9 | Generic Product Promotion Import BackOffice Extension (Manual)

This article outlines a brief overview of importing Product Promotions manually by using a BackOffice Extension. This includes how to create a Device under Boxpromotions.dll called "BOX Generic Promotions" which will c reate a button in the Product Promotions screen called "Import Promotions"; when pressed, it will import any excel files in the specified location. This also s upports all the functions, rules, and definitions of the scheduled job including error handling.

This article outlines a brief overview of importing Product Promotions manually by using a BackOffice Extension.

This includes how to create a Device under Boxpromotions.dll called "BOX Generic Promotions" which will create a button in the Product Promotions screen called "Import Promotions"; when pressed, it will import any excel files in the specified location. This also supports all the functions, rules, and definitions of the scheduled job including error handling.

Prerequisites 

• Ensure that you have a flat-file/Excel from a Windows file directory created

Device Settings

• Create a new device with the Device Type "Backoffice Extension" with Boxpromotions.dll and Class Name as "BOX Generic Promotions"

• To create a new device, complete the following steps after logging into BackOffice:

1. Navigate to the Venue, Stores & Tills under the System Setup menu and select it to open the Venue & Till List tab
2. From the Venue & Till List tab, select the desired Till from the Organizational Tree
3. Click on the Add New Device button at the top of the tab
4. A Device List window will open which allows for copying an existing Device or, alternatively, select Blank Device to start from scratch
5. After making the appropriate selection from the Device List window, a new Device and Interfaces Maintenance window will open
6. The following configuration options apply to all Devices:
• Enter the desired Device Name; NB: this is all that's required prior to saving a Device
• Ensure that the correct Workstation is selected as this is the Workstation that the Device will be attached to
• Select the required Device Type
• Depending on the Device Type selected, additional Device configurations will be dynamically populated such as an External DLL Name drop-down, Class Name drop-down, Sub Type drop-down, Communication Settings, TCPIP Settings, Device or Printer Options, and Other Settings
• The Inactive flag can be enabled to make a Device temporarily Inactive as opposed to deleting the Device; then disable the flag to make an Inactive Device active again
  
• The Show All DLLs flag, when enabled will show additional External DLL Names when applicable
7. After completing the Device's configuration, click on the OK button to save the Device



8. There are a number of credentials that need to be input and they include:
• Job Name: Give the Job a relevant name
• Job Type: Backoffice Extension
• External DLL: Boxpromotions.DLL
• Class Name: BOX Generic Promotions
9. Job Options will also require a number of configuration as well:
• Import Inactive: By default it is set to false. If this flag is true, the import is inactive
• File Location: This is the location of the file to be imported. After import, the file is archived
• Archive Location: This is the location of archived files after import
• Default Priority: This will set the Product Promotions' priority based on the value; the value ranges to 1-20
• Default Discount Totaliser: This will set the Discount Totaliser for the promotion based on the value; the value ranges to 1-30
• Default Venue/s: Select the VenueID to match in the file to determine the VenueID; else use this setting if this is not specified in the import file
• Default Store/s: Select the Stores or Storegroups; else use this setting if this not specified in the import file
• Default Till/s: Select the WorkstationID to match to the Product Promo Till ID; use this setting if this is not specified in the import file
• Default Account Profile: Select the value to the AccProfileID to match; use this setting if this is not specified in the import file

Promotion Import Workflow

• Once the device has been created, select Marketing & Promotions on the side panel and select Product Promotions
  
• From there you will see the Import Promotions button 

• Select the Import Promotions and it should display Promotion Import prompt