Added new product report? - D-Tools Forum

chrystal · 10-15-2010, 05:26 PM

Is there a way to generate a report that will show any new products that have been entered into MMPD?

fryeguy · 10-15-2010, 09:19 PM

Unfortunately the reporting engine currently only looks at project data not at MMPD.

chrystal · 10-18-2010, 04:59 PM

Any Suggestions, then, on how to track when someone updates or adds a product?

avaltdan · 10-18-2010, 05:09 PM

Would using one of the custom fields help?

grichards · 10-18-2010, 05:42 PM

you would probably need access to the MMPD database tables directly which have a "Product Added" Date/time field and a "Last Updated" Date/time field. Design your own database queries or use the SDK to pull the data into your database and/or generate your own report.

but you won't be able to get there with the included reports and features of MMPD

fryeguy · 10-18-2010, 08:52 PM

Exactly. To be clear, this would likely be done using Microsoft Access or another database program. I actually tested this after the origial post and the information is definitely there. However, it isn't as clear as you would like it to be. In fact, I believe the Date/time field in question is associated with the accessories table an not the product table. Very weird...

chrystal, I can see this being a new feature in a future release especially after SI6 is released which is purported to include major database overhauls.

Can you give some examples of exactly how you plan to use this feature? Is it simply the ability to browse a list of updated and/or new products?

chrystal · 10-18-2010, 09:36 PM

That would be a very helpful feature for me!! Only two people in our company deal with product and that includes myself. The boss is the other one and he continually adds product himself as he needs it while doing proposals. However, he only fills in the fields that are pertinent to his proposal-so many fields are not filled in at all and they come out missing info on proposals until its corrected by me. I have no idea what he added or updated- so I would like to be able to complete products fully before printing PO's and pushing to QB--etc....

Thanks for the replies so far---Have I missed an easier way to deal with this?

fryeguy · 10-18-2010, 09:48 PM

Thanks for the example. I totally understand this and sometimes deal with the same issues. It would be a great practice every Monday morning (or whenever is convenient) to sync your database, open the added/modified items page, and updated these products as necesary including filling in all pertinent data, configuring proper accessories, building packages based on new items, etc.

chrystal · 10-18-2010, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by fryeguy

Thanks for the example. I totally understand this and sometimes deal with the same issues. It would be a great practice every Monday morning (or whenever is convenient) to sync your database, open the added/modified items page, and updated these products as necesary including filling in all pertinent data, configuring proper accessories, building packages based on new items, etc.

Yup- Thats EXACTLY what I am looking to do-so maybe someday? In the meantime I will have to work with options stated above??

fryeguy · 10-18-2010, 10:25 PM

you can make a request to gain access to the passwords that protect yor local database file. Once you can open this file you caould build some sort of UI that queries the database and lists the new/changed items. Maybe you have this dumped to a text file that you print for reference. Go through the list and check off items as you review/update.