Spruce POS Import

What is this?

The Spruce import (also known as SprucewareNet or Spruceware.Net) pulls your store's point-of-sale data directly from your Spruce database over the network. Unlike most POS imports, Spruce does not use a local file -- there is nothing to export or place in a folder.

VPN tunnel required. Because Spruce connects directly to an ECI-hosted database over the network, ECI requires an active site-to-site VPN tunnel between the store and ECI. There are no work-arounds — without the tunnel, Margin Master cannot connect even with valid credentials. See ECI VPN Requirement for setup details.

Margin Master reads the standard data set ECI makes available to it; support confirms the connection and layout with you at setup.

How Import Works

1. Add Connection - one card per store database.

2. Restore from Cloud...

3. Open Store Manager...

4. The connection card - Store #, Host/IP, Database, Username, Password, Active, Use Group/Section for Dept/Class, Exclude Stores.

5. Test / Delete.

6. Margin Master connects to your Spruce database using the details on the connection card.

7. It retrieves your inventory and sales data.

8. The data is loaded into Margin Master's database.

9. From there, the standard main table build joins your POS data with vendor catalog data.

Department and Class

Each connection card has a Use Group/Section for Dept/Class checkbox that chooses where Margin Master's Department and Class come from:

• Group and Section - Margin Master builds the Class from your Spruce Group and the Department from your Spruce Section.
• Class and Department - the Spruce Class and Department fields are used as they are.

If your Department and Class look wrong after an import, change the checkbox on that store's card, save, and import again - or ask Margin Master support to confirm the right setting for your Spruce data.

Tips

Spruce imports require network access to your Spruce database. Make sure the VPN tunnel is up and that ECI has enabled Margin Master's access to your database before importing.

Configure your Spruce connection in Options > Spruce/RockSolid tab. You will need the server address, database name, and credentials.

If your store uses Class and Department instead of Group and Section for categorization, change the Use Group/Section for Dept/Class setting on your connection card (see above).

Common Questions

Q: Why does Spruce not use a file like other POS systems? A: Spruce connects directly to your POS database over the network, which gives Margin Master access to the most current data without requiring manual file exports.

Q: My Spruce import is failing with a connection error. What should I check? A: Verify that (1) the VPN tunnel to ECI is up and the Spruce server is reachable from this machine, (2) the connection settings in Options are correct, and (3) ECI has enabled Margin Master's access to your database (ECI can confirm this). Then click Test on the connection card.

Q: What is the difference between Spruce and RockSolid Max? A: Spruce reads directly from your Spruce database. RockSolid Max imports from an export file. The data Margin Master builds from is the same; only the source is different.