Issue :

 

I have a XML file and i want to import this file into Exact with XML Server. What do i have to do to make this possible ?

 

 

Solution :

 

If your XML file is not according to the XML Schema of Exact we must transform the XML file to the XML format used by Exact. There are lots of tools available that can help you but in this example we will use Stylus Studio. You can follow this hyperlink to obtain an Evaluation copy of stylus studio. If your document is still in the CSV format you first have to convert your CSV file to a HTML file. You can follow this hyperlink to obtain information how to do this.

 

Below is a description of the procedure you could follow to map a XML file to the Exact Schema.

 

·         Start Stylus Studio

·         Select the menu option 'File -> New -> XML to XML Mapping Style sheet' below is a screenshot of the menu.

 

 

 

 

·         A screen with the Source and destination will appear. Below is an Example of this.

 

 

 

·         You have to enter a source path and a destination Schema. The source file is the file you want to transform to the Exact Schema. So here you must select your XML file.

·         The destination is the file : eExact-Schema.xsd located in the DOCS directory of your Exact installation. Make sure you change the file type to : XML Schema files

 

 

 

·         Then you have to select the XML Schema file : eExact-Schema.xsd. After selecting the Schema file you have to set the root element. Make sure you select eExact here.

 

 

·         The program will now show the XML mapper. If not make sure you select the XSL in the window menu option.

 

·         In the XML mapper you will see the import file on the left and you will see the destination on the right. Expand the tree, and expand the topic that you want to map. In this example we will map the DEBTOR file so we will expand the topic Accounts. Below is a screenshot of this.

 

 

·         In this screen you can map the fields from the source to the destination. Below is an example of this. Only a couple of fields are linked yet. Also there is a difference between the lines between the fields. There are dotted lines and normal lines.

 

 

·         The Row must be connected to the Account. Each row in the source corresponds with an account in the destination. Make sure the line from row to account is a dotted line. You can change this in the properties of the connection. Below is a screenshot with some basic functions are explained. On the left there is a little window with properties. Here you can modify the property 'Does for each'. If 'Does for each' is true it will be a dotted line and if the property is false it will be a solid line.

 

 

 

 

·         After all the connections have been made you must make sure this will be imported as an active customer. To do so you have to set some fields with a fixed value. These fields are circled red in the picture below.

 

 

·         In these fields we have to enter a fixed value to make these records really debtors. The field 'Type' must be filled with a 'C' of Customer and the field 'Status' must be 'A' from Active. To set these values just 'right-click' on the field and select 'Set literal value'. Then you have to make sure to enter the correct value.

 

·         If everything is mapped correctly you can apply the transformation on your input file and view the result. Click on the green triangle to start the transformation.

 

 

·         If everything went well you can view the results in the XSLT Preview window. In the upper left corner of the XSLT preview there are several buttons.

 

 

·         One of these buttons is used to save the preview to disk. Make sure you use the extension XML when you save the preview. You can use Globe2000 or Synergy to import the transformed XML file.

 

 

When you map the fields you are actually creating an XSLT file. In the XSLT file all the mappings are stored. But it is also possible to transform values from one value into another. For example if a mailcity is empty you cannot import a debtor. It would be nice if there would be some logic to fill the field  mailcity with a value ('Unknown' or '-') when it is empty. Follow this hyperlink for an example.