Gun shy about Apsona, need some advice

Hello:

I have just installed Apsona with the intention of downloading products from one of my wholesalers without having to implement products one at a time. I have never done this before so I don't quite know what to expect. I have the Backup MYSQL Plugin installed, so in doing this, if I mess up, is it true that all I have to so is click on "Restore" on the Backup and it will restore everything as though nothing happened?

Also, would anyone know if there is a "manual" available for Apsona that would be for "beginners." I'm just a little gun shy about this, but if I can accomplish this, it would be great.:smile:

Thanks in advance,

Silver

1. The Apsona support thread is here
   http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?153990-Apsona-ShopAdmin-a-free-tool-for-import-mass-update-reporting

2. I have the Backup MYSQL Plugin installed, so in doing this, if I mess up, is it true that all I have to so is click on "Restore" on the Backup and it will restore everything as though nothing happened?
   ...yes it will restore the database to the state of the backup but OBVIOUSLY you are not doing this on a live site so it's not a big deal anyway.

3. Apsona will import stuff into your database from a file but I expect you will need to manipulate the file you get from your wholesaler to make it happen smoothly.
   I suggest you make detailed notes of what it takes to get it to work then use something like Pentaho Data Integration to automate those modifications for future updates.
   In fact in future you could use PDI to insert the data directly, but it's best to do it at first via Apsona as it will help to identify problems with the data.

Steve:

Thank you for the response. Yes I am doing this on a live site that is "Under Construction." So I do need that information. By detailed notes, I assume you mean the thread that you recommended? I will also take a look at Pentaho Data Integration. Anything that helps accomplish this task will be helpful.

Thanks again,

Silver

By detailed notes, I assume you mean the thread that you recommended?
No, the changes you find you need to do (of the format of the file, the data format, column headings, errors that Apsona throws out etc. ) to make the file ready for import.
Then you replicate those steps in transformation steps in PDI to automagically convert the supplied file to one ready for import every time you get a new one.

I thought that Apsona made the file ready for import? Otherwise, why do you need it? I also don't understand the need for API. I thought that Apsona did all of this. Where do I find information that tells me how to make the file ready for import?

Thanks, but very confused,

Silver

Apsona can't automatically know what fields in an unfamiliar feed convert to what ZC fields; you have to tell it at least the first time. These would be some of the notes you need to take.

Glenn:

Thanks for the help but from what am I to take these notes? The thread in the forum deals mainly with a problem with installation. I didn't see anything dealing with "how to." Any ideas as to where I can go to get this type of education?

Silver

Any ideas as to where I can go to get this type of education?
In your computer monitor...that's where everyone else here got their experience.

Zen Cart is DIY. Try it, break it, go backwards, try again, break it, learn something, fix it etc...get your hands dirty.

Everyone in this forum who tries to help others does so because they see a problem similar to one they have already tackled and on which they have already spent hours on a learning curve. They'll point you in the right direction but you have to learn for yourself, no-one has the time to give you step by step instructions unless you want to pay for it.
I've told you a process you could use and saved you some time, now try it out out instead of guessing how it works and if you get stuck ask specific single questions in the correct thread.
You have a file, try and import it. It wont work, there will be errors, understand them, correct them until it does work etc. Forget Pentaho for now.

Some common-sense logic will help too. Zen Cart has certain field names for its product data. Your feed will have field names for data, or sequences or some organization. Arrange your feed's fields to match the ones ZC expects and try it. I haven't used Apsona so don't know how it is set up, but there should be instructions somewhere in it.

Steve:

You, honestly did not have to give me a lecture!!! I have already been through the school of hard knocks with a "disaster with attributes." Look it up and you will see. I was just hoping that there may be a resource somewhere that could help with this, without having the "disaster factor." I'm sorry if I cost you some time. There are other people in this Forum with a lot more patience than you, Thank the Lord!

Have a GOOD ONE!:shocking:

Glenn:

Thank you for the constructive and very good advice. You said "Zen Cart has certain field names for its product data" Glenn, where do I find that information so I can begin matching things up?

Thanks again,

Silver

I thought Apsona EXPORTED certain, specific data **FROM ** a zencart database TO a CSV file for use somewhere else (and was written for V1.3.8).

It sounds like you are wanting to Export from somewhere else TO IMPORT to zencart database.

If that is the case, it doesn't sound like Apsona is intended to do what you want to do.

Rick:

Thanks for the input but it was my understanding that it did the same thing as EP4, only was easier to operate. At least that's what I have read. I know that they have updated it to work with 1.5.1. Take a look: http://apsona.com/pages/ec/sa.html

Silver

That's different. I was looking at what is available from the plugins area. No mention of having to download it from a 3rd party website, so they don't offer any support via the zencart forum. I'd expect them (apsona) to support it directly from their website in that case but the last support date is at least a couple years old or even abandoned.

Sorry I couldn't help.

Nothing wrong with easy populate, been using it for years. Am about to start checking out pentaho since it sounds like it will save a lot of time. I was always leery of apsona since the server files are hosted on their server. Why do that? It makes 0 sense to me and I am always really hesitant about giving full access to scripts that run on a 3rd party server. There's really no need to do it so it makes me suspicious. I don't know why they don't just have a package where everything is hosted on your server under your control.

I don't believe you can automatically map fields from your vendor to fields that match the zc db in apsona. Although from what Steve said it sounds like Pentaho is exactly the right tool for the job. I have customized easy populate to add custom fields from the db, the table you use is products so any field in products can be used in easy populate including fields from add-ons like MAP or MSRP etc. There is a newer version of ep that allows you to specify the custom fields in the admin configuration so the ep file doesn't need to be hacked like I did.