Import Vendor Schedules Service

Overview

The Import Vendor Schedules Service brings vendor-supplied schedule spreadsheets into SBN. On a fixed timer it watches a set of folders for Excel files, reads each file, and loads its rows into SBN through the vendor-schedule import routine. Files are matched to a vendor by the vendor code in the file name, and the service runs continuously so that new files are picked up as they are dropped in.

Imports happen two ways. Scheduled imports run at the times you define on the Schedule tab — each scheduled time can be marked optional or mandatory, and the service can be set to skip weekends. On-demand imports run every cycle: any file dropped into the on-demand folder is processed right away without waiting for a scheduled time.

If a file imports cleanly it is removed from its folder once processed. If a file contains errors, a copy listing the bad rows is written to the error folder and the vendor is emailed so they can correct and resubmit. When a mandatory scheduled run completes, any vendor who did not submit a file is emailed a reminder.

The service requires a working SBN data-server connection; if the connection cannot be established at start-up, the service logs the reason and stops. It also stops if no schedule entries are defined, since there would be nothing to do.

Service Manager

Instructions for installing and interacting with this service is found here.

Service Properties

Only properties specific to this service are listed here. Common service properties (SBN Server connection, Logging, SMTP) are found here.

Timer (In Seconds)

How often the service runs a pass. The service waits this many seconds between cycles, then checks whether a scheduled import is due and processes any files waiting in the on-demand folder.

Schedule file path

The folder the service watches for files imported on the defined schedule. Vendors drop their schedule spreadsheets here, and they are imported at the next scheduled time.

On-demand path

The folder the service watches for files to import immediately. Any file placed here is processed on the next cycle, regardless of the schedule.

Error path

The folder where the service writes files that failed to import. A spreadsheet listing the rows that could not be loaded is placed here, and the affected vendor is emailed to resubmit corrections.

Schedule

The list of times each day a scheduled import runs, set on the Schedule tab. Each entry can be marked Optional or mandatory — on a mandatory run, any vendor who has not submitted a file is emailed a reminder. Skip Weekends stops scheduled runs on Saturday and Sunday. At least one schedule entry must be defined or the service will stop on start-up.

Verbose Logging

When enabled, the service writes extra detail to its log, such as row counts as data is copied in. Normally left off to keep the log concise.