Invalid AC XML File.

[jdpatterson74]

Thanks for your reply and very glad I did everything right. As expected, it was a lot of work - more than 3 months, but would be really bad if I was completely wrong or made major mistakes.

So after resolving this issue....I should learn Access?

Or would it be easier for you (or me) if I got Access, transferred the data already entered and for future data?

I am in this for the long haul with ablecommerce....if I need Access (better or more helpful than excel), I will focus my efforts towards it for future data.

[jmestep]

No progress with Excel, but I'm making progress in Access- generating some beautiful xml files. The only thing I seem to be missing is that your products file did not include a categoryid or categories column. If you can post one with that included, I'll test an import.
I'm using Access 2007 and all the menus have changed from what I was used to, but here is an article on using Access 2003 for xml
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa167823.aspx

Learning Access-you're already well on the way to using Access because you understood how to set these files up- you understood the data normalization whether you realize you understood it or not. I'm not sure about using it in the long run for doing imports. It would be better to use the Dataport utility since in Access, you might have to split everything out into separate tables, like you did with the files you uploaded. I haven't tried an Access import from xml and a normalize routine to split the data into tables. You can hook Access to the store database itself and make changes (like to info in one field in one table. It's dangerous if you don't know what you are changing, but it can be very powerful if you do know.

[jdpatterson74]

I have the program Access 2007 now, so I can utilize that program if that is easier for you to help me. Every table currently has its own file, just like the files I have attached.

I did notice the basic products table did not include the categories column but the product CSV export from data port did.

I edited all 3 categories tables separately as shown in the attached files. Only folders and products up to Alfred Sung are included in these Sample Keys to keep everything uniformed for you.


I will try to explain my intentions with my categories section. (very basic, simple)
In the left Categories Section will Show the following with these Sample Keys:
Perfume
--Try A Mini
--Body Lotion/Cream
--Shower

Clicking On "Perfume" will Show "A, B, C, Etc" (sample keys will only show "A")
Clicking on "A" will show:

• All manufacturers folder that start with "A" and all of their products

Clicking on the Manufacturer folder will show only their products.

[jmestep]

I'm going to need the product table that had the categories column in it. On my test, I had already created your test categories you sent before and that file registered everything OK in the catalognodes as far as the categories are concerned. I didn't want to duplicate that if I didn't have to. I wanted to try just products to make it more simple.

[jdpatterson74]

Attached is the product table with the categories column included.

Perfume:A:(manufactuter name)

[jdpatterson74]

Update...

I can copy the entire data I have from the excel sheets into access, which is connected to my developmental database, as long as I do not violate key, null, or other settings for each field. I copied the data by selecting all the columns in excel and selecting all the columns in access to paste the data into.

Example:
My ManufacturerID, ProductID, etc... numbers have been assigned (by me) to allow room to add more products/manufacturers and still staying organized. (Not 1,2,3...)

See Picture.

To copy this information into Access, I can copy the entire column StoreID and Name (storeID has a Key and Name can not be NULL)

However, the ManufacturerID is bound as an AutoNumber Field and can not be customized as I have done (20,40,60,80....)

I did editted a few products and manufactures and tried it on my develomental site and it worked.

• First I made all the products manufacturerID to "1" in excel because "1" is a record in the access manufacturer table
  Then I could copy the products into access
  Then manually change the manufacturersID "1" to match the access autonumber manufacturersID

If I can get around this AutoNumber Field, maybe this could be an option?
What do you think Angel?

[jmestep]

In Access, in the table design, change Autonumber to number. Check your other tables also, because you want them to all not be autonumber. You also want to make sure the field names are exactly the same as what Able is looking for in the xml import-- otherwise you might have to do some transforms as you create the xml. Your table names should be exactly the same as in Able xml, ProductOptions for example and the fields should be ProductId,OptionId,OrderBy

[jdpatterson74]

When connected to the ac_Products table (shown on the right), I could not find a autonumber option.

When I load the excel table I made up in access, like the samples you have, then I can see a autonumber option in the Data Type selection.

Is it possible to still change the autonumber function when using the ablecommerce database? Those tables have all the keys and settings already done.

I am still very interested in what you are doing for me. I am just trying to learn Access.

[jmestep]

I missed the part where you said you were connected to Able directly. You can't change the autonumber when connected that way. Well, you might be able to but you SHOULDN'T. It would change it in the Able database itself and you would get errors when you try to add new products thru the Able interface- that is how the productids are generated-- by the autonumber. In your view and in SQL Server, it shows up down at the bottom as identity- yes instead of autonumber.

[jdpatterson74]

How is the project going with my sample keys?

[jmestep]

I was just working on it. I've got a consultation this afternoon, but should be able to work on it after that.

[jmestep]

I'm so close, but I've got to stop and rack up some billable hours. Worked on it for a few hours today and I got everything except some of the grouping tags Able is looking for, like <Choices> before the <Choice> tag.

[jdpatterson74]

Ok, great. I look forward to seeing what you did and hopefully learn something from it....also being able to get my data listed. =)

[jmestep]

I was trying to come up with a more universal solution, but you might try a Word doc mail merge and save it as an xml file. That is how I created the first xml file. It might not work with relational data, but if it does, you need to make sure you have the relationships set up in Access. Your relationships should look like this:

prodrel.gif

Then you would start off your word doc like:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<AbleCommerceExport xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<Products>
<ProductId>[mail merge field for productid from product table]</ProductId>
........
<ProductOptions>
<ProductOption>[productid from productoptionstable]</ProductOption>
..............
</Product>
....
</Products>
</AbleCommerceExport>

[jdpatterson74]

Because this is new to me, doing something that is questionable, could possibly led to failure because I wouldnt know if it was my fault or because it's not possible regardless.

I will play around with the idea you talked about.....I know you put a lot of work into helping me and I really appreciate that, but not feeling good about it....

Thanks, Joshua