Question : MUNIS Custom Import

I am trying to export some data from MS Access to MUNIS.

Unfortumately, they have just started using MUNIS and no one there seems to be able to help me much.

All they could give me was a link to the following:

http://help.munis.com/v75/ap/Content/Popups/Import_ASCII_Invoices__Custom_Import_Option.htm

So I started creating a table in MS Access with field names like the following:

MUNIS-Export.JPG (24 KB) (File Type Details) 

MUNIS File

The goal is to create a table that I can export payment information into, then creat a data specification file to export a text file that can later be imported into MUNIS.

My problem is trying to visualize what the format of a sample import text file should look like if I use one line for the invoice, or if I use mulitple detail lines.  

I'm hoping someone can look at the link and tell me what a sample import file should look like using delimiters. For the sake of brevity in your response, it not necessary
to include any fields that the specification states are not absolutely necessary. Also, the MUNIS specification appears to allow the client to add new vendors through
the import process, but this functionality will not be necessary.

Date: 08/25/10

Joe’s Bar and Grille
100 Main St.
Boston, MA 02102                  Vendor # 123      Invoice #101

 
Beer      150.00         
Wine      650.00         
Food      300.00         
Total      $1100.00       

Date: 08/26/10

Joe’s Bar and Grille
100 Main St.
Boston, MA 02102                  Vendor # 123      Invoice # 102

 
Beer      400.00         
Wine      120.00         
Food      600.00         
Total      $1120.00       


Date: 08/27/10

Mom & Pop Pharmacy
150 Main St.
Boston, MA 02139                  Vendor # 321 Invoice # 103

 
Alka-Seltzer      150.00         
Tylenol      80.00         
Pepto-Bismal      220.00         
Total      $450.00       

Answer : MUNIS Custom Import

Although I am still not quite clear on what this system is ultimately needed to do, ...

Is your main question here "architectural" ("How do I design this"), ...or technical (How do I create a text file specification)?

If what you posted is a sample of some actual source Data, then this will have to be "Parsed" to something like this:
tblSales:
InvoiceID (Primary Key)
SaleDate
CompanyName
CompanyAddress
CompanyCity
CompanyState
CompanyZip
VendorNum
InvoiceNum

tblLineItems
LineItemID(Primary Key)
InvoiceID (Foreign Key)
ItemName
ItemPrice

Now, this is just a basic framework.
Depending on what you ultimately need and your business rules, you may need to create Customer Tables, product Tables, ...etc

So again, if what you posted is a sample of the source data, then a great deal of work needs to go into converting it into a standard database (table) format


JeffCoachman