How To Import Metcash Host Products and Updates

How To Import Metcash Host Products and Updates

Table of Contents

• About
• Performing a Sysnet Backup 
• Importing New Metcash Host Products
• Updating Matched Products 
• Reviewing Imported and Updated Products

About

The Metcash Host integration helps reduce manual data entry by importing new products, retail pricing, promotional pricing, barcodes, supplier inventory codes, and other product updates. These imports rely on matching Metcash Host products with Sysnet Inventory products using a Metcash Host file. For more information on the matching process, refer to How To Match Metcash Host Products.

This guide will walk you through: 

• Performing a Sysnet Backup 
• Importing New Metcash Host Products 
• Updating Matched Products 
• Reviewing Imported and Updated Products 

Prerequisite knowledge

This guide assumes you have a basic understanding of the H&L Stock application. If you need further assistance with Stock or any of the processes outlined here, please contact our H&L Support team. You can log a support ticket directly from the client portal.

⚠️ Important: For Syswan (multi-venue) setups, consult your head office or a H&L trainer before proceeding, as not all steps in the guide may apply to Syswan environments. 

Performing a Sysnet Backup 

It is strongly recommended to perform a Sysnet backup before starting any import. You can do this directly from the Metcash Host Import application or by using any method you are already familiar with. Performing the backup from the Metcash Host Import application mirrors the process in Processing.exe.

To perform a Sysnet backup: 

1. Open the Metcash Host V7 Import application.
   A shortcut is typically available on your desktop, or you can find it at C:\Program Files (x86)\H & L\Sysnet\MetcashHostV7Import.exe. 
   
   
2. Select the Configuration dropdown, then click Sysnet Backup. 
   
   
3. Ensure that the Sysnet database is selected, enter a destination and valid working directory, choose any required backup options, and select a backup type.
    
4. Click Start Backup and wait for the process to complete.
   

Note: Your daily Sysnet backup should not be saved (only) to the local hard drive. However, saving a temporary backup here before importing is acceptable. 

Example: See below for backup options suitable for most venues.

Importing New Metcash Host Products

The instructions below outline how to import Metcash Host products. This process is currently limited to Stock Inventory records. Imported products do not follow conventional numbering sequences. Additionally, Salestock (PLU) records and potentially other factors must be created manually after the import process.

This feature is expected to be enhanced in future releases. Currently, however, it may be preferable to create a new product directly in Stock before matching it to its Metcash Host counterpart. Once matched, the product will update according to your current import settings (e.g., updating supplier inventory codes, barcodes, prices, etc.).

Before importing, review the price names to be updated: 

1. Open the Metcash Host V7 Import application.
   A shortcut is typically available on your desktop, or you can find it at C:\Program Files (x86)\H & L\Sysnet\MetcashHostV7Import.exe. 
   
   
2. Select the Configuration dropdown, then click Update Prices.  
3. Review the selected price names that will have their prices updated. 
   
   
4. Tick the price names you want to update and untick those you want to leave unchanged.    

To import new products: 

1. Select the 2. Import Host Items to Sysnet tab, and stay on the Stock subtab. 
   
   
2. Browse the product list and select the Metcash Host product you wish to import (or select multiple by holding [Control] and clicking).
   
   
3. Click the Import Selected Items button. OK or Ignore the backup reminder popup if you recently completed a backup. 
   
4. If prompted, select the appropriate stock group for the imported product and click Link to the selected Stock Group.
   
   
5. If successful, the imported product will appear at the top of the product list in green text. (You may need to un-highlight / de-select the imported items to view the changed text colour.) 

Updating Matched Products 

The Metcash Stock Import timeswitch automatically updates matched products daily based on your configuration (e.g. adding new factors, barcodes, supplier inventory codes, retail pricing). If the timeswitch fails to run, you can manually update matched products before the next scheduled update.

To manually update matched products: 

1. Open the Metcash Host V7 Import application.
   A shortcut is typically available on your desktop, or you can find it at C:\Program Files (x86)\H & L\Sysnet\MetcashHostV7Import.exe. 
   
   
2. On the 1. Import Host File tab, click Get Latest Host File from Metcash.
    
   
3. If there are any updates available, a number of retrieved files (highlighted in green text) will be displayed. Once the files are imported, the count will drop to 0.  If no files are available, you will see the message No Host Files available for download. No further action is required in this case, as there are no updates to import. 
   
   
4. If files were retrieved, click Import Host File. This will automatically update matched products if there are any changes. 

Reviewing Imported and Updated Products

For new product imports: 

1. Open Stock and go to the Stock (Inventory) > Detail tab for the imported or updated product.
   
   
2. Create PLUs for factors marked with an asterisk (*) and range them to any other required locations. 
   
   
3. Review inventory prices and update any price names that require changes. 
   
   
4. From the Maintenance dropdown menu, select Update Prices.
   
   
5. If needed, update your keyboard with Fast PLU keys for any imported products. 
   
   
6. From the Exceed logon menu (tap the H&L logo to access), tap Reset Exceed Database to sync updates with the POS.
   

For product price updates (manual update via Import Host File): 

1. Open Stock. 
   
   
2. From the Reports dropdown menu, select SalesStock (PLU) > Future Price List
   
3. To review today’s prices changes, keep the default filtering on the current day period, and select Preview. 
   
   Note: This will display a list of all price changes that occurred on the selected period. Retail price changes will have no End Date, while promotion price activations will have an End Date.
   
   
4. Select Back to Application when you have completed your review.
   
   
5. From the Maintenance dropdown menu, select Update Prices.
   
   
6. From the Exceed logon menu (tap the H&L logo to access), tap Reset Exceed Database to sync updates with the POS.
   
   
   

For product price updates (daily time-switch):

1. Open Stock. 
   
   
2. From the Reports dropdown menu, select SalesStock (PLU) > Future Price List 
   
   
3. To review today’s prices changes, keep the default filtering on the current day period, and select Preview. 
    
   Note: This will display a list of all price changes that occurred on the selected period. Retail price changes will have no End Date, while promotion price activations will have an End Date. 
   
   
4.  Select Back to Application when you have completed your review.
   
   
5. From the Exceed logon menu (tap the H&L logo to access), tap Reset Exceed Database to sync updates with the POS.
   
   

Next Guide: How to Import Metcash Host Promotions