Creating a Text File for Direct Materials

---

PartBridge users advertise direct materials to buy and/or sell in a tab-delimited text file with the proper columns and information. (A tab-delimited text file is a file with the extension txt that has tabs separating each of the data elements.) The file must contain the following columns in the order presented here:

Column Heading	Req'd?	Description
email_address	Yes	The email address of the individual responsible for making buy/sell decisions for the corresponding part number. Example: rhonda_robins@rlrbroker.com
qty	Yes	The quantity of the part (integer only, no decimals or fractions); a negative number indicates a shortage, a positive number indicates an excess. Example: 100
standard_cost	Yes	Your standard cost for the part. Example: 5.037
description	Yes	A description of the part. Example: film capacitor
internal_part_no	No*	Your company's internal part number (required if manufacturer's part number unavailable). Example: 0160-4932
mpn	No*	The manufacturer's part number (required if internal part number unavailable). Example: PME271Y410M
mfr	No	The part manufacturer. Example: Fox Electronics
buyer_controller_no	No	Buyer controller number for the part. Example: 40
date_code	No	The date code. Example: 0121
pkg	No	Packaging details. Example: tube
business_rules	Depends	Business rules / relationships; required if your company is has business rules and the quantity is excess. Example: 0,10,30
* You must provide at least one of the following: internal_part_no or mpn. You may provide both.

To create a tab-delimited text file in Microsoft Excel for uploading to PartBridge, follow these steps:

1. Set up an Excel spreadsheet with the proper column headings. The first row (or record) must contain all the column headings.

   Note: An Excel template for direct materials is available from PartBridge's Upload page.

2. Select File > Save As, provide a name for the file, and choose Text(Tab Delimited)(*.txt) from the pull-down list.
3. If you see a box that says, "The selected file type does not support workbooks that contain multiple sheets...," click OK.
4. If you see a box that says your file may contain features that are not compatible with Text (Tab Delimited), click Yes.
5. Enter data in all the columns for which there is a value. If a field is not required and there is no value, leave the column blank for that row.
6. Save and close the file.

You can also create a tab-delimited text file from a Microsoft Access database:

1. Using Access functionality, arrange your data as defined above in a single Table. Field names and order should exactly match the definitions above. Each row in the table is an individual record.

   Note: An Access template for direct materials is available from PartBridge's Upload page.

2. Select File --> Export --> To an External File or Database.
3. Choose Save as Type --> Text Files.
4. Choose Delimited, then click Next.
5. Choose Tab.
6. Check Include Field Names on First Row, select {none} for Text Qualifier, then click Next.
7. Select Export to File, then click Finish.