Note
	The information in this section does not have to be taken into account when the catalog is first created. It is only relevant if the catalog has already been published as a CIP and it is likely that the catalog has been integrated into an ERP user's system.

Background information

Several of the CADENAS catalogs are also used in connection with an ERP system. In this case the parts of the catalogs were linked to the existing datasets of the customer’s inventory control system. If this is performed the first time, this procedure is also called “ERP initial load”.

As a rule, the latest available CIP data status released by the manufacturer is used for the initial filling. This is supplied by CADENAS together with the PARTsolutions software on the enclosed catalog DVDs, or can be obtained even more up-to-date via PARTadmin -> Catalog update -> Online (see Section 1.3.3.1, “ Catalog update Online ” in PARTsolutions Administration - Manual ).

Once a catalog was installed into an ERP environment, numerous links and technical references were created. But often the catalog is extended at the same time, what means there were new products added, changed or removed by the decision of the supplier. Sometimes this affects only one size, but this also causes at least a table change. Also the supplier can change the whole folder structure because in the course of time new chapters and part families result and the structure must be adjusted e.g. to the Print catalog appearance.

At the end of all these changes the catalog will appear again as update on the above mentioned platforms and the end-user can install the new CIP catalog version on his environment. And he of course should do this, because also mistakes in the catalog data are resolved continuously.

In order not to lose the mentioned links and references during a catalog update in an already installed ERP system, several points have to be considered preventively by the catalog creator. These are explained in this section.

Since eCATALOGsolutions V10 SP2, it is necessary to perform an ERP mapping check before every catalog CIP update and to enter the corresponding ERP mappings in PARTproject and enter them in Publishing without this mapping information is not possible. As soon as the command Upload changed files in directories/projects to the server [Upload changed files in directories / projects to the server] is executed under context menu command Version management [Versioning system], the dialog box Check [Check ERP-Mapping] ERP mapping is opened automatically. The corresponding setting is made under Edit project -> General tab -> Catalog settings [Settings for the catalog] -> Check ERP mapping when uploading [Check ERP-Mapping on upload] and should NOT be changed. (Alternatively, you can also use the context menu commands Add [Add ERP-Mapping...] ERP mapping... and Edit [Edit ERP-Mapping...] ERP mapping... can also be used)

This procedure also ensures compliance with this guideline and allows information regarding changed, converted and removed projects to be proactively communicated to the PARTsolutions user / admin. All details are described under Section 6.10.2, “ Check ERP mapping (Add ERP mapping... and Edit ERP mapping...) ”.