FAQ
How does Content Manager receive product data?
There are three ways for Content Manager to receive product data:
- Batch - Files of related catalog content can be submitted in a batch mode to be loaded into the database.
- Manually - You can manually add and edit data in the catalog database.
- XML - Information may be submitted to Content Manager via our integration server for dynamic changes in real time, anytime day or night.
What format does the data need to be in?
In a batch mode, data needs to conform to our Client Data Format for input into the catalog. In an XML mode, your XML format can be mapped against the eLinx format to be added to the catalog easily and dynamically.
Can I review the product data before making it available to buyers?
Yes. The Content Manager provides multiple mechanisms to sample (statistical & random), review and approve right down to individual line items before the catalog data is allowed to progress into the production database.
Do my item descriptions need to change?
You can use your existing descriptions but clients often wish to modify these descriptions to make them more Œuser friendly¹. There are also several different types of descriptions utilized in the application. For example, if you maintain a short description and a marketing description, the application will store both so you need not change how you manage descriptions.
Will Content Manager help me rationalize my descriptions?
Yes. There are tools available to help you rationalize your catalog data.
How do I add/delete one or more items from my catalog?
The catalog data format defines the method for adding and deleting items. Updates can be sent as the changes occur. If you utilize an XML mode, changes and deletions can be sent in real time from your existing ERP system to eLinx where they can be processed immediately.
Can I license Content Manager to export product data to my customers?
Yes. Content Manager has the ability to define and export the product data in other required formats. Therefore, if you have a customer requiring data in a different format, Content Manager can handle that request. Once the export format is defined, the data can be exported whenever it is needed with relative ease.
Can I send only the parts of the catalog that have changed or do I have to send the entire catalog every time?
The update process only pertains to the items that have changed. The application will compare the contents of the catalog against the update file and determine what has changed. It will update only those items that have changed. In fact, if you send the same update file twice, Content Manager will see that there are no changes in the second file and ignore those changes, thereby reducing processing time.
Can I submit changes in advance of their effective dates?
Catalog updates can be sent for future processing. By effective dating of catalog updates, you can coordinate price changes and promotions by date to ensure that those changes are in effect when the promotion begins. You can also stage the price update for the prices to return to their previous level at the end of the promotion.
If I make changes to my catalog in Content Manager, are they overwritten when I send my next update?
With a few exceptions, updates generally overwrite the specific information that has changed in the Content Manager. Pricing, inventory, and descriptions have the ability to remain unchanged because of differences between systems or API¹s in place. For example, you can configure the application to always keep the catalog descriptions if your ERP descriptions are not as robust as the current catalog descriptions.
When I complete a catalog submission, how do I notify my customers that I have completed and approved a new catalog?
The Content Manager has the ability to create e-mail updates for relevant individuals who are involved in the update process. Therefore, suppliers know when their updates have been accepted and added to the master catalog.
How do I add graphics or attachments to my catalog? Where do they reside and what format do they need to be in?
Content Manager can handle all kinds of attachments and graphics. The linked item can be a file or graphic on your system or to a URL on a manufacturer¹s web site. In either case, the link is defined to the product in the catalog. When you view a particular product, you are able to see the graphics or use the hyperlink to go to the appropriate sites. In terms of format, the files or graphics can be any browser-enabled file type and are typically Acrobat, Word, Excel, GIF¹s, and URL links.
Can different departments or employees within my organization manage different parts of the overall data?
Currently the application offers three major edit modes for catalog data: full edit, partial edit, and read only. Each area tightens the specific fields that can be modified. It is also possible to define additional security roles and what they are able to do in the system.
How do I export/publish data from Content Manager to other applications or catalog formats?
The Content Manager has the ability to define and export the catalog data into other required formats. Therefore, if you have an application that requires data in a different format, the Content Manager can handle that request. Once the export format is defined, the data can be exported whenever it is needed with relative ease.
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