Implementing the Sync Tool

The Inventory Product Catalog Synchronization Tool requires some technical understanding of the EBMS inventory files as well as an advanced knowledge of the EBMS software.    Review the following requirements before proceeding with the implementation of the sync tool:

1. All company data sets must reside on a common server.   Review [Main] EBMS Server Manager > Creating a New Company for more details on an EBMS company data set.

2. The inventory files that will be synchronized must match in file and field structure.   Note that the data between the multiple files do not need to match but they will match when the sync process is completed.   The sync tool will create any missing inventory items that exist within other company files when the sync is launched.   All records will be synchronized since the tool can NOT be configured to sync only specific folders or records.  

3. Verify that ALL product information in individual companies will be duplicated to all other company data sets.   Note that you CANNOT exclude specific projects or product folders within any product catalog.  Verify that the merging of data accomplishes the goal of creating common product catalogs.   Warning:  The sync may create many additional product records if the product IDs do not match between each company.   

4. A common sync tool EBMS security user account must be setup in each data set.   Create a user named SYNC or other descriptive name for the sync tool in EACH data set.    Note that the password for this sync tool user MUST match between data sets.   The user names and passwords for other users do not need to match between data sets.  

Please work with an EBMS technician that has experience with the Inventory Sync setup.  This technical module requires detailed configuration to function properly and to meet specific needs.  

Steps to install the sync tool:

1. Backup all EBMS data within all effected data sets before continuing with the setup.

2. Configure the DBEXPDET.dbf config file to sync the main inventory files that must be synchronized such as INVENTRY, INVENTRE, and INVENUNT.DBF.   Warning: this file list may not be complete.  

3. Identify the optional EBMS inventory tables that will be synced between companies within the sync config file:

1. Common files to synchronized:  INVENTRYIMAGES, INVENTREIMAGES, INRNDDET, INPRICE, INVPRICE, INMANUFACTURES, FORMULA, INVENSUBT, INVENDET, INCOMPDET

2. Files that are not normally synchronized: INVENDOR, INVENLOC, count files, warehouse files, and history files.

3. Note that all records will be synchronized within a file.   

4. Set the fields that need to be duplicated within each file.  The field settings are configured within the DBEXPDET.dbf file.     Note that the count fields, history fields, and the show on web fields cannot be synchronized.  

5. Setup Security:  Create a user named SYNC or other descriptive name for the sync tool in EACH data set.    Note that the password for this sync tool user MUST match between data sets.   Review [Main] Security > Creating Users and Assigning Rights within the main documentation manual for user security setup instructions.  

6. Configure the process to launch the Inventory Sync tool.