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
ECS POS Import
What is this?
The ECS import (also referred to as Advantage or ECI) reads pipe-delimited text files exported from your ECS point-of-sale system. It is one of the simpler POS imports in Margin Master, with a straightforward direct import pipeline and no BCP staging step.
Import File Format
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Delimiter | Pipe (\|) |
| File pattern | *.txt |
| Header row | Yes (1 row) |
| Field count | 33 (field 33 is optional) |
| Key | Sku + Store |
Fields
| # | Field | Max Length | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sku | 25 | Item SKU |
| 2 | AltSku | 25 | Alternate SKU / UPC |
| 3 | Store | 10 | Store identifier (leading zeros trimmed) |
| 4 | Dept | 5 | Department |
| 5 | Class | 50 | Class |
| 6 | Description | 25 | Item description |
| 7 | Desc2 | 25 | Secondary description |
| 8 | Location | 8 | Bin/location |
| 9 | CurrentPrice | -- | Current retail price (money format) |
| 10 | OnHand | -- | Quantity on hand (money format) |
| 11 | PrimeVendor | 10 | Primary vendor |
| 12 | AVendor | 10 | Alternate vendor |
| 13 | RU | -- | Order multiple (integer) |
| 14-26 | H0 - H12 | -- | Monthly sales history (13 months) |
| 27 | Cost | -- | Item cost |
| 28-32 | Comp1 - Comp5 | -- | Competitor prices 1-5 |
| 33 | sVelocity | 5 | Sales velocity (optional) |
How Import Works
The export file is read from the Import Path set under Tools > Options > Miscellaneous:
- Export your inventory data from ECS as a pipe-delimited
.txtfile. - Place the file in the configured import folder.
- Margin Master reads the file directly (no BCP staging pipeline).
- Each row is parsed: monetary fields are converted, store numbers have leading zeros trimmed, and the order multiple is read as an integer.
- Data is loaded into the local database, keyed by Sku + Store.
- The main table build joins your POS data with vendor catalog data.
Field Mapping
| ECS Field | Margin Master Column | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sku | SKU | Item SKU (max 25 chars) |
| AltSku | AltSku | Alternate SKU / UPC |
| Store | Store | Leading zeros trimmed |
| Dept | Dept | Department (max 5 chars) |
| Class | Class | Class (max 50 chars) |
| Description | Description | Item description |
| Desc2 | Desc2 | Secondary description |
| Location | Location | Bin/location |
| CurrentPrice | CurrentPrice | Converted from money format |
| OnHand | OnHand | Converted from money format |
| PrimeVendor | PrimeVendor | Primary vendor |
| AVendor | AVendor | Alternate vendor |
| RU | OrderMultiple | Parsed as integer |
| H0 - H12 | History0 - History12 | Monthly sales history |
| Cost | COST | Item cost |
| Comp1 - Comp5 | Comp1 - Comp5 | Competitor prices |
| sVelocity | sVelocity | Sales velocity (optional field) |
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
ECS is one of the simplest POS imports. If your file is pipe-delimited with the fields listed above, it should import without issues.
Store numbers have leading zeros removed automatically. Store
007becomes7.
The last field (sVelocity) is optional. If your export does not include it, the import still works with 32 fields.
CurrentPrice and OnHand use a money converter, so values like
$12.99or12.99are both accepted.
Common Questions
Q: Is ECS the same as Advantage or ECI? A: Yes. ECS, Advantage, and ECI all refer to the same POS system. Margin Master uses "ECS" as the internal name.
Q: My file has 32 fields instead of 33. Will it still import? A: Yes. The 33rd field (sVelocity) is optional. The import handles files with or without it.
Q: What does "money format" mean for CurrentPrice and OnHand?
A: The MoneyConverter accepts numeric values with optional currency symbols and formatting. Values like 12.99, $12.99, and 1,299.00 are all parsed correctly.
