Types of EC Updates (Updated 07/10/00)

There are two (2) types of Electronic Catalogue (EC) Updates. The first type of update is the "Weekly Update"; download ECDELTA.EXE or CATmmdd.EXE. The "Weekly Update" replaces only those items which have changed from the previous week. This update MUST be done each week and in date order. (E.g. the "Weekly Update" from 5/21/00 must be done before the update for 5/28/00). The "Weekly Update" combines all of the vendor changes for that week only into the Update file. If you miss a week you will miss new part numbers and price/cost updates. If you want to download the minimum amount of information each week you should use the Weekly Update. See the intructions for a "Weekly Update".

(07/10/00) The second type of update is the "Refresh" or "Full Update"; download CATALOG.EXE and EXPDESC.EXE. This "Full Update" replaces ALL of the data with the most recent copy from our master files. If you want to be sure to have only the lastest data or you missed one of the "Weekly Updates" you should use the "Full Update". Note that the full update is the only source of updates to the "Expanded Description" data. See the instructions for the "Refresh Update".

Downloading Instructions

Connect to our Home Page at amisoft.com. Scroll to and click on the Catalogue icon at the left of the screen. Wait for the Password box to appear and enter your User Name and Password, using all upper case characters.

PLEASE READ ANY NOTES AND CHECK THE DATES ON ALL FILES. IF THEY ARE NOT CURRENT, WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UPDATE THE SITE.

Select a file by clicking on the underlined file name that you want from the File Name column. Click on the "Save this program to disk" button and then "OK". Choose the path to your EC directory in the "Save in" box, using the name of the file you are downloading in the "File name" box. Click on the Save button. Answer Yes to overwrite the file if asked. Proceed on with the "Weekly" or "Full Update" instructions that follow:

Update Instructions

The Weekly Update MUST still be done from a DOS prompt. In Windows click on the Start button and then the Programs menu. Select MS-DOS Prompt. Get to the directory where your EC is located. As an example: Change to the Drive, eg, F:, by typing F: and then Enter. Then change to the directory, eg, EC, by typing CD\EC and then Enter.

HOW TO UPDATE FROM THE WEEKLY FILE (ECDELTA.EXE or CATmmdd.EXE)

Users may be in the system during the Weekly Update procedure.

  • Step 1 Download the ECDELTA.EXE (or CATmmdd.EXE) file from the Net into the EC directory.
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  • Step 2 Type ecdelta -o at the DOS prompt to explode the file. Answer A if asked to overwrite all files.
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  • Step 3 Type ec to start the EC program. When the EC screen appears, strike Alt+U to get to the Utility menu. Now select and choose Database. This displays a side menu. Select and then choose Update Databases From Delta Files. This starts the update, which takes about 30 - 45 minutes.
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  • Step 4 When the database update completes, check that there are no error messages. If there are none, a dialog box tells you the installation is now complete. Press Enter. You are done!

    Note: Every 4 to 6 weeks you should also add the following steps to remove all products that have been marked for deletion. Do the Weekly Update steps above first.

    ALL Users must be logged out of the EC and A.M.I. systems during this part of the procedure.

  • Step 5 At the F:\EC> DOS prompt, type ec_util dp and strike Enter. This starts the procedure that takes 45 - 55 minutes to complete. You must include the dp to remove the deleted product codes.

    Our e-comm users should then run the special indexing routine MCIX * from the DOS prompt in the EC direcory.

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  • Step 6 When the indexing is completed, all users may use the system.
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    (07/10/00) HOW TO UPDATE FROM THE COMPLETE REFRESH OF THE EC (CATALOG.EXE and EXPDESC.EXE)

    This is a new Windows type of Installation. ALL Users must be locked out of the EC and A.M.I. systems during a Refresh (Full) Update procedure.

  • Step 1 Download the CATALOG.EXE and EXPDESC.EXE files from the Net into the EC directory.
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  • Step 2 In Windows click on the Start button and then the Run menu. Type the directory path to your EC directory and catalog, eg, F:\EC\catalog and then click the Ok button. Follow the on screen prompts.
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  • Step 3 It is no longer necessary to unzip the EXPDESC.EXE file OR run the ec_util routine. They are done automatically for you.
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  • Step 4 Our e-comm users must now run the special MCIX * routine.
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  • Step 5 When the indexing is completed, you should set all file attributes to shareable, read write. Then all users may use the system.
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    Note: The A.M.I. Product List should be updated after either EC Update if your site has chosen to do so. You do this from the Main Course menu by selecting System Maintenance then System Setup then Item Master Update menus. Once there, choose Update Price List From Electronic Catalogue.