Scenario:
I am using BizTalk 2006 to import comma delimited product catalogs from
seven vendors. All catalogs are cleaned so duplicate products removed. Next
the catalog is transformed into a Commerce Server product catalog schema
using Integration Services (DTSX). The final step is to overwrite the curren
t
product catalog by importing this updated catalog using BizTalk’s commerce
server adapter.

I have not found a resource that shows how to manage products, categories,
and their relations through modifying the catalog schema.

Questions:
Is there a better way to automate product catalogs within commerce server?
If my approach is correct can you point me in the direction of a solution?
What is a good approach for catalog design when dealing with multiple
distributors with overlapping product catalogs? More specifically, how to
display only the lowest priced products while omitting higher priced product
s
while allowing these higher priced products when the low cost product’s
inventory quantity is 0?

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Hey Brian,

I have some thoughts and questions:

1.  Why are you overwriting the product catalogs on each import?  Why not
perform an incremental import?

Also, you can modify the catalog schema through the Biztalk Adapter.


Here are some thoughts on your questions:

Questions:
Is there a better way to automate product catalogs within commerce server?

[alanf] I would use the Commerce Server Biztalk Catalog Adapter for your
automation.  You can wrap that into an Orchestration that runs as soon as
the inventory/catalog update is received from your manufacturer.

If my approach is correct can you point me in the direction of a solution?

[alanf]  Not sure why you want to overwrite the product catalog on each
import but yes, I think you approach is fine other than that.

What is a good approach for catalog design when dealing with multiple
distributors with overlapping product catalogs?

More specifically, how to display only the lowest priced products while
omitting higher priced products
while allowing these higher priced products when the low cost product's
inventory quantity is 0?

[alanf]  One way (out of probably tons of different ways) would be to
create Virtual Catalogs that contains the lower priced items (which could
span multiple catalogs) and have your runtime logic check the stock of that
lower price item then if it doesn't exist, allow the higher priced item for
the base catalog to be displayed on the site instead.





Thanks,
Alan Faulkner
[Microsoft]
http://blogs.msdn.com/akfaulkner



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Thank you Alan for your timely and informative response

[Alan] Why are you overwriting the product catalogs on each import?  Why
 not
perform an incremental import?

My purpose for replacing the product catalog with each import is to keep the
catalog up to date. I like your recommendation to incrementally import
product updates. How can I remove or delete products from the catalog throug
h
automated incremental imports?

[alanf] I would use the Commerce Server Biztalk Catalog Adapter for your
automation.  You can wrap that into an Orchestration that runs as soon as
the inventory/catalog update is received from your manufacturer.

Originally I planned to use BizTalk to automate the product catalog process.
What I am doing is:
1)	BizTalk retrieve the vendor catalogs
2)	A Windows Service unzippes the catalog files
3)	A separate Windows Service initiates an Integration Service DTSX process
to remove quotations and white space from each record prior to importing int
o
SQL Server 2005. Additional DTSX processing joins additional product
information such as detailed description, formal name, image, etc prior to
exporting supported products as xml
4)	BizTalk then passes this xml output too Commerce Server.
I have relied upon Integration Services more than I expected, and am open to
suggestions.

[alanf]  One way (out of probably tons of different ways) would be to
create Virtual Catalogs that contains the lower priced items (which could
span multiple catalogs) and have your runtime logic check the stock of that
lower price item then if it doesn't exist, allow the higher priced item for
the base catalog to be displayed on the site instead.

Alan, I like your suggestion to use Virtual Catalogs and runtime logic to
manage product availability and low pricing. What part of commerce server
will I use to perform these tasks?

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Hey Brian,

Answers inline below: (Previous comments from me removed - only your
questions below).  Please let me know if you have anymore questions or
concerns!  Hope this helps!



Thank you Alan for your timely and informative response


My purpose for replacing the product catalog with each import is to keep
the
catalog up to date. I like your recommendation to incrementally import
product updates. How can I remove or delete products from the catalog
through
automated incremental imports?

[alanf]  You can pass in delete actions for Products in the Catalog xml
file and the Catalog System will delete those.  You can refer to the
product documentation on the exact syntax or.. in your test environment you
can delete a product and export the catalog (use the option to export
deleted items, which is not on by default)  which you deleted the product
from.  From that xml that is exported, you can get the exact syntax that
you can use to mark a product for deletion.




Originally I planned to use BizTalk to automate the product catalog
process.
What I am doing is:
1)	BizTalk retrieve the vendor catalogs
2)	A Windows Service unzippes the catalog files
3)	A separate Windows Service initiates an Integration Service DTSX process
to remove quotations and white space from each record prior to importing
into
SQL Server 2005. Additional DTSX processing joins additional product
information such as detailed description, formal name, image, etc prior to
exporting supported products as xml
4)	BizTalk then passes this xml output too Commerce Server.
I have relied upon Integration Services more than I expected, and am open
to
suggestions.

[alanf]  This will work, not sure why you need to involve Sql Server in
this case.  A custom pipeline and orchestration should be able to parse the
incoming xml and piece wise those elements together.  The Biztalk
documentation would be your best bet on how to accomblish this but you
should be able to do this directly in BizTalk without Integration Services.
(Although this may not be the quickest and easiest, especially if you
already have your solution working for you!)


Alan, I like your suggestion to use Virtual Catalogs and runtime logic to
manage product availability and low pricing. What part of commerce server
will I use to perform these tasks?

[alanf]  You would use the Catalog Subsystem to accomplish this task.  I
would look at the CS API Reference as well as our documentation set for API
specifics (http://www.microsoft.com/commerceserver/).



Thanks,
Alan Faulkner
[Microsoft]
http://blogs.msdn.com/akfaulkner



This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
You assume all risk for your use. © 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.
Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm

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Alan, I greatly appreciate your timely and detailed responses.

You have given me much to consider with respect to leveraging BizTalk to
perform data transformations.

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