" cost price is only set if your current total stock level (across all depots) is zero. The "Supplier" cost price is always set as long as you have a "Shadow Supplier" set linking the two character supplier code on the shadow file to your six character supplier code in your purchase ledger.
- Any price escalations you have set are then applied to set any other price ranges you may have for that stock line.
After all of that the update moves on to the next stock line in the update.
