Anyone have a matrix add-on that does NOT use up all the subdescription fields?
We are already using those fields for BRAND, MANUFACTURER ITEM NUMBER, and MANUFACTURER CODE.
I cannot believe there is not a specific field for color and size. Just about every item has that!
A supplier is not a brand. A supplier is not always the manufacturer. A Manufacturer generally has many brands. The supplier's number is not the manufacturer's number (for comparison purposes).
There should be a named field for MANUFACTURER NAME, MANUFACTURER ID, BRAND, COLOR, & SIZE.
the ad-hoc fields can then be used for what the seller wants to track.
P.S. Does Microsoft have any programmers working on this program that actually have any idea about retail sales?
Dimension tables in RMS can be used for whatever you want to use them for including size, color, width, style, length, diameter, etc. You don't have to copy these entries to sub-descriptions. The New Item Wizard in RMS has a checkbox at the bottom to disable this when creating a matrix. Just make sure your base description contains dimension information or you won't be able to view it without pulling up the main matrix entry (M entry in Lookup).
A manufacturer generally has a few brands. A distributor may carry many brands from many manufacturers.
I can't quite grasp what you are using sub-descriptions for. Brand I can understand, but what is the difference between a manufacturer code and a manufacturer number? And why would you want to enter this type of data as subdescriptions?
It sounds like you have your manufacturers mixed up with suppliers. Supplier reorder number goes on the Supplier tab in Item Properties paired with the supplier source. Each supplier is also assigned a unique code. You can have multiple suppliers for the same item.
If you buy direct from a manufacturer, they are a supplier and their reorder number and manufacturer number are the same. Why would you want to make this a subdescription entry? These numbers are for ordering products.
If you have items that you purchase from multiple distributors, you can add the manufacturer part number as an Alias, while each supplier gets their own supplier reorder number entry. UPCs can also be entered as Aliases. You could also use the manufacturer number or UPC as the item lookup code.
You might be better off rethinking how you are entering data for your items. This may require some SQL scripts to shift things around a bit. I don't see any advantage to mixing ordering numbers with item attributes.
We use those tables in RMS for dimensions/attributes. Some of the after-market programs for matrix creation have neat extras like being able to save an attribute "set", i.e. (Small, Medium, Large, XL) is one set. We just load the set as the size attribute without having to re-create it over and over.
Also, many manufacturers have the same colors runs in the styles for a season....so (moonblue, cherry-red, melon) might be their colors runs available in almost all their styles. We would just load the color set in.
Also we use this for fishing lures. Common weights, (1/2oz, 1/4oz,
1/8oz) etc can be used for ALL jigs.
------------- >Brand I can understand, but what is the difference between a >manufacturer code and a manufacturer number? And why would you want to > enter this type of data as subdescriptions?
"manufacturer code" is our internal abbreviation for the manufacturer.
When we want to search for ALL ITEMS from a MANUFACTURER, we can do it. How else would you search for this? ...or sales by manufacturer?
We also use this to make sure that all pictures are prefixed with the correct code. i.e. Cascade Designs makes Thermarest Sleepings pads, MSR camping equipment, SEAlLine paddling gear, and TRACKS walking staffs. Their "code" is CD. Every picture for items from them is prefixed with CD-. so, the picture might be named: CD-msrdragonflystove.jpg We can sort all our pictures by manufacturer in order to easily delete or change them in the pictures directory.
--------- "Manufacturer Number" is the Manufacturer's product number assigned to that item.
When we can get that same item from 5 different distributors, it helps to make sure we are talking about the SAME item between all 5. We do NOT have this number in the suppliers list because we often cannot buy it directly from the manufacturer, like GUNS and fishing reels.
Many people on the Internet may search by manufacturer's number to find exact products. This number shows up in the product details on my Internet site so it is picked up by the search engine robots.
using the Subdescription field also puts this number on the front page of the item details in RMS. We use it a lot also--to search the internet for our competitor's prices.... In the supplier fields--you also cannot COPY and PASTE (S*T*U*P*I*D).
Well, you could have done this differently and ended up with searchable data without using subdescriptions and manufacturer codes like you did. Cut and paste supplier data works for me. Where are you trying to do this?
We cannot paste into the supplier reorder Number field. We copy it from anywhere, the web, a spreadsheet, etc and try to paste into the field and it will not work.
BeanSmart website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.