Integration

EzTrade Client utilizes a built in mapping wizard to assist users in interfacing with their business systems. This makes true two way integrated e-commerce simple and straight forward. Without extensive computer experience and without any programming knowledge, trading partners can quickly and effectively map forms into their business systems. The typical form mapping process takes between 1 and 5 minutes and is illustrated in the steps outlined below.

Steps To Create A Reusable Map	click a image below for a detailed, larger size view.
Step 1 - Select your External Database. EzTrade can map to and from any ODBC compliant database. This includes most business systems that are available on the market today. Here we are connecting to a transaction database in Microsoft Access format. You can also connect to Oracle, MSSQL, and thousands of other ODBC compliant data-sources.
Step 2 - Select your tables. In your external database data is stored in tables. Usually table names reflect the type of data that is contained in them. In this case we are selecting the tables SALES_Header and SALES_Details because we want to access our sales information.
Step 3 - The next step is to tell EzTrade what information you would like to use as the basis for extracting data and filling your forms. In this case we select the Order Number and Sold To information. We will be able to build our warranty claim form as long as we know the Order Number or the name of the person or company for whom the work was done.
Step 4 - Once you have performed steps 1 through 3 you can actually perform the visual mapping process. In this step we simply identify what fields we want placed where on the trading partners form. Eztrade will automatically fill in the fields required by the manufacturer with data from the mapped database. After we have completed the mapping process by selecting the appropriate relationships, we save the map file. The map file stores the defined relationships for use later when we actually create transactions.

Importing Data and Creating Transactions Using A Map

Step 1 - In EzTrade we select the menu option File | Create From | Nilfisk | Warranty Claim Form to tell EzTrade we are going to create a transaction using our external business systems data. By Defining the fields using our map wizard (above) EzTrade now knows how to display and extract data from our database.
Step 2 - EzTrade displays our sales records from our external database. We select the record we want to use by highlighting it and pressing the next button. We can also search by any of the fields we included when we define our map (above.)
Step 3 - EzTrade automatically extracts the data from the database and populates the fields on the trading partners form. We can visually review the data and make any modifications that are necessary. Notice that both the Header information and the detail information has been automatically filled. This warranty claim form contains all the parts details that were on the original sale from our business system, as well as the other header information that we have defined in our map (above.) Now all we need to do is click save and this warranty claim form is automatically handled the next time we send and receive. You can perform steps 1 through 3 for to manually create any transaction from an external database as needed. You can also further automate the extraction process depending on your specific interfacing needs.