Margin Master Handbook
Introduction
Part I · Installing
- 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
Part II · Introducing the Main Window
- A Tour of the Main Window
- The Menus
- The Button Row
- The Main Data Grid
- The Summary Section
- Banners and Badges
Part III · Initial Configuration
- 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
Part IV · Customizing the Workspace
Part V · Basic Application Functionality
Part VI · Learning Margin Master
- 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
Part VII · Advanced Topics
- Importing from Excel
- Cost Break Analysis
- Cost Break Strategies
- Min/Max Strategies
- Strategy Backup & Restore
- Add Items from Catalog
- Store Grouping
Part VIII · Updates, Troubleshooting & Help
- 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
Appendix
- 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
Part III · Chapter 7 — Point of Sale: Connect, Configure, Import, TroubleshootUpdated 2026-08-28
Dimension POS Import
What is this?
Dimension is a point-of-sale system used by some hardware retailers. Margin Master imports Dimension data exports to build pricing analysis tables. Dimension uses a direct import method rather than BCP staging.
Import File Format
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Delimiter | Comma (,) |
| File pattern | *.txt |
| Header row | Yes (1 row) |
| Total fields | 18 |
How Import Works
The export file is read from the Import Path set under Tools > Options > Miscellaneous:
- Export your data from the Dimension system as a comma-delimited
.txtfile with a header row. - Place the file in the configured import folder.
- Margin Master reads the file and imports the data directly into the database (no BCP staging step).
- If the file does not include a
Storecolumn, Margin Master automatically adds a "STORE" header and defaults the store value to "1". - Duplicate checking is based on SKU only (not the combination of Store and SKU as with most other POS systems).
- Leading zeros on the store value are trimmed automatically.
- Margin Master joins the store data with vendor catalog data to build your main pricing analysis table.
Field Mapping
| Dimension Field | Margin Master Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catalog | SKU | Catalog number maps to SKU |
| Store | Store | Optional; defaults to "1" if missing |
| Description | Description | Product description |
| Department | Department | Department code |
| LIST | CurrentPrice | List price maps to current retail price |
| COST | Cost | Product cost |
| OnHand | OnHand | Inventory quantity |
| UNITS 1 | History0 | Current period units sold |
| UNITS 2 | History1 | Month 1 units sold |
| UNITS 3 | History2 | Month 2 units sold |
| UNITS 4–13 | History3–History12 | Months 3–12 units sold |
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Files Found when you choose Get POS Data | The export is not in the Import Path (Tools > Options > Miscellaneous), or its name does not match the pattern above | Check the path and the file name; Margin Master reads only the current folder, not sub-folders |
| The same file is imported again and again | The previous import's file was not renamed | After a successful import the file is renamed to NAME[ext].BAK; a file that keeps its name did not import - read the error dialog |
| 0 records or far fewer than expected | The export covers the wrong store, or the store is not matched in the Store Manager | Open Store Manager and check the store's row; re-export from the point of sale |
| Columns land in the wrong fields | The export layout changed | Compare the file's header row with Field Mapping above; contact Margin Master support with the file |
| Import finishes but the grid does not change | The rebuild was postponed (the Click to update data badge is showing) | Click the badge, or Data > Rebuild Data |
Every import failure shows one error dialog; the log under File > Utilities > Show Log Files has the detail to send to support.
Tips
- Catalog is your SKU: Dimension uses "Catalog" as its product identifier. This maps directly to the SKU field in Margin Master.
- Store column is optional: If your Dimension export does not include a Store column, Margin Master will default all records to store "1". This is useful for single-store operations.
- UNITS fields: Dimension uses
UNITS 1throughUNITS 13for sales history. These map to History0 through History12 in Margin Master. - Duplicate handling: Dimension checks for duplicates by SKU only, not by the Store + SKU combination used by most other POS systems.
Common Questions
Q: My export file does not have a Store column. Will it still import? A: Yes. Margin Master automatically detects the missing Store column, adds it, and defaults all records to store "1".
Q: Why are leading zeros removed from my store number? A: Margin Master trims leading zeros from store numbers during Dimension imports to ensure consistent matching with other data sources.
Q: What does "LIST" mean in my export?
A: The LIST field in Dimension is the list price (retail price) of the product. It maps to the CurrentPrice field in Margin Master.
