Crate Pro Support

 Column titles may be slightly different for older releases

New inventory items and updates to existing inventory items can be imported into Crate Pro by using the Import/Export option. However, some inventory configuration and ongoing management steps are faster to complete in Crate Pro instead of using a spreadsheet.

What's faster to complete in Crate Pro versus importing

• Selecting  your Active and Inactive Materials from the existing inventory items: Setting Inventory  
  • It's recommended to select these tabs first: Plywood, Lumber, Fasteners as these materials are typically used in all designs. You may clean-up other tabs as needed,

• Top of the window in Inventory > View: Design Fields List: Check / uncheck the 'Active' boxes next to each item to indicate what you use. Unchecking does not delete the items, it moves them to the 'Inactive' tab should you ever need the item later.

• Updating your inventory item costs: Crate Pro has a very fast method to update your material costs as they change. However, always be aware of the unit of measure you chose for that material when you change the cost. Fast Update of Costs

  
  

  • For example: You may select to enter the cost of a Cam Lock by 'each' and nails by 'the box'. When updating costs in a list view, check the Tracking Level verifying the unit of measure you are using. Tracking level is the unit of measure you purchase this material in so will enter what you pay bu that unit of measure

    
    

Steps for Inventory Export/ Import

1> Export a file to work in first by open Inventory module > Select Import/Export at the top of the window > Select the group or All groups to export > click on Export: Until you're comfortable with this process, start with a single material family, such as Lumber or Plywood

• Name the file - I suggest using a date and name to easily identify this files contents
• Save as Type: selecting an Excel file will keep the column headers. A .CSV file will not include the field headers but is another option for file import
• Check the box "Automatically Open File" 

2> The attached spreadsheet includes detailed information as to what columns can be changed and what should not for existing items. It also includes columns where you should enter information and not leave the field blank when adding new items.

Consider copy and inserting the header column from the attached spreadsheet into your exported file.

• Columns this color must have data in their fields when entering NEW materials. 

Columns this color provide additional information based on the materials that are entered.Depending on the material, in some cases data should be entered for features such as costing and ISPM tracking

3> Importing: When complete- save the updated file and open the Inventory module > Select Import/Export at the top of the window > select Import to go' Proceed to the Interim Import table'

 > Select 'Get Interim Records > point to the updated file. Your option will be to 'ADD"

• For field mapping options select 'Matching Name'

• In the window that shows which Source field (spreadsheet) is mapped to the Target field (in Crate Pro) confirm the field names for all columns that will be imported are shown and the same.

• You don't need to accept to import ALL the green labeled fields. You may opt to click on a labeled field and select to not import.

• Select IMPORT or CONTINUE or OK

• The data will appear in the Interim Table for you to review for errors prior to actual import. This screen will scroll to allow you to see all columns
  • Items that are green exist in CP6 and will be updated if changes were made during import
  • Items in blue do not have the required Item ID field entered and need to be corrected prior to import
  • Items in yellow are duplicates of existing items and need to be deleted prior to import
  • Items in red contain field errors which need to be corrected prior to import
• 

If you need to make corrections - select to 'Clear Interim Records'

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In the sample spreadsheet attached:

• The columns highlighted in YELLOW require data entry and can NOT be left blank. 
• The columns highlighted in GREEN should have data entered based on the material group selected
• The columns highlighted in BLUE  are optional for data entry

REQUIRED FIELDS:  Do not leave these fields blank -  Depending on the version of Crate Pro the column number may be different - the column header is shown along with the column name for easier identification.

1> B / AddAcct: Enter the login name of the User who is making the changes. If preferred, you can copy/paste any name that appears in this column. If there are errors with the material, knowig who made the entry can assist in correcting the errors.

2> G /: Facility ID  - Go to Preferences > Company and locate your Facility ID. Enter this into the import spreadsheet and repeat  it to the last record you'll import

3> I / ItemID: - This must be unique from every other inventory entry. DO NOT CHANGE AN EXISTING ITEM ID    .If you want to add a similar item, enter it as a new record. The Item ID is what appears on the cut lists

4> K / Active: - Active items - enter a '1' for items that are active // enter a '0' for items that are showing active that you want to move to the Inactive tab

5> AC / Category: - This is the Category the inventory item will be listed in. Suggested to copy/paste from an existing field. 

6> AD / TL: - Tracking Level. Tracking level is the unit of measure you purchase this material in AND will be the unit of measure you enter your material costs in. If possible, all items in an inventory tab should use the same tracking level so cost updates are less prone to error.  In most tabs the Tracking Level must be A or B. Some inventory groups allow for A to F for the Tracking Level.

7> AN / Cost: - Your cost for this item based on the unit of measure you set in the Tracking Level. If you're not using CP6 to calculate material costs, you can enter '0'

8> AR / Wt: - Weight of the item based on the selected unit of measure for your Tracking Level. 

9> AT / UM_TL: - Enter the text that you prefer to see when setting the unit of measure you buy these items in. Example: Box, Roll, Sheet, Pink Dogs, etc.  This is strictly a text field and does not affect calculations.

10> AV / MU_Des_Default: - This is the default markup as set in Preferences > Prices > Design Markup. While most often this will fill in automatically, some security settings will leave this field blank which will negate any profit for this material. COPY/ paste the values from other same category items. Important - this MUST match the default markup as set in Preferences for this material group.

• AT / MU: - if you prefer an override to the default markup - you can set it here. Use %: so .3 is 30% whereas 3 is 300%

REQUIRED FIELDS BASED ON INVENTORY GROUP:  Please review your export for existing values that are already applied.

• Column N to X / Thick-Wide-Long-ThickNom - WideNom: - Category Lumber, Plywood, Padding, some Fasteners, some Other.  Note that for lumber 'Nominal' values are to ISPM tracking and 'Nominal values for customers using metric material are the same as Thick-WIde-Long values

• Column S / Waste -  Value will be zero unless a fraction is entered

• Column T / Time: enter time to cut, install or apply a particular amount of this material. It's recommended to review each inventory category to determine the time being determined.

• Column U /TimeWrapPrep:  -Time required to prep your Wrapping materials. Time to take off holder, roll it out on table, measure and cut the piece needed, the return the roll to storage

• Column V / TimePrep: - Fastener prep time - generally for fasteners such as bolts that require pre-drilling in addition to install time

• Column W / FastSpaceFactor: - Spacing factor for Fasteners that is multiplied by the fastener spacing value in Preferences > Construction tabs for the style famiy. This value tells CP6 how far apart to space that specific fastener, which also determines the quantity of fasteners to use

• Column X / AddThickAtCorners: - Wrapping - when wrapping is applied there is an extra % of thickness that is automatically pushed in the corners around the content item. You add a % of the used material that is counted toward the total used/costs

• Column AE /  LumCleat: - Lumber (timber) - will this material be used as a cleat?
  

• Column AF / OthrRiser: - Other tab - Items that will be used as Risers such as Donuts and Skid Mates. Be sure to enter a "thickness ' value to get a correct height value when a riser is used.
  

• Column AG to AM / [Fastener usage location] : - this is the checkbox in Fasteners tab that tells CP6oin what capacity you would use this fastener. Enter a '1' for each field that you would use that fastener
  
  

OPTIONAL DATA FIELDS

Fields shown in blue are optional for data entry. You may chose to enter the information into your