Article ID: 1001

SUMMARY

This article describes how to further automate the import process from a Microvellum Library to SellingPoint by importing pricing information. Applies to: SellingPoint Management Studio (version 5)

MORE INFORMATION

SellingPoint offers a flexible way to accomplish pricing. If using a parametric catalog or importing from a dynamic source such as a Microvellum Library, formulas can be used to open up many possibilities for a rich pricing model. In such cases, SellingPoint looks to specific "hidden prompts" for such a formula. SellingPoint will look for "Base Price" or "Price" prompt in column "A" and then use the formula presented in column "B" as the base price of the product represented in the CUT file.

Since formulas are supported, there are many opens to how you arrive at your base price. Since the primary Global and Material files are loaded at the time of price calculation, you are free to reference values in those files as well.

Begin by opening the desired product CUT file in a spreadsheet editing program such as Microsoft Excel and switch to the "Prompts" sheet.

To specify the base price of the product:

1. Locate the section containing hidden prompts.  Visible prompts are separated by hidden prompts by an empty row, so the hidden prompts section will start with the first row after an empty row.
2. Add a new row column with "A" containing "Base Price" and column "B" containing the base price.

Although an accurate price could be generated by this singe formula in the hidden prompt area, SellingPoint helps simplify matters by introducing price points as a way to make the pricing more granular and easy to manage. Price points are simple, static prices that can increase or decrease the base price. These price points are assigned on a prompt by prompt level. This makes it possible to quickly and easily attach pricing to individual options on a product.

To specify price points for different product options:

1. In the visible prompts section, specify the price point in column "I" of the option row.
2. Since there are several type of controls the user can interact with, use the following to determine how to add pricing to each control type:
    
   1. Radio Button controls will have a single price which is added if that radio button is checked.
   2. Check Box controls will have a dual value separated by a comma. The first price will be added to the base price if the box is checked, the second price will be added if the box is not checked.
   3. Text Box controls can be associated with a flat amount, which can either be expressed as a static number or a formula that evaluates to a number.
   4. Combo Box controls use a comma delimited string of prices that correspond to the comma delimited string of list items that go into the combo box.  Depending upon the value selected from the combo box, the appropriate price will be applied to the base price.
   5. Disabled (Read Only) Text Box controls can be associated with a flat amount, which can either be expressed as a static number or a formula that evaluates to a number.

   Use the following table for quick reference:

   Control Type Column "C" Identifier   Column "I" Pricing Format Text Box NULL or 1 Flat amount First Radio Button 2 On Additional Radio Buttons 3 On Check Box 4 On,Off (Comma delimited) Combo Box 5 Comma delimited in same order as list items Disabled Text Box 10 Flat amount

Note: If formulas are used in column "I" instead of static values as defined in the above box, SellingPoint will treat the resolved value of those formulas as the price. While this offers flexibility, it does require that the formula author handle the state of the control. For instance, if this approach is used on a check box control, the formula will need to look at the current value in column "B" to get the checked state of the box.

The following is a screen shot of a sample CUT file with the modified prompts page:

This example results in the following:

• The base price of the product is set to a static $75.00.
• The Left Finished End and Right Finished End options will each result in an additional $20.00 added to the base price if they are selected.
• If a Left Swing is selected, nothing is added to the base price.
• If a Right Swing is selected, $5.00 is added to the base price.
• If Oak is selected for the Wood Type, then $100.00 will be added to the base price.
• If Maple is selected for the Wood Type, then $50.00 will be added to the base price.
• If Pine is selected for the Wood Type, then nothing will be added to the base price.

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