Overview:
The Price Communications File Specification (PCFS) Library is designed to
make it easier for both
manufacturers and distributors to communicate pricing
information. The Price File Library (PFL) validates the format of the data that
manufacturers post to it before adding the data to the
library. Manufacturers
can upload pricing files in the following file formats:
CSV,
Fixed Format, or Excel. Manufacturers post the data
to one place and after it is posted and enabled, distributors
are notified that new pricing information is available.
Manufacturers are notified via email when distributors
download pricing information. Distributors benefit from
their pricing data being in one central location in the same
format from every manufacturer. This standard format allows scripting and other programs to be written just once
because the data for all
manufacturers that are part of the PFL is in
the same format. Distributors can download their price files in the following
formats: CSV, XML, Excel or Fixed Format. All
of this is done via the HDX PFL Client Application. This application contains
a windows
interface and a command line interface as
well.
The PFL consists of two systems: "Production" and
"Future". The Production system contains active pricing
data while the Future system contains pricing
data that manufactures post so distributors
can preview future pricing information.
Live Help Contacts:
Please call 1-888-242-0457 if you have any comments or
questions.
Requirements:
To run the HDX PFL Client Application you will need a machine
with
Windows 2000 or above and that has the Windows .NET Framework 2.0
installed. You can download the .NET 2.0 framework
here.
Note:
The HDX assigned USERNAME and associated DUNS number are
integral parts of the PFL system. It is a non-trivial matter to change a PFL User’s USERNAME or
associated DUNS number after the first login. Therefore, it is important to assign the desired USERNAME and the appropriate DUNS number initially. We ask that you consider
this carefully when specifying your desired USERNAME and
associated DUNS number to HDX.
Downloading:
NOTE: Please make sure that you
have the .NET 2.0 framework installed before trying to run
the program.
There are currently two ways to install the HDX PFL
Client Application,
one is to use ClickOnce technology from Microsoft.
The installer will place a program icon in the Programs folder and install
all necessary files ( XP access: Start > All Programs
> HDeXchange > HDXPFL_Client ). To install
the HDX PFL Client Application this way click
here.
If you are going to be running the HDX PFL Client Application
from a Command Line interface then you should do a
manual install. The HDX PFL Client Application will be in a zip file
that you will have to extract to your local drive. The
zip file contains an executable along and several .dlls.
There is no installation necessary just unzip the file into
a directory and run the executable from that directory.
The .exe should be placed on your local PC not on a network
drive. If you download the HDX PFL Client Application this
way, contact us at
Information@FleetCross.com 1-888-242-0457 or
EdwardKuo@HDeXchange.com 616-682-9900 to be placed on the distribution list for future releases of
the code.
Click here to get the zip file.
Starting the HDX PFL Client Application:
To start the application ( manual install ) just go to
the directory that you unzipped the file to and double click on HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION.exe. If you are not accessing the most recent version of the HDXPFL_CLIENT APPLICATION, you will be advised of this via email.
If you installed the HDX PFL Client Application
using the installer, go to Start->Programs->HDeXchange->HDXPFL_CLIENT. The login screen
below will appear. If a new Version of the HDX PFL Client is
available, prior to the login screen, a screen titled
'Update Available' will appear offering you the new Version.
You should click OK to accept the new Version.
By default, the HDX PFL Client
Application uses 'Arial' Font for all controls except
data grids where it uses 'MS Reference Sans Serif'. If
a file by the name 'PFL_Fonts.txt exists in the C:\Temp
directory ( i.e.
C:\Temp\PFL_Fonts.txt exists ), prior to displaying the
login screen the HDX PFL Client Application will read up to
10 possible Font names, one per line, from this file and see
if that Font is installed on the system. If it is installed,
that Font will be used for all controls including data
grids. 'Trebuchet MS' is a suitable choice if 'Arial' is not available.
The HDX PFL Client Application has two modes,
Manufacturer and Distributor. It also
supports the two different PCFS formats. Your Username
automatically opens
the application into the appropriate mode. There is
also a Command Line ( batch mode ) interface that Manufacturers/ Distributors can use to automate
their uploads/downloads. Click on the
appropriate link for further instructions:
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