Understanding Item Loading

Several ways are available to update the master data tables with inbound data to the item master. These data loads enable you to update or add items, change pricing, update potential suppliers for each item, and change item attributes. You can add or update item data by using these options:

• The Item Price List and Item Master EIPs.

• A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with the PeopleTools Excel-to-component-interface utility.

• MarketPlace item updates using the MarketSite CUP file.

• The PeopleSoft eProcurement xCBL interface.

• PeopleSoft Catalog Management System product loads.

• PeopleSoft Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contract interface.

Each option enables you to load data into staging tables before loading the item data into master data tables. While the data is in the staging tables, validation and error correction can be completed. You can use Workflow to notify you when items do not load into the item master tables. You can view and correct data loads by using the Data Definition Maintenance component.

After the items are loaded into the master data tables, you can change several items at the same time by using the Catalog Maintenance Extract (PO_EXPORT_CRITERIA) process. This process enables you to download items from master data tables to the Item Loader staging tables, where you can alter the items using the Catalog Maintenance Update (PO_MASS_UPDATE) process or the Data Definition Maintenance (IN_EIP_ITEM_MAINT) component.