• The Distributor screen is entered after the Distributor provides a Username and Password at the Login screen. This screen allows the Distributor to download Price files.

• The message center identifies the Distributor’s company name, DUNS + 4 number, and the PCFS Format ( 5.12 or 5.2 ) selected on the Login screen.

• The download process requires temporary space called a Working Directory. This is a Windows Directory ( Folder ) to which the User has Write and Delete privileges. The button labeled 'Working Dir' allows the user to specify the location of the Working Directory by using a standard Windows dialogue. The default for the Working Directory is C:\Temp. If the system has a C:\Temp Directory to which the User has the required privileges, no input is required.

• Manufactures supply Production data ( current prices ) and may supply Future data ( prices to become effective at some time in the future ). The radio buttons labeled 'Production' and 'Future' specify if the Distributor wants to download Production or Future price files. 

• Distributors are granted access to Price files by Manufacturers. The list of the Manufacturers who have granted access to a Distributor appears on the lower part of the screen. In addition to the Manufacturer’s name, each line contains the upload date ( the date the Manufacturer last uploaded i.e. changed ) the Price file data and the download date ( the date the Distributor last downloaded the Price file ). The list will be in one of two forms - either All Manufacturers who have granted access or only those Manufacturers who have updated their Price file data since the last time the Distributor downloaded it. These lists are referred to as 'All' and 'New' respectively. The form of the list is controlled by the radio buttons labeled 'All Price Files' and 'New Price Files'. The label above the list specifies the number of Manufacturers in the list, if the list is All or New, and the date and time the list was generated. Note: If a Manufacturer has granted access to Generic data to a Distributor but that Manufacturer has not provided ( uploaded ) Generic data, that Manufacturer will not appear in the list.

• Price files may be downloaded in one or all of the Formats in the "Download Data" bank of checkboxes labeled "Fixed Format",  "CSV",  "XML",  and "Excel". 

• Fixed format is a text file where each line represents one part. Each line length in characters is the sum of the lengths for each Field as specified in the PCFS format ( either 5.12 or 5.2 ). 

• CSV (Comma Separated Values) format is a text file where each line represents one part. Lines may have variable ( data dependent ) lengths. Data is written as described in http://www.heikniemi.net/hc/archives/2004_10.html.

• XML ( Extensible Markup Language ) is a format whose primary purpose is to facilitate the sharing of structured data across different information systems, particularly via the Internet. 

• Excel ( Microsoft Office Excel ) is a spreadsheet format written and distributed by Microsoft. 

• Check each format in which you want Price file data downloaded. 

• Select each Manufacturer in the list for which you want the Price file data downloaded. Select by clicking on the Manufacturer line. To select multiple Manufacturers, hold the keyboard ‘Ctrl’ button while selecting. To select all Manufacturers in the list click the ‘Select All’ button. 

• When you click the ‘Download’ button, Price file data for the Manufacturers selected will be downloaded in the Format(s) checked. The downloaded files will be placed in the Working Directory. The files will be named starting with the Manufacturer’s DUNS + 4 number followed by "_mm_dd_yy_hhmmss_" followed by the Distributor Username. A file named 1040000000000_09_20_07_011051_HDXD201.xls in the Working Directory would represent a Price file from the Manufacturer whose DUNS number is 1040000000000 which was downloaded 09/20/07 01:10.51 GMT for the Distributor whose Username is HDXD201 in Excel Format ( .xls ).

• The "Request Manufacturer" bank "Participation" button takes the Distributor to a screen where the Distributor may request, via email,  participation in the PFL system of a Manufacturer who is not currently in the PFL system. 

• The "Request Manufacturer" bank "Access" button takes the Distributor to a screen where the Distributor may request, via email, access to the Price files of any Manufacturer in the PFL system. 

• The "View Data" button takes the Distributor to a screen which lets him view data for specific parts. 

• The "Help" button takes the Distributor to this Help system. 

• The "Batch Help" button takes the Distributor to a screen which describes Command Line ( Batch ) usage of the application.

The Request Manufacturer Participation screen contains a request for a Manufacturer who in not in the PFL system to participate. The Distributor fills in the Manufacturer Company Name, the Manufacturer Contact Name, and the Manufacturer EMail Address as well as the Distributor Contact Name. To see the text of the email to be sent, click "Show Replacement". To send the email, click "Send".

The Request Manufacturer Access screen contains a list of all Manufacturers in the PFL system, their DUNS + 4 number, the last date the Distributor requested access to that Manufacturer’s Price File data via the Request Manufacturer Access screen, and the DATA state (for either Production or Future). The states are "No Data", "Data Disabled", and "Data Enabled". "No Data" means the Manufacturer has not uploaded any Production (Future) data. "Data Disabled" means the Manufacturer has uploaded Production (Future) data but has not enabled the data (i.e. the data may not be viewed or downloaded). "Data Enabled" means the Manufacturer has uploaded Production (Future) data and the data is available for viewing or download. Check each Manufacturer to whom you want to send a request and click "Request". Email requests will be sent to each checked Manufacturer and the last date updated

The View Data screen permits the Distributor to specify Production or Future and a Manufacturer to which he has been granted access via a dropdown list. Then a full or partial part number ( FIELD002 ) is specified and either the "Display" button clicked or keyboard "Enter" pressed, and a search for all those parts matching the criterion will be made. If an excessive amount of information would have to be returned, the program advises how many parts meet the criterion and requests that the criterion be modified and the search attempted again. If not, the data is displayed.

Command Line Execution ( Distributors )

To run from the Command Line ( assumes the .exe name is HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION )

"HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION" USERNAME=YourUsername PASSWORD=YourPassword DIRECTORY=WorkingDirectory CSV=T FIXEDFORMAT=T XML=T XLS=T ALLPRICEFILES=T FUTURE=T PCFS=52 UPARAM1=1234567

Where YourUsername is your USERNAME assigned by HDX
Where YourPassword is your PASSWORD assigned by HDX
Where WorkingDirectory is the full path to a working directory to which you have Write/Delete permissions
Where CSV=T Requests A CSV Version Of The File(s)
Where FIXEDFORMAT=T Requests A Fixed Format Version Of The File(s)
Where XML=T Requests A XML Format Version Of The File(s)
Where XLS=T Requests An Excel Format Version Of The File(s)
And One Or More Of The Above Format Specifiers Are Always Required
Where ALLPRICEFILES=T Indicates Versions Of All Files Are Requested
If Not Specified, Only Files Which Have Been Changed Since The Last Download Are Requested
Where FUTURE=T Requests The Future Version Of The File(s)
If Not Specified, The Production Version Of The File(s) Are Downloaded
Where PCFS=52 Requests The PCFS 5.2 Version Of The Files(s)
If Not Specified, The PCFS 5.12 Version Of The Files(s) Are Downloaded
Where UPARAM1=1234567 Specifies The Value 1234567 For Usage Parameter 1
If Not Specified, An Appropriate Default Value For Usage Parameter 1 Is Used
Note: Usage Parameters Are Only Specified When Recommended By Technical Support

When Run In Batch Mode, A Log File Named HDXBATCH_mm_dd_yy_hhmmss.txt Is Generated In The Working Directory In Addition To Starting, Ending, And Milepost EMails. This Log files shows the name(s) of the downloaded files. The name of each downloaded file is  'Manufacturer-USERNAME' + '_MM_DD_YY_HHMMSS_' + 'Distributor-USERNAME' + 'Chosen Extension' ( i.e. .csv, .txt, .xml, or .xls )

Example: For All Production Files In CSV Format Using C:\Temp1 As The Working Directory
"HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION.exe" USERNAME=YourUsername PASSWORD=YourPassword "DIRECTORY=C:\\Temp1" CSV=T ALLPRICEFILES=T

Example: For Future Files Changed Since Last Run PCFS 5.2 Format In CSV And Excel Format Using C:\Temp As The Working Directory
"HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION.exe" USERNAME=YourUsername PASSWORD=YourPassword "DIRECTORY=C:\\Temp" CSV=T XLS=T FUTURE=T PCFS=52

Sample HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION .bat File
REM Navigate To Directory Where The .exe Is
CD C:\HDX\PROGRAMS\HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION
REM Run ( New Files To Be Downloaded Into C:\Temp In PCFS Format 5.2 .csv using C:\Temp As The Working Directory)
"HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION.exe" USERNAME=YourUsername PASSWORD=YourPassword "DIRECTORY=C:\\Temp" CSV=T PCFS=52

If you have any questions or comments regarding the HDX PFL Client please feel free to contact us at Information@FleetCross.com 1-888-242-0457.