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
The Options Window
What is this?
Tools > Options is where Margin Master is configured: who the store is, which vendor and point of sale it uses, where files go, how exports are written, and the connection to your point of sale. This page is the map of the window; the pages that follow cover each tab.
Most settings are saved the moment you change them. There is no Save button - Close writes anything still pending and returns to the main window.
Layout
- Navigation - three groups, each expanding to its tabs. Click a tab to show it on the right.
- The selected tab.
- Close and Use Legacy Options at the bottom.
The tabs
Which tabs you see depends on your vendor and point of sale - only the tabs that apply to your store appear.
General Settings
| Tab | What it holds | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Store Information | Vendor, RSC, store number, contact, POS System Type, excluded stores, store grouping | Store Configuration |
| Miscellaneous | Import/Export paths, auto strategy backup, grid editing options, uniform cost, data-aging thresholds, maximum records | Miscellaneous |
| Auto Update | Automatic update checks and the idle delay | Automatic Updates |
| Export Options | File type, delimiter, headers and field order for exports | Export Options |
| Background Service 🧪 | Scheduled data updates and unattended app updates (experimental, password protected) | Background Service |
| AI (Artificial Intelligence) 🧪 | The AI assistant switch (experimental, password protected) | AI Assistant |
Vendor Settings
One tab, for your primary vendor: Ace Hardware or Do-it Best. See Vendor Settings.
POS / Connections
One tab, for your point of sale: Epicor, MI9, SpruceWare.Net / RockSolid MAX, NCR Counterpoint, Bistrack or Propello. File-based systems have no connection tab - they only need the Import Path on Miscellaneous. See POS / Connections Tabs.
Changing the POS System Type on Store Information swaps the POS tab immediately.
Closing the window
- Close (bottom right, and File > Close) saves any tab that still has pending changes and closes. If something could not be saved you see Save Error with the reason.
- If a tab has unsaved changes when you close the window another way, Margin Master asks "You have unsaved changes. Save before closing?" - Yes saves, No discards, Cancel stays in Options.
- Use Legacy Options opens the previous generation of the Options window. It exists for the few settings support may still need to reach there; everyday configuration lives in this window.
Demo Mode
In Demo Mode the tabs are shown but their controls are disabled, so you can see the settings without changing the demo database. The Store Information, Background Service, AI and POS tabs are hidden.
Tips
Set Store Information first - the vendor and POS System Type decide which other tabs exist.
After changing the Import or Export path, check the tab's inline warning: Directory does not exist or Folder is not writable means the path needs fixing before the next import.
Common Questions
Q: I do not see a Vendor Settings group. A: The group appears only when your vendor has a tab (Ace Hardware or Do-it Best). Other vendors have no vendor-specific settings yet.
Q: Where is Save? A: Settings save as you change them; Close finishes anything pending.
Q: Where do I set up the point-of-sale connection? A: On the tab named for your POS under POS / Connections; for file-based systems, the Import Path on Miscellaneous.
