This article will cover the purpose of planogram imports and how they fit into the DotActiv ecosystem.
Applicable Products: DotActiv Import Utility
Where Do Planogram Imports Fit In?
Planogram imports allow fact data to be imported from a planogram to its associated markets.
These associated markets are determined by the file name of the planogram. The filename of the planograms must be in a specific format so that the import associates with the correct markets. The filename of planograms is also case sensitive.
The correct format for any planogram is:
{ Category }_{ Format }_{ NOD (Number of Drops) }.flp
Taking the above format, a live example would be ‘BABY FOODS_CLUSTER A_5.flp’.
- Category = BABY FOODS
- Format: CLUSTER A
- NOD = 5
See the mappings section for more information on how the market mappings should use the Format and NOD values.
Configuring A Planogram Reader
A planogram reader will specify where the import should find the planograms to import. It also specifies what should happen to the planograms once the import is complete.
To create a planogram reader, when creating a reader set the ‘Reader Type’ to ‘Planogram’. There will now be a few options to configure.
What To Configure
- Source Location: This option specifies how the planograms will be found. It can be one of two values, ‘Directory’ or ‘File List’.
- Directory: If the source location is set to ‘Directory’, this value specifies which directory to search for planograms.
- Data is in subdirectories: If the source location is set to ‘Directory’, this option indicates that all subdirectories should be searched as well.
- Files: If the source location is set to ‘File List’, a list of planogram files can be selected. Only these files will then be imported.
- On Import Completion: Indicates what will happen to the planogram when an import completes. Options include ‘Do Nothing’ or ‘Move Files’.
- Success Directory: Applicable if the ‘On Import Completion’ value is ‘Move Files’. It indicates which directory the planogram file should be moved to if the import is successful.
- Error Directory: Applicable if ‘On Import Completion’ value is ‘Move Files’. It indicates which directory the planogram file should be moved to if the import fails.
Below is an example of creating a planogram reader that searches a single directory and moves the planogram files to a success directory or error directory on completion.
Configuring A Planogram Import’s Mappings
To configure the mappings for a planogram import, you first need to load a planogram that you are going to use as a base for the mappings.
You can now configure the mappings using the loaded planogram as the base.
Planogram Import Mappings
A planogram import requires the following mappings:
- Product Key: At least one product key
- Period Key: At least one period key
- Product Category: A category mapping to check for cross merchandised products
Please note that only the values mapped to Fact attributes will import.
Planogram Import Settings Explained
There are a few additional settings under the ‘Settings’ tab that you can configure.
- Clean Up Data Before Import: Cleans out existing data before importing the new data.
- Use Latest Period (Ignore Mapping): As the setting indicates the import will fetch the latest period from the database and ignore whatever mapping is configured.
- Ignore Current Date: This setting is applicable if ‘Use Latest Period’ is selected. If selected, the import will not check that the current date is within the latest period.
- Track Planogram Publishing: Applicable to an Activ8 integration. It indicates that the planogram was successfully imported and thus published, and tracked against the user that worked on the planogram.
- Upload Planogram: Applicable to an Activ8 integration. It uploads the planogram for store communication purposes.