How to import and export associations | ParagonERP

Importing and exporting associations

ParagonERP allows you to import and export associations that are used to link different pieces of information throughout the system. This can be useful when you want to add an association for multiple items at once. If you are unfamiliar with importing and transferring data using the universal translator, you can follow the step by step instructions that are available here.

Export the association file

From any screen hit the settings button at the top right corner.


Go to the reports & data system card and hit export.


Select association from the drop list.


Hit export and the file will download.


You will now be able to open and edit the exported file.  Here is a sample:

 

Please note that all of the attributes that are currently in the system are listed as columns in the exported file. You can navigate to the right of the file to explore the attribute values related to a specific association. As an example, in the sample file above, you can see all of the purchase costs for materials and products that are associated with certain vendors. Material BLU_BATT from vendor Motherboard Central has a purchase cost of $15.


Hide attributes not in use when exporting associations 

Associations allow you to create relationships between information in Paragon. For example, you can use the sales price to create an association between customers and products (hint: this is a price list!).  Using the data import/export feature, you can do mass updates and entries of all of these associations. Since an association can be created using any attribute in the system, the export includes all attributes (even ones that were created but then abandoned).  And with virtually unlimited attributes in the system, this spreadsheet can be very overwhelming. For this reason, we added the option to exclude any unused attributes from this export. 




Import an association file

After you have made adjustments to your association file, it can be saved and imported into the system. Make sure that your file is correctly formatted before uploading.

From any screen hit the settings button at the top right corner.


Go to to reports & data system card and select import.


Select association from the drop list.


Hit the option to select a file and choose the file you want to import and hit upload.


Once the file has been successfully uploaded, you will be notified. If there are any errors with importing, you will see the reasons in an error log, which will display on screen. You will be able edit your file.

Hit done when the file has finished importing.


The associations in the system will now be updated based on the file that was just uploaded.

Adding new and updating existing associations

The import tool can be used for both adding new associations, or to update existing ones. The difference between both of those functionalities depends on the value in the line number column in the imported excel file. A line number is added to all associations in the system, and is based on the parent of the association. For example, in the example below, the product LMI_DRN has 4 associations with vendors and customers. All of those associations have a line number related to them.


If you wish to update an existing association, simply keep the same line number as the one that the system assigned to this association. You can edit any of the columns except the from and fromID.

If you wish to create a new association, create a new line and do not fill the line number column. At the time of the import, the system will recognize that this is a new association and will automatically assign it a new line number.

Finally, note that this line number can not be viewed within Paragon. It can only be viewed when exporting the file.

 

What now?

You've learned how to use the associations export and import tools.  You can head over to our documentation pages for more articles.

General information about associations

 


    • Related Articles

    • How to import attribute associations from Excel

      Introduction In Paragon, attribute values can have additional information from other attributes associated with them. This can be useful for setting up restrictions on the values available during a process. When you export your data, you can edit ...
    • Importing, exporting, or transferring my data

      Introduction The universal translator is a powerful tool that can be used to import or export large amounts of data to and from Paragon. You can mass update your reference modules and you can also export and import transaction data. As an example, ...
    • How to export purchase orders from Paragon to QuickBooks Online

      Introduction Paragon offers a few ways to export data to QuickBooks Online (to make sure that the integration is working smoothly. To export your purchase orders, there are a few extra requirements you will need to set up in Paragon and QuickBooks ...
    • Setting up attribute associations

      Introduction In Paragon, attribute values can have additional information from other attributes associated to them. This can be useful for setting up restrictions on the values available to a user. For example, in this article, you will learn how to ...
    • Importing GL opening balances into Paragon

      Introduction Importing the opening balances in ParagonERP refers to importing the monetary amounts that are being rolled over into a new accounting period for any one of your GL chart of accounts.  You would want to import any outstanding balances ...