Interfacing Eclipse to External Data Systems – Importing and Exporting

Eclipse can interface with external data sources. Eclipse will import/export via ASCII flat files, SQL tables, and XML files. For specifications for file transfers, please refer to the links below.

• Eclipse ASCII Data Transfer Specifications
• Eclipse SQL Data Transfer Specifications
• Eclipse XML Data Transfer Specification

To find the Import/Export options in Eclipse, navigate to “Maintenance” -> “Settings” -> “Import/Export.”

Setting up the Production Data export file

This area has all of the settings relating to files that Eclipse automatically imports from or exports to. Here is where you set the directory paths for these files.

Production Export File

The Production Export file contains production event data that is returned from all controllers. When Eclipse-Comm sees that this file no longer exists in the specified directory, it copies all of the data from its internal buffer to this file. Any other software that reads in this data should delete this file when finished.

To create the Production Data export file from Eclipse:

1. Navigate to “Maintenance” -> “Settings” -> “Import/Export.”
2. Check the “Use Export File” checkbox.
3. Click on the square with three dots.
4. Enter the name of the export file and where you would like it saved.
5. Eclipse exports the file to your chosen location.

User Export File

The User Export file controls whether or not the Production Export file will be created.

Order Import File

The Order Import file is used to import order and item data. Eclipse-Comm automatically scans the specified directory for this file name. If it  finds it, it reads in the contents and deletes the file.

Append Orders

The Append Orders file controls whether Eclipse-Comm appends items with the same order, material, and product code or replaces it with the new data. For example, if an order already existed with order = “ABC,” material = “Red 20 ga” and product code = “R Panel,” and an order file is imported with items with the same order/material/product code, Eclipse-Comm will either add the new items to the existing order or erase the order and replace it with the new data.

Bundle Import File

The Bundle Import file is used to import bundle and order user-defined fields. The Bundle Import file should be presented at the same time as the Order Input file.

Part Import File

The Part Import file contains all punching information for new parts.

Coil Import File

The Coil Import file is used to populate the coil inventory.

Customer Import File

The Customer Import file populates items related to customer information.

Note: All but the Production Export file support the use of the (*) and (?) wildcards.