- 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
How POS Import Works
What is this?
Margin Master prices your items, so it needs your point-of-sale data: every SKU, its cost, its current price, what is on hand and what sold in each of the last twelve months. Getting POS data in is the first of the two data flows a new store sets up (the other is vendor data), and it works one of two ways depending on the point of sale:
| Method | How it works | Point-of-sale systems |
|---|---|---|
| Export file | You (or a scheduled job on the POS) export a file; Margin Master reads it from the Import Path | Most systems - Paladin, Transact, Falcon, Catalyst, Westlake, Mi9, AS/400, Propello, RockSolid and the other file-based guides in this chapter |
| Direct connection | Margin Master connects to the POS database or server and pulls the data itself | Epicor (FTP download or MySQL/Compass), BisTrack Direct Connect, Spruce, RockSolid MAX (when set up to connect instead of exporting), NCR Counterpoint |
Either way you start the import from Data > Get POS Data (Ctrl+I) - the item is named for your system, for example Import Epicor Data - and the import ends by rebuilding the grid.
The POS System Type on Tools > Options > Store Information decides everything else: which Options tab appears for the connection, which export file or connection is expected, and which guide in this chapter applies to you. The Supported Point-of-Sale Systems page lists every system and links to its guide.
Where files go
File-based imports read from the Import Path folder on Tools > Options > Miscellaneous. Save your export there and run the import; once a file has been imported successfully, Margin Master sets it aside so it is not imported a second time.
What happens after the data arrives
Whatever the source, the same steps follow: your items are matched to the vendor catalog through the Store Manager, the main table is rebuilt and the selection lists are refreshed. On a large database this takes a few minutes; if the rebuild is postponed to keep the window responsive, the Click to update data badge appears.
The remainder of this page summarizes how each system's data gets in - useful when an import does something unexpected. Each system's own guide has the full detail.
POS Systems at a Glance
| POS System | Method | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Paladin | File export | Save the export into the Import Path, then Data > Get POS Data |
| Transact, Dimension, AS/400, ECS, Prosperity | File export | Save the export into the Import Path, then Data > Get POS Data |
| CounterWorks, PacSoft | File export | Save the export into the Import Path, then Data > Get POS Data |
| Catalyst, Falcon | Excel file export | Save the export into the Import Path, then Data > Get POS Data |
| Westlake | File export | Save the export into the Import Path, then Data > Get POS Data |
| Mi9 | File export (one file per store group) | Save the files into the Import Path, then Data > Get POS Data |
| Propello | Full inventory Excel export | Save the export into the Import Path, then Data > Import Propello Data |
| BisTrack | File export per store or BisTrack Direct Connect | Files: save them into the Import Path. Direct Connect: set it up once on the Bistrack Options tab. Then Data > Get POS Data |
| RockSolid | RockSolid's own data file, read in place | Point the Import Path at the RockSolid folder; the RockSolid Options tab checks that the required driver is installed |
| Spruce / SpruceWare.Net | Direct connection to the ECI-hosted database | Add the connection on the Spruce/RockSolid Options tab (needs the ECI VPN) |
| RockSolid MAX | File export or direct connection | Save the export into the Import Path, or add a connection on the Spruce/RockSolid Options tab |
| Epicor (FTP) | FTP download from your Eagle server | Enter the FTP connection on the Epicor Options tab |
| Epicor (MySQL Compass) | Direct connection to the Compass data warehouse on your network | Check Connect via MySQL / Compass on the Epicor Options tab and enter the connection |
| NCR Counterpoint | Direct connection to the Counterpoint database | Contact Margin Master support to set up the connection |
| Other systems | File export | See the system's guide on Supported Point-of-Sale Systems |
What each method does
Export files. Margin Master looks in the Import Path for your system's export file, checks that it is the layout your system produces, and loads each store's items. When it finishes, the file is set aside so it is not imported again.
BisTrack with many stores. Every store's file is loaded together in one pass, which is much faster than one at a time. If one file fails, the rest of the batch continues and the failed stores are listed in the import summary.
Direct connections. No file is involved. Margin Master uses the connection you saved on your system's Options tab and pulls the current data when you choose Data > Get POS Data.
RockSolid. Margin Master reads RockSolid's data file where RockSolid keeps it, so RockSolid must not have that file locked during the import.
After the Import
After any POS import finishes, the same thing happens no matter which system the data came from: your items are joined with the vendor catalog to rebuild the main pricing table, and the selection boxes (product groups, vendors and so on) are refreshed. The status bar reports each step as it runs.
On a large database the rebuild can take a few minutes. If Margin Master postpones it to keep the window responsive, the Click to update data badge appears - click it (or choose Rebuild) when you are ready, and the grid refreshes with the new data.
Tips
If an import seems to complete but the main table is not updated, look for the Click to update data badge and check the status bar messages - each step reports as it runs. If the badge is not there and the grid is still stale, contact Margin Master support with the file.
BisTrack imports with many stores are significantly faster when all the files are in the Import Path together. If one file fails, the rest of the batch continues — failed stores are listed in the import summary.
For RockSolid, the data file must not be open in another application (locked by RockSolid) when Margin Master imports it. Schedule imports during off-hours or after closing.
Epicor MySQL Compass imports do not require any file export from the POS. The connection runs on-demand from the Import dialog.
Common Questions
Why does importing one POS file update all stores? Some POS systems (like Mi9 and MySQL Compass) deliver every store together in a single file or connection. Margin Master sorts each store's items to the right store during the import, so one import updates all of them.
What happens if a file has duplicate SKUs? Margin Master handles that for you - each store ends up with one row per SKU. If you see a SKU twice in the grid, contact Margin Master support with the file.
Can I re-import the same file twice? Yes — each import replaces the previous import's data for the affected stores.
