Margin Master Handbook
- Prerequisites
- Firewall and Network Requirements
- Microsoft Edge Download Block
- SQL Server Authentication Setup for IT Administrators
- Antivirus and Endpoint Security Exclusions
- SQL Server Tools
- Install or Upgrade SQL Server Express
- Install or Upgrade SQL Server Management Studio
- A Tour of the Main Window
- The Menus
- The Button Row
- The Main Data Grid
- The Summary Section
- Banners and Badges
- The Options Window
- Store Configuration
- Miscellaneous
- Export Options
- Vendor Settings
- POS / Connections Tabs
- Background Service
- AI Assistant (Experimental)
- How POS Import Works
- Supported Point-of-Sale Systems
- Data Import Workflows
- RockSolid POS Import
- Epicor Eagle FTP Import
- Epicor MySQL Compass Import
- Transact POS Import
- Paladin POS Import
- Falcon POS Import
- Spruce POS Import
- Bistrack POS Import
- RockSolid Max POS Import
- ECS POS Import
- Prosperity POS Import
- Catalyst POS Import
- Westlake POS Import
- MI9 POS Import
- AS/400 POS Import
- CounterWorks POS Import
- Dimension POS Import
- PacSoft POS Import
- ProStix POS Import
- Sympac POS Import
- Propello POS Import
- EagleVision POS Import
- MySQL/Compass Connection Configuration
- ECI VPN Requirement (Spruce, RockSolid MAX)
- Propello POS Integration Guide
- MI9 Data Pipeline — Import to Main Table
- Troubleshooting: Epicor Import Brought In 0 SKUs
- PACE POS Import
- Advantage POS Import
- General Store POS Import
- J-3 POS Import
- KeyStroke POS Import
- AutBusSystem POS Import
- Tomax POS Import
- Enterprise POS Import
- Computakey POS Import
- Redisell POS Import
- DART POS Import
- MIB POS Import
- Substruct POS Import
- DMAS POS Import
- RODS POS Import
- Procom POS Import
- Agility POS Import
- Acumen POS Import
- Cruise POS Import
- LSandE POS Import
- Retalix POS Import
- DIBCorp POS Import
- GMROI POS Import
- ECi Advantage POS Import
- Sunray POS Import
- ActivantAutomotive POS Import
- IBS POS Import
- Versys POS Import
- RMS POS Import
- TAMS POS Import
- Integrasoft POS Import
- Dynamic POS Import
- Microsoft ARS POS Import
- CDS POS Import
- Spartan POS Import
- Nitterhouse POS Import
- Jeds POS Import
- Theisens POS Import
- Emery Jensen POS Import
- SMS Pro POS Import
- Burdens POS Import
- Intact POS Import
- Bloom Retail POS Import
- NCR Counterpoint POS Import
- Horizon POS Import
- Cloud Vendor Data Sync
- Data Aging and Freshness Warnings
- Resetting Vendor and POS Data
- Rebuild Data and Rebuild Selection Lists
- Troubleshooting Vendor Sync
- Understanding the Strategy Hierarchy
- Pricing Strategies
- Creating a Strategy Step
- Updating and Deleting Steps
- Reviewing a Strategy and Running It
- Shared (Premade) Strategies
- SKU-Level Exceptions
- Manage Custom Groups
- Strategy Execution Cloud Tracking
- Importing from Excel
- Cost Break Analysis
- Cost Break Strategies
- Min/Max Strategies
- Strategy Backup & Restore
- Add Items from Catalog
- Store Grouping
- Data Diagnostics and Missing Index Recommendations
- System Diagnostics
- Margin Master Cannot Save Settings
- SQL Server 2025 Express vs. Full License
- Support Issue Management
- Catalog Lookup
- What's New After an Update
- Version History
- Documentation and the Help Buttons
- CTLD — Do It Best Catalog File
- MARGIN_MASTER — Ace Catalog File
- PCDITEMXREF — Do It Best SKU Classification File
- SAP_ZONE_PRICE_MARGIN_MASTER — Ace Zone Pricing File
- PCDPRODCLASS — Do It Best Product Classification Hierarchy File
- SAP_STORE_DEPT_ZONE_MARGIN_MASTER — Ace Store Zone Assignment File
- Taxonomy — Ace Product Classification File
- Mapp_Pricing — Ace MAP & IMAP Pricing File
- margin_mstr_plano — Ace Planogram File
On This Page
AI Assistant 🧪
🧪 Experimental feature — new and in testing. The AI assistant is being trialled with a small number of stores before general release. It is off by default and password protected: Margin Master support turns it on per computer with the Enable (password) button on the AI (Artificial Intelligence) tab. Until then no AI buttons or panels appear anywhere in Margin Master. What the assistant does, and the usage allowance, may change as testing continues.
What is this?
The AI assistant uses Margin Master's built-in assistant to analyze your pricing strategies and rounding schemes against your own store data. It is optional, and everything it does is read-only: it proposes options and explains what it sees; you decide what to apply.
Where it appears once enabled:
| Where | Button | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy > Manage Pricing Strategy | AI Review | Reviews the selected strategy's steps and explains gaps, overlaps and risks |
| Strategy Execution Summary (after a run) | AI Review | Scores the run and narrates what changed and why |
| Rounding scheme editor | Analyze with AI | Checks a rounding scheme for holes, overlaps and odd price points |
The score behind a review is calculated by Margin Master itself and is reproducible; the assistant only explains it.
Opening / Accessing
- Go to Tools > Options in the menu bar.
- In the left navigation, under General Settings, select AI (Artificial Intelligence).
- Enable (password) - support enters the password here. The line reads This feature is OFF on this machine until then; once on, it reads AI services are ON on this machine with a Disable button.
- Token Usage & Allowance - shows usage against your free monthly allowance once AI services are in use.
The switch is per computer. Turning it off hides every AI button again; nothing else in Margin Master changes.
Tips
The assistant never writes prices. Run the strategy, read the review, then change the strategy yourself if you agree.
If an AI button you expect is missing, check this tab first - the feature is off on that computer.
Common Questions
Q: Is my store data sent somewhere? A: The assistant works from summaries of your own strategy, rounding and pricing data for the review you asked for. It does not run on its own and does not change anything in your database.
Q: Why do I not see the AI buttons? A: AI services are off on that computer, or the feature has not been enabled for your store yet. Contact Margin Master support.
Q: Does it cost anything? A: During testing there is a free monthly allowance; the Token Usage & Allowance panel on the tab will show it once the feature is in use.
