Hi everybody. I've been thinking about importing data into ofbiz.
One of the issues is that we have a highly normalized data model
which would require extensive mapping from external systems.
Nevertheless, I think it is possible to create some standard
"template" entities for importing data and thus create a standard
practice and, eventually, standard tools for doing it. Here's what
I'm thinking, given in the context of importing product data:
1. Create a standard non-normalized "holding" entity which contains
productId, quantity on hand, available to promise, average cost,
reorder point. Note that none of these are linked to any entity in
ofbiz.
2. Add a timestamp fields to identify when the data was loaded into
the "holding" entity and when it was imported into ofbiz.
3. Write a standard datafile xml import template which corresponds
to this "holding" entity.
4. Write some processing script or service which takes new data from
the holding entity and insert it into ofbiz. For example, in this
case it would be to create InventoryItem, ProductAverageCost, and
maybe some AcctgTrans (maybe . . .)
It may be most efficient to write these holding entities
corresponding to popular software programs where people might want to
import data from, so they can mirror those programs' data layout more
easily.
Si
- importing data into ofbiz Si Chen
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