Importing Orders Automatically

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Overview

Monsoon Order Manager has the ability to periodically import orders without manual intervention. To do so, a manual import of each cart defined in the store file must have already been completed before executing the unattended order import. The reason for this is the unattended import cannot respond to the First Import prompt since it requires user input. If you have not run the first import for a given cart, the program logs a message and skips over that cart until the first import is completed.

The program must be launched manually on the dedicated unattended order import workstation at least once, in order to establish the connection to the store file. If multiple store files are used, a dedicated machine must be setup for unattended order import from each store database as there is no way to switch stores when running in unattended mode.

To run in unattended mode, start the program by entering a command and parameters from Windows Command Prompt. It is recommended to setup a Windows system task to run the application at specified intervals on a workstation which is not used for other Monsoon Order Manager activities. If you do attempt to execute the program through a command prompt and the application is already open on the workstation, the auto order import instance of Monsoon Order Manager fails to initialize.

Be sure MS Access is not set to run as an administrator on the unattended order import workstation or the User Account Control message holds up processing until it receives a manual response.

When initialized in unattended mode, the application attempts to import orders from every shopping cart defined in the store data file which is capable of performing direct XML order import. If a given shopping cart is only able to import order information from a text file, it is ignored by the program, with the sole exception of Monsoon Marketplace.

When order imports from all eligible shopping carts are completed, the application copies the current log file to the archive location, sends an e-mail with the results to a specified address, and then exits the system. The next time the program is started by the Windows system task, the active log file is overwritten.

If the program encounters an event that it is not able to handle automatically, it stops and sends an e-mail (to the address specified in parameter AutomationEmail) requesting manual intervention. The most likely place for this to occur is during Customer Match processing.   

If orders fail during auto import, the program copies the order file to the directory specified in system parameter, AutoOrderImportFailedOrderLocation, with the exception of Amazon/Semplice order files which are not archived.

If no value is specified at the time of import, the program sets the AutoOrderImportFailedOrderLocation parameter to the directory specified in the parameter <AutoOrderImportLog>\FailedOrders.

If parameter AutoOrderImportLog is also not set, the program sets AutoOrdermportFailedLocation to C:\StoneEdge\AutoImport\FailedOrders. Parameter AutoOrderImportLog is unchanged.

Best Practices

• Install Monsoon Order Manager on a workstation which is not used for order processing.

• Do not run MS Access as Administrator on the workstation where the unattended import process is executed.

• Set system parameter UseCustomerMatching = FALSE.

• Set system parameter VerifyAddressesAtImport = FALSE.

• If security is enabled, create a UserID for the sole purpose of running the auto order import process and add it to the Automation security group. The program also adds it to the Admin security group. If this user is removed from the Admin group, it is also removed from the Automation group, impacting the ability of the automated order import to function. 

• When you add a new cart, temporarily disable the Windows system task and run a manual import for that cart. Enable the system task when the first import is finished.

How to invoke the Auto Order Import feature manually

1. Enter a value in system parameter AutomationEmail.
2. If Monsoon Order Manager security is turned on, create a new Admin UserID or assign an existing Admin UserID to the Automation security group.
3. Review the default settings of the remaining automation parameters and adjust them if necessary.
4. Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt.
5. Enter the following:

[Path to the Order Manager program file] /nostartup /X AutoImport

for example:

"C:\StoneEdge\SEOrderManager.mdb" /nostartup /X AutoImport

(there is a space between "C:\StoneEdge\SEOrderManager.mdb" and /nostartup)

6. For repeated execution of the unattended Import feature, create a Windows System Task to execute this command periodically. Refer to the Knowledge Base topic of the same name for guidance.  

Related System Parameters

AutomationEmail

• when the unattended import concludes and there is a problem which requires manual intervention, an e-mail message with the details is sent to this address

• this is a required field

• if this field is left blank, when the application is started it ends immediately without processing any orders - check the log, as no e-mail can be sent by the program if this parameter is not set

AutomationPay1

• enter the non-administrator Payment Module user name Monsoon Order Manager should use for the automatic import process

AutomationPay2

• enter the password for the non-administrator  Payment Module user name Monsoon Order Manager uses to import orders automatically

AutomationPayDaysLeft

• stores the days remaining until the password for the non-administrator Payment Module user name expires

• each time the automatic import is started, the program checks the number of days until the password expires and sends an email to the address specified in system parameter AutomationEmail once a day to remind them to update the password through the Payment Module

• when the password is updated in the Payment Module, change Monsoon Order Manager system parameter AutomationPay2 with the new value  

AutoOrderImportLog

• the location where the log file resides
• this is a required field
• defaults to c:\StoneEdge\AutoImport

AutoOrderImportLogArchive

• the location where the archived log files reside
• this is an optional field
• defaults to c:\StoneEdge\AutoImport\Archive

AutoOrderImportOrderDocs

• defines the location where order documents are saved during import
• requires OM2PDF to be the default printer on the workstation where the unattended import is executed
• do not substitute another PDF printer definition for OM2PDF
• the default value of this field is c:\StoneEdge\AutoImport\OrderDocuments, but you can change it to a different location
• if this field is cleared (left blank), the order documents are stored in the program installation directory (default location is c:\StoneEdge)

DropShipAutoOrder

• The default setting is FALSE. If set to TRUE, drop-ship purchase orders will be created automatically as you import orders. POs are only created for Approved orders, and only for items with Primary Suppliers.

 WARNING: THIS IS A POTENTIAL SECURITY PROBLEM, SINCE CUSTOMERS CAN PLACE ORDERS AND HAVE THEM DROP-SHIPPED TO THEM WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE. ONLY USE THIS OPTION IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT RISK!!!

Additional information

Creating a Windows System Task

Automation Parameter Group

Created: 8/19/14

Revised: 6/30/15

Published: 08/19/15