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Set up Fab-Dis Excel exports

Set up the Fab-Dis Excel exports to define product files' structure, fields, and values amongst your partner or distributor networks in Productsup.

Introduction

French manufacturers use a standard file format called Fab-Dis (Fabrication Distribution) to define product files' structure, fields, and values amongst their partner or distributor networks. The Fab-Dis file format is a complex XLSX file containing multiple datasheets. Each datasheet requires a specific format for data input.

Business-to-Business (B2B) manufacturers in the construction, parts, tools, etc., industry use the Fab-Dis Excel XLSX file format to simplify and standardize the exchange of product data across their sector. To learn more, see Fab-Dis.

To create multiple FabDis Excel sheets, where each sheet may require a different data structure, separate sites process data using individual Excel sheets. Each of these sites processes and exports data to one (1) FabDis Excel sheet. The following site adds data to the Excel sheet and exports output to the next site using a daisy-chain approach.

Note

All sites can import data from one or multiple external sources.

Thanks to the Triggering feature, each Productsup site runs one after the other. See Trigger a run based on the action of another site.

Once the last site finishes processing the final, complete FabDis Excel, you can retrieve the file from the export destination, usually via FTP. See the following illustration:

fab-dis_concept.png

Benefits of Fab-Dis

The benefits of using a chained approach are that you can export Excel files:

  • If several spreadsheet tabs contain different data structures

  • If your product data contains an excessive number of attributes

  • If you need data from multiple product categories

Example set up

Each export adds data to a single Fab-Dis datasheet using the Fab-Dis Excel exports. In the following example, sites X1 through X5 add their data to a sheet within an export template intended for them only. Once each site enters its data, the platform prompts the following sites to then enter their data, one after another. For example,

  1. Site X0 receives and structures the necessary data from the client. Site X0 normalizes the data for the following sites. This process ensures that the information is consistent for further sites downstream.

  2. Site X1 automatically adds information to the 00_CARTOUCHE Excel sheet from the Fab-Dis Master Template file using the FabDis - 00 Cartouche export and sends it to site 1. This sheet has a default line structure, which means that each SKU repeats multiple times for each data variation.

  3. Site X2 uses the FabDis - 01 Commerce export to write data to the 01_ COMMERCE Excel sheet. This sheet has a default column structure, which means it uses one (1) line per SKU.

  4. Site X3 uses the FabDis - 02 Logistique export to write data to the 02_LOGISTIQUE Excel sheet. This sheet has a default line structure, which means that each SKU repeats multiple times for each data variation. For example, the SKU would repeat based on the packaging type per product, such as boxes, crates, pallets, etc. It may be helpful to use the Split Variants service on import to create the required data structure in the site.

  5. Site X4 uses the FabDis - 03 Media export to write data to the 03_Media Excel sheet. This sheet has a default line structure, which means that each SKU repeats multiple times for each data variation. For example, the SKU would repeat based on the media files per product, such as images, PDFs, videos, etc. It may be helpful to use the Split Variants service on import to create the required data structure in the site.

  6. Site X5 uses the FabDis - 06 ETIM export to write data to the 06_ETIM Excel sheet. This sheet has a default line structure, which means that each SKU repeats multiple times for each data variation. For example, the SKU would repeat based on ETIM features per product. It may be helpful to use the Split Variants service on import to create the required data structure in the site. To use ETIM in the platform, see Set up ETIM Classification export.

    fab-dis_use-case.png

In the previous example, the platform applied the Split Variant data service to several columns to create data variations on import. To learn more about Split Variants, see Split parent items to create product variants.

Prerequisites

  1. Contact support@productsup.com to request the FabDis export channel template, Fab-Dis Master Template Excel file, and the FabDis - 00 Cartouche, which acts as the information page, export channel template.

  2. To set up the Fab-Dis ETIM Excel export before generating the final Fab-Dis output file, you must first set up the ETIM Classification export. See Set up ETIM Classification export.

  3. You must set up triggers for each site to prompt the following site to begin processing after each site finishes its process. See Trigger a run based on the action of another site.

Set up Fab-Dis export channels

all_fabdis_exports.png

Available Fab-Dis export channels. More available upon request.

Set up the FabDis - 00 Cartouche export channel

The following procedures explain the general process to set up a FabDis Excel export. If your use case differs, contact support@productsup.com for further assistance.

  1. Go to Exports A/B from your site's main menu and select ADD EXPORT. Search for FabDis - 00 Cartouche and select Add.

    add_fabdis_00.png

  2. (Optional) Give your export a custom identity in Name. The custom name replaces the export's name on the FabDis - 00 Cartouche Overview page. Then select Add.

  3. Select Add Destination and choose your destination. For the following example, choose Excel Spreadsheet (Productsup Server) from the drop-down list. You can optionally give this destination a custom identity in Name. Select Save.

    add_destination_pupserver.png

  4. On the destination settings page, enter the full import source address in Template file. For example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_Master_Template.xlsx, as you are receiving the master template file from this FTP server address.

  5. Enter your FTP credentials in Template File FTP Username and Template File FTP Password.

  6. Enter the Excel spreadsheet name that your site writes to in Data sheet. For example, 00_CARTOUCHE.

  7. The platform uses a comma (,) to separate data by default. Enter a separator of your choice in Data Sheet Name Separator.

  8. Add this export's sheet name in Products sheet. For example, 00_CARTOUCHE.

  9. The Populate By Columns option adds one (1) product to each column instead of one (1) product per line. Ensure you leave this option switched Off, as per default.

  10. Enter this site's output file name in Output File FTP URL, for example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_00_Cartouche_output.xlsx. The following site receives this Excel file as its source and Template file.

    Important

    Ensure you save this export file URL for later reuse.

  11. Enter your FTP credentials in Output File FTP URL and Output File FTP Username.

  12. Turn on the destination by switching Active to On.

  13. Select Save.

  14. Exit this export and go to your account. You then need to choose another site and repeat this process for each site. See the following sections to continue.

    add_fabdis_00cartouche_export.png

Set up the FabDis - 01 Commerce export channel

The following procedures continue the Fab-Dis set up from Set up the FabDis - 00 Cartouche export channel.

  1. Go to Exports A/B from your site's main menu and select ADD EXPORT. Search for FabDis - 01 Commerce and select Add.

    add_fabdis_01commerce_export.png

  2. (Optional) Give your export a custom identity in Name. The custom name replaces the export's name on the FabDis - 01 Commerce Overview page. Then select Add.

  3. Select Add Destination and choose your destination. For the following example, choose Excel Spreadsheet (Productsup Server) from the drop-down list. You can optionally give this destination a custom identity in Name. Select Save.

    add_destination_pupserver.png

  4. On the destination settings page, enter the full import source address in Template file. For example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_00_Cartouche_output.xlsx.

    Note

    The full import source is the previously added output XLSX file processed from the last site.

  5. Enter your FTP credentials in Template File FTP Username and Template File FTP Password.

  6. Enter the Excel spreadsheet name that your site writes to in Data sheet. For example, 01_COMMERCE.

  7. The platform uses a comma (,) to separate data by default. Enter a separator of your choice in Data Sheet Name Separator.

  8. Add this export's sheet name in Products sheet. For example, 01_COMMERCE.

  9. The Populate By Columns option adds one (1) product to each column instead of one (1) product per line. Ensure you leave this option switched Off, as per default.

  10. Enter this site's output file name in Output File FTP URL, for example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_01_Commerce_output.xlsx. The following site receives this Excel file as its source and Template file.

  11. Enter your FTP credentials in Output File FTP URL and Output File FTP Username.

  12. Turn on the destination by switching Active to On.

  13. Select Save.

  14. Exit this export and go to your account. You then need to choose another site and repeat this process for each site. See the following sections to continue.

    excel_fabdis_dest_settings01.png

Set up the FabDis - 02 Logistique export channel

The following procedures continue the Fab-Dis set up from Set up the FabDis - 01 Commerce export channel.

  1. Go to Exports A/B from your site's main menu and select ADD EXPORT. Search for FabDis - 02 Logistique and select Add.

    add_fabdis_02logistique_export.png

  2. (Optional) Give your export a custom identity in Name. The custom name replaces the export's name on the FabDis - 02 Logistique Overview page. Then select Add.

  3. Select Add Destination and choose your destination. For the following example, choose Excel Spreadsheet (Productsup Server) from the drop-down list. You can optionally give this destination a custom identity in Name. Select Save.

    add_destination_pupserver.png

  4. On the destination settings page, enter the full import source address in Template file. For example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_01_Commerce_output.xlsx.

  5. Enter your FTP credentials in Template File FTP Username and Template File FTP Password.

  6. Enter the Excel spreadsheet name that your site writes to in Data sheet. For example, 02_LOGISTIQUE.

  7. The platform uses a comma (,) to separate data by default. Enter a separator of your choice in Data Sheet Name Separator.

  8. Add this export's sheet name in Products sheet. For example, 02_LOGISTIQUE.

  9. The Populate By Columns option adds one (1) product to each column instead of one (1) product per line. Ensure you leave this option switched Off, as per default.

  10. Enter this site's output file name in Output File FTP URL, for example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_02_Logistique_output.xlsx. The following site receives this Excel file as its source and Template file.

  11. Enter your FTP credentials in Output File FTP URL and Output File FTP Username.

  12. Turn on the destination by switching Active to On.

  13. Select Save.

  14. Exit this export and go to your account. You then need to choose another site and repeat this process for each site. See the following sections to continue.

    excel_fabdis_dest_settings02.png

Set up the FabDis - 03 Media export channel

The following procedures continue the Fab-Dis set up from Set up the FabDis - 02 Logistique export channel.

  1. Go to Exports A/B from your site's main menu and select ADD EXPORT. Search for FabDis - 03 Media and select Add.

    add_fabdis_03media_export.png

  2. (Optional) Give your export a custom identity in Name. The custom name replaces the export's name on the FabDis - 03 Media Overview page. Then select Add.

  3. Select Add Destination and choose your destination. For the following example, choose Excel Spreadsheet (Productsup Server) from the drop-down list. You can optionally give this destination a custom identity in Name. Select Save.

    add_destination_pupserver.png

  4. On the destination settings page, enter the full import source address in Template file. For example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_02_Logistique_output.xlsx.

  5. Enter your FTP credentials in Template File FTP Username and Template File FTP Password.

  6. Enter the Excel spreadsheet name that your site writes to in Data sheet. For example, 03_MEDIA.

  7. The platform uses a comma (,) to separate data by default. Enter a separator of your choice in Data Sheet Name Separator.

  8. Add this export's sheet name in Products sheet. For example, 03_MEDIA.

  9. The Populate By Columns option adds one (1) product to each column instead of one (1) product per line. Ensure you leave this option switched Off, as per default.

  10. Enter this site's output file name in Output File FTP URL, for example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_03_Media_output.xlsx. The following site receives this Excel file as its source and Template file.

  11. Enter your FTP credentials in Output File FTP URL and Output File FTP Username.

  12. Turn on the destination by switching Active to On.

  13. Select Save.

  14. Exit this export and go to your account. You then need to choose another site and repeat this process for each site. See the following sections to continue.

    excel_fabdis_dest_settings03.png

Set up the FabDis - 06 ETIM export channel

The following procedures continue the Fab-Dis set up from Set up the FabDis - 03 Media export channel.

  1. Go to Exports A/B from your site's main menu and select ADD EXPORT. Search for FabDis - 06 ETIM and select Add.

    add_fabdis_06etim_export.png

  2. (Optional) Give your export a custom identity in Name. The custom name replaces the export's name on the FabDis - 06 ETIM Overview page. Then select Add.

  3. Select Add Destination and choose your destination. For the following example, choose Excel Spreadsheet (Productsup Server) from the drop-down list. You can optionally give this destination a custom identity in Name. Select Save.

    add_destination_pupserver.png

  4. On the destination settings page, enter the full import source address in Template file. For example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_03_Media_output.xlsx.

  5. Enter your FTP credentials in Template File FTP Username and Template File FTP Password.

  6. Enter the Excel spreadsheet name that your site writes to in Data sheet. For example, 06_ETIM.

  7. The platform uses a comma (,) to separate data by default. Enter a separator of your choice in Data Sheet Name Separator.

  8. Add this export's sheet name in Products sheet. For example, 06_ETIM.

  9. The Populate By Columns option adds one (1) product to each column instead of one (1) product per line. Ensure you leave this option switched Off, as per default.

  10. Enter this site's output file name in Output File FTP URL, for example, ftp://transport.productsup.io/YourAccountName/FAB-DIS_Final_output.xlsx. The following site receives this Excel file as its source and Template file.

  11. Enter your FTP credentials in Output File FTP URL and Output File FTP Username.

  12. Turn on the destination by switching Active to On.

  13. Select Save.

  14. You are now ready to set up ETIM for your data classifications. To continue, see Set up ETIM Classification export.

    excel_fabdis_dest_settings06.png

  15. Once you finish with the Fab-Dis setup, you can find your final, completed FabDis file on the FTP server.

Preserve Excel exports cell formatting

The final exported Excel sheet must preserve the cell formatting of the original template document for the Fab-Dis export. You can test the formatting by comparing the original template with the final output Fab-Dis Excel file. The following screenshots show the preservation of formatting options:

excell_cell_formatting_before.png
excell_cell_formatting_after.png

The original Master Template file formatting is on the left, and the final output file is on the right.

In this section: