- Prerequisites
- Firewall and Network Requirements
- Microsoft Edge Download Block
- SQL Server Authentication Setup for IT Administrators
- Antivirus and Endpoint Security Exclusions
- SQL Server Tools
- Install or Upgrade SQL Server Express
- Install or Upgrade SQL Server Management Studio
- Database Connection Setup
- Database Creation
- Database Restore
- Transfer Settings from Database
- Connecting a Second Computer
- A Tour of the Main Window
- The Menus
- The Button Row
- The Main Data Grid
- The Summary Section
- Banners and Badges
- The Options Window
- Store Configuration
- Miscellaneous
- Export Options
- Vendor Settings
- POS / Connections Tabs
- Background Service
- AI Assistant (Experimental)
- How POS Import Works
- Supported Point-of-Sale Systems
- Data Import Workflows
- RockSolid POS Import
- Epicor Eagle FTP Import
- Epicor MySQL Compass Import
- Transact POS Import
- Paladin POS Import
- Falcon POS Import
- Spruce POS Import
- Bistrack POS Import
- RockSolid Max POS Import
- ECS POS Import
- Prosperity POS Import
- Catalyst POS Import
- Westlake POS Import
- MI9 POS Import
- AS/400 POS Import
- CounterWorks POS Import
- Dimension POS Import
- PacSoft POS Import
- ProStix POS Import
- Sympac POS Import
- Propello POS Import
- EagleVision POS Import
- MySQL/Compass Connection Configuration
- ECI VPN Requirement (Spruce, RockSolid MAX)
- Propello POS Integration Guide
- Troubleshooting: Epicor Import Brought In 0 SKUs
- PACE POS Import
- Advantage POS Import
- General Store POS Import
- J-3 POS Import
- KeyStroke POS Import
- AutBusSystem POS Import
- Tomax POS Import
- Enterprise POS Import
- Computakey POS Import
- Redisell POS Import
- DART POS Import
- MIB POS Import
- Substruct POS Import
- DMAS POS Import
- RODS POS Import
- Procom POS Import
- Agility POS Import
- Acumen POS Import
- Cruise POS Import
- LSandE POS Import
- Retalix POS Import
- DIBCorp POS Import
- GMROI POS Import
- ECi Advantage POS Import
- Sunray POS Import
- ActivantAutomotive POS Import
- IBS POS Import
- Versys POS Import
- RMS POS Import
- TAMS POS Import
- Integrasoft POS Import
- Dynamic POS Import
- Microsoft ARS POS Import
- CDS POS Import
- Spartan POS Import
- Nitterhouse POS Import
- Jeds POS Import
- Theisens POS Import
- Emery Jensen POS Import
- SMS Pro POS Import
- Burdens POS Import
- Intact POS Import
- Bloom Retail POS Import
- NCR Counterpoint POS Import
- Horizon POS Import
- Cloud Vendor Data Sync
- Data Aging and Freshness Warnings
- Resetting Vendor and POS Data
- Rebuild Data and Rebuild Selection Lists
- Troubleshooting Vendor Sync
- Understanding the Strategy Hierarchy
- Pricing Strategies
- Creating a Strategy Step
- Updating and Deleting Steps
- Reviewing a Strategy and Running It
- Shared (Premade) Strategies
- SKU-Level Exceptions
- Manage Custom Groups
- Strategy Execution Cloud Tracking
- Ace Hardware MAP & IMAP Pricing
- Ace Critical Retail Pricing
- True Value Price Levels
- True Value Store Assessment
- Importing from Excel
- Cost Break Analysis
- Cost Break Strategies
- Min/Max Strategies
- Strategy Backup & Restore
- Add Items from Catalog
- Store Grouping
On This Page
Falcon POS Import
What is this?
The Falcon import reads inventory data directly from an Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx) exported from the Falcon POS system and loads it into Margin Master for pricing analysis. Falcon data is imported from Excel files; the older text-file import is no longer used.
The export is an Excel workbook (.xlsx) with a header row, laid out as Margin Master support confirmed with you when your store was set up.
How Import Works
The export file is read from the Import Path set under Tools > Options > Miscellaneous:
- Place the Falcon Excel export file (
.xlsx) in the configured import directory. - Choose the import command on the Data menu. Margin Master opens the workbook itself; Excel does not need to be installed on the computer.
- The rows are read, matched to your stores by the Warehouse # column, and loaded into Margin Master, replacing the previous Falcon data.
- After a successful import, the Excel file is renamed with a
.bakextension and a timestamp so it is not imported again. - Your main pricing analysis tables are rebuilt from the new data.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Files Found when you choose Get POS Data | The export is not in the Import Path (Tools > Options > Miscellaneous), or it is not an .xlsx workbook |
Check the path and the file name; Margin Master reads only the current folder, not sub-folders |
| The same file is imported again and again | The previous import's file was not renamed | After a successful import the file is renamed to NAME[ext].BAK; a file that keeps its name did not import - read the error dialog |
| 0 records or far fewer than expected | The export covers the wrong store, or the store is not matched in the Store Manager | Open Store Manager and check the store's row; re-export from the point of sale |
| Columns land in the wrong fields | The export layout changed | Contact Margin Master support with the file |
| Import finishes but the grid does not change | The rebuild was postponed (the Click to update data badge is showing) | Click the badge, or Data > Rebuild Data |
Every import failure shows one error dialog; the log under File > Utilities > Show Log Files has the detail to send to support.
Tips
Excel does not need to be installed. Margin Master reads the
.xlsxfile directly. You do not need Microsoft Excel installed on the computer.
Keep the header row. The first row of the workbook names the columns, and Margin Master uses it to find the data. Export the file as Falcon produces it; do not delete or retype the header row.
The file is renamed after import. After a successful import, the Excel file is renamed to
.bakwith a timestamp appended (for example,data.xlsxbecomesdata.xlsx.bak.20260321_143022). This prevents accidentally importing the same file twice.
Place only one export file at a time. Margin Master looks for
*.xlsxfiles in the import directory. To avoid confusion, place only the current export file in the directory before importing.
Common Questions
Q: What happened to the old text-based Falcon import? A: The Falcon import now reads directly from Excel files. The older text-file import is no longer used. The Excel-based import is simpler and more reliable.
Q: What if my Excel file has extra columns? A: Extra columns are ignored. Margin Master reads only the columns in the layout support confirmed with you.
Q: Can I rename the history columns in my Falcon export?
A: Margin Master reads H0 to H12 as sales history (H0 is this month, H1 to H12 are 1 to 12 months ago). It also recognizes four other headers, which can sit in the file alongside H9 to H12 or in place of them: DISC, DATE LAST SALE, MARGIN % and SEQ. They are brought in as the Disc, Last Sale, POS Margin % and Seq columns, which you can show, sort and filter on. Last Sale shows as year-month-day (for example 2026-10-23) so it sorts by date, and POS Margin % shows as a percent (30.44). They are not sales history. If you replace H9 to H12 with them, Margin Master has 8 months of history instead of 12, so the 12-month unit total, velocity and impact are lower. Keep H9 to H12 in the export if you want the full 12 months.
Q: Why was my file renamed to .bak?
A: After a successful import, Margin Master automatically renames the file by adding .bak and a timestamp. This is normal and prevents the same file from being imported again.
Q: What if I have multiple stores in one file?
A: The Warehouse # column identifies which store each row belongs to. Multiple stores in a single file are supported and will be separated during main table processing.
Q: What if the same item appears twice for one store? A: Only one row per item and store is kept, so a duplicate line in the export does not create a duplicate item in Margin Master.
