Distribution, Manufacturing, and Internet Modules

[express]

We have MAS90 version 4.3.  Before we upgraded we were able to export item descriptions (using Crystal Reports) as well as include them on sales order and invoice forms.

Now if I use the Description field from the inventory masterfile, it cuts off part of the description.  If I use the Extended Description, it is broken up into different fields and I cannot just choose Extended Description Line 1 like I used to in the older version.

Is there a way to get the entire Extended Description to export to one field in a spreadsheet?

Thanks for any help!

[BigLouie]

Pull the data from the Common Information tables. This will give you what you want.

[express]

Ok I just added CI_ExtendedDescription and CI_Item to the report, but I'm not sure how to use them.  The field ExtendedDescriptionKey only has numbers in it.  Where do I get the descriptions?

[Heather]

ExtendedDescriptionText in CI_ExtendedDescription

Link the two CI files by the field ExtendedDescriptionKey.

[express]

Now I can see the field I need in the list, but the report is taking forever to run.  Is this normal?  I don't even have the full report going.  It is only a test report with the two tables linked by the extended description key field and a handful of items selected.  It's been about ten minutes now and it's still going.

[Heather]

Sadly, yes, that does seem to be normal & I do not know why.

Do you have Access?  You could set up some pass through queries to the MAS90 tables you want & then base your report on them instead.  That should run faster.

[connex]

This isn't slow for my test data.  I have 58 pages (2,500) of items with about 10% having extended descriptions.  Runs in about 30 seconds.

MAS90 V4.3

Vista SP2 4GB

Windows 2008 Server

[Heather]

I don't know why, but I have tons of speed issues with the extended description file.  Adding it to a report often slows it to a crawl, so I usually just leave it off. 

I tried again after reading connex' post, and of course the report ran in just a couple of minutes, instead of the hour that it often wants to take.  I assume the speed is being affected by other MAS90 or network activity, but I do not see this dramatic of an impact on my other reports.  I have reports that use IM5 that run faster than a simple product listing that includes the extended description.

[express]

I appreciate all the help! I am going to try it again and see how much time it actually takes. Yesterday, it was taking so long that I just went on to do something else while it was running so I don't know how long it was. I wish we didn't have to use the extended description, but if I use the regular one it is cut off. It was so much easier when I could choose Extended Description Line 1 (and line 1 included anything until the enter button was pressed if I remember correctly).

I am guessing it takes so long because it is a memo field and can get lengthy. We have 4000 items and all have extended descriptions (not long ones but they are still considered extended for mas90 purposes). I only chose 15 to test with by using selection "item# starts with." I do have Access but don't use it much so I'm not that familiar. I will have to play around with it when I get a chance.

ETA:  I can't find the retail price field in the CI_Item table.  Am I missing it somewhere, or can I use the inventory masterfile to get it even though I'm using CI_Item as a main table?

Message Edited by express on 09-24-2009 01:49 PM

Message Edited by express on 09-24-2009 02:32 PM

[jsearl]

Pretty sure that retail price is one of those fields that you still have to get from the IM1 file.