A tool for import from a wide variety of text, CSV or xml sources (and even some types of binary) to Line 50 sales orders, product or service sales invoices, purchase orders, customers, suppliers, stock, audit trail posting transactions (with 'grouping'), stock transactions, price lists, etc.
There are also facilities for automated allocation of payments against invoices, exporting data (including Memo data) from Line 50 to text, csv or xml, collection of POP3 email text, and calling other applications.
The tool can be run interactively or controlled via a command line interface allowing automated operation. Operations can be 'chained' together so a single call can perform several actions. Source data can collected via http, ftp or POP3 if required. Export data can be uploaded via ftp.
A system integrator's dream?
ImportPlus's main function is import to Line 50 sales orders, sales invoices, purchase orders, customers, stock, price lists, transactions, etc. from a wide variety of plain text or CSV formats (including CSV exported from a spreadsheet) or just about any regularly formatted text source, e.g. web form generated e-mails, xml files, EDI,...!
The ImportPlus download includes sample interpreter configuration files and data files suitable for use with the Sage Line 50 DEMODATA company, so it's easy to try the system without affecting your live data.
The download also includes ImportPlusDriver a small example "front end" application to demonstrate how ImportPlus can optionally be controlled via command parameters. ImportPlusDriver allows command lines to be built interactively, runs ImportPlus, and displays results.
The best way to start with ImportPlus is to use ImportPlusDriver with the supplied samples and the Line 50 DEMODATA. View the 'Command Line' tab to see the command line equivalent for the chosen operation. Once you have a basic idea of how the system works you will probably want to contact us to discuss detail configuration for your purpose.
For a number of commonly requested operations, pre-packaged configurations are available on the Customisers page.
Examples of current real-life uses for ImportPlus include:
Using a csv file to provide a list of existing stock codes and their replacements ImportPlus can changes hundreds of product codes in one go - making the changes not only in the product record but also in BOMS, stock transactions, sales invoices, SOP items, POP items, price lists,....
The e-mail text produced by a web-based ordering system is converted into Line 50 sales orders with little more effort than a few mouse clicks. Imported prices can be net (with the tax being calculated by the import), or gross (with net and tax being calculated by the import) or you can specify both net and tax values to preserve maths from the source system - or you can leave ImportPlus to pick the price from Line 50 defaults, taking into account relevant discount schemes and price lists.
Engineer work records from a fault and work recording system (amberCat Help Desk) are exported to CSV, then selectively imported via ImportPlus to create Line 50 sales invoices. There is one invoice per customer. A lookup table converts the work description into a Line 50 stock code. Reference details of the work are included in each invoice item and certain specific non-chargeable items are not mentioned on the invoice.
Customers identify themselves by swipe card to a VBI Triscan based fuel delivery system. Transaction records are periodically exported from the Triscan PHOENIX software. ImportPlus imports the PHOENIX data to Line 50 stock style invoices. There is one invoice per customer. Invoice item comments detail the driver, the time of supply, vehicle identity and its odometer reading for each supply. The sales price for each invoice item is calculated by applying customer related discounts to prices based on the FIFO cost of the supply - the customer gets the best possible price and the supplier maintains their target margin.
Allow your sales force to collect and enter orders on the road - then transfer the orders into your main accounts using a simple export and import process. A pair of pre-packaged Customisers are available to set up these options.
A system has been created allowing sales reps to collect orders on Palm PDAs, then upload the data as orders when they get back to base.
It might seem odd that we include csv import of customers, suppliers and stock when Line 50 already offers that; the answer is that our facility handles a much wider range of data fields, as well as being able to cope with a wide variety of input formats. An example where this has proved useful is with clients who use ImportPlus to import and update over the 20,000 Spicers stock items, including cost price data, from the regularly updated spicerfile text file (spicerf2.dat or spicerf2.csv). A pair of pre-packaged Customisers are available to set up these options.
A special stock transaction import feature allows the import file to set a target stock level - ImportPlus automatically chooses the appropriate quantity to adjust in or out to match that target level.
We have several clients who use ImportPlus to help with large volumes of automated monthly receipts (e.g. direct debit & standing orders). They import the debit payments as Payment On Account transactions using Sage's built in option (or ImportPlus's equivalent), then use ImportPlus to automatically allocate the SA transactions against unpaid invoices. Options allow credit notes to be taken into account and for auto-allocation to be restricted to exact matches in value if desired. It is also possible to apply customers account filters, e.g. only allocate for customers who have a zero balance.
Another alternative in this sort of situation is to use the recently introduced ability of ImportPlus to import Sales Receipt (SR) transactions directly - with allocation being handled automatically during import.
ImportPlus has been used to aid setting up Line 50 with historical data from other accounts pacakages, including audit trail histories. Much of this can be achieved with Sage Line 50's built-in import, ImportPlus offers much greater flexibility, more data fields, 'grouping' of audit trail postings, and automated allocation of payments to invoices.
ImportPlus has been used to turn Line 50 transactions generated by the Store Trader POS system into equivalent 'invoices' in our Synergy Profile system for profit and sales history analysis.
ImportPlus has been used to import prices from quotes or quotation letters into Line 50 'Special Price' price lists.
A pre-packaged Customiser is available to set up this facility for importing Special Customer Prices from SOP Quotes. With different setups other forms of price import are also possible - including import from Excel and Word based quotes.
ImportPlus has been used to automatically generate customer price lists from sales invoices. Running that option periodically (e.g. after an invoicing run, or daily or weekly) updates the price lists so that when the same customer orders the same product again they get the same price. Using Line 50 Price List reports you can also report on these price lists so you can see who's paying what price for which products.
A business has front desk staff who like using their Line 50 DOS for recording sales and producing invoices/receipts. Data entry is fast, they are used to it and they don't want to change! This was a headache for accounts as they had to re-enter a lot of data. Now, at the end of the day, the day's invoices are 'printed' to file, then accounts use ImportPlus to import from that file into their Windows based copy of Line 50.
Using data from a work recording system, a service supplier produces invoices with service style items for monthly billing of clients.
Using the tables A to E on the Discounts tab of the Line 50 product record.
ImportPlus can import text into the Memo fields associated with Line 50 Customer, Supplier or Product records.
The export facilities of ImportPlus have been used to automatically generate product html pages. The download includes a sample for producing a HTML table of stock item details along with availability.
We've even used ImportPlus for data recovery, extracting invoices and orders from a partially corrupt set of Sage data and then importing them to the most recent good backup thus saving many many hours of repeated data entry.
Our aim is that if your PC is capable of running the matching Sage product then it should be capable of running ImportPlus.
Compatibility | |
Sage: | Sage 50 v7 and above. New Sage 50 versions are typically supported as soon as Sage release the technical details - usually within days of the new version's release. The downloads page has the latest details. Version 30 of Sage 50 cloud introduced the option of an x64 (64bit) install. If you wish to use ImportPlus with an x64 install of Sage 50 cloud then you must also install the equivalent x86 (32bit) version of the SDO Engine. ImportPlus may also be used "Independent" of Sage Line 50. |
Video: | VGA or above |
Printers: | Windows supported Laser, bubble-jet, ink-jet or dot-matrix |
Operating System: | As supported by the relevant version of Sage. |
Networks: | Any Windows supported |
Full product with all updates £185 + VAT per annum
Or
Full product £395 + VAT
Licence updates £110 per year after the first year (for Sage 50 2017 (v23) and earlier this is optional but highly recommended)
If support and upgrade eligibility have expired, see Catchup rates.
Discounts are available for users with special requirements, multiple users, multiple sites, for catch up updates and reduced facilities see further options for more details.
If the samples and standard operations included in the download, or the standard Customisers are all you need, or if you develop your own configurations, that's it.
If you need us to set up custom configurations for you, customisation prices start from £100.00 + VAT. Explain your requirement to us and we'll be happy to quote. In many cases custom configurations can be setup as part of our "try-before-you-buy" approach.
If you will be installing at multiple sites (i.e. you require more than one licence) enquire about reduced price 'Companion' licences.
The user count is based on concurrent ImportPlus users, not workstations or Sage users (single user ImportPlus can be used alongside multi-user Line 50), so single user is usually okay. If you really do need more than one concurrent user, that's fine just contact us for a quote.
£95 + VAT for 4 months
If support and upgrade eligibility have expired there is a catchup cost if you upgrade to a newer release. Catchup includes 12 months cover. If upgrading from Sage 50 2017 (v23) or earlier to Sage 50 2018 (v24) or above, please note that thereafter annual renewal is required for continued operation.
VAT is charged where applicable.
Then download the product and try it for yourself, or contact us.
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