Margin Master Handbook

Introduction

How Margin Master Thinks

Part I · Installing

Installation and First Launch

Part II · Introducing the Main Window

Part III · Initial Configuration

Store Manager: The Hub of Data Processing

Part IV · Customizing the Workspace

Part V · Basic Application Functionality

Rounding Schemes

Part VI · Learning Margin Master

Future Pricing

Part VII · Advanced Topics

Part VIII · Updates, Troubleshooting & Help

Appendix

Epicor Eagle FTP Import

What is this?

The Epicor Eagle FTP import downloads a proprietary binary inventory file from your Epicor Eagle server via FTP or SFTP and decodes it into Margin Master for pricing analysis. This is the standard import method for Epicor Eagle stores that pair with Ace Hardware or Emery Jensen vendor data.

Import File Format

Epicor Eagle uses a proprietary binary format that is not human-readable.

File name: IN (no file extension)
Format: Fixed-width binary with byte-level field encoding
Delivery: Downloaded automatically via FTP or SFTP from the Eagle server
Total columns: 89 fields decoded from the binary data

Key Fields Decoded

Field	Description
SKU	Item SKU number
Store	Store identifier (decoded from single ASCII character)
Department	Department code
Class	Class code
Description	Primary item description
Description 2	Secondary item description
Retail Price	Current retail price
Cost	Item cost
Replacement Cost	Replacement cost
Quantity On Hand	Current inventory quantity
Product Group	Product group code
History periods	Monthly sales history (13 periods)
Velocity	Sales velocity code
Primary Vendor	Primary vendor code
Alternate Vendor	Alternate vendor code
Competitor prices	Competitor price fields (5)
User fields	Custom user-defined fields
Zone pricing fields	Zone-specific pricing data

How Import Works

Epicor tab in FTP mode

Connect via MySQL / Compass - leave unchecked for the direct Epicor FTP connection.
IP Address, Port, Username, Password and Use Secure FTP - the Eagle server credentials.
Test & Save Connection / Troubleshoot Connection...
Restore from Cloud... - pull the connection saved for this store.
Import Options - Batch Import Files (BCP) and Streaming Import.
Open Store Manager... - POS-to-vendor store mapping.
Store Number Display & Sorting.
Margin Master connects to your Epicor Eagle server using the FTP or SFTP credentials configured in Options.
It downloads the binary file named IN from the server.
The binary file is decoded field by field at the byte level to extract all 89 columns of inventory data.
Store numbers are translated from single ASCII characters (A-Z) to their corresponding numeric store IDs.
The decoded data is loaded directly into Margin Master's database.
Per-store main tables are built by joining the Epicor POS data with the Ace vendor catalog data.
Post-processing applies additional enrichment including Ace Direct SKU conversion, MAP pricing enforcement, and zone pricing adjustments.

Re-Importing a Previously Downloaded File

If you need to re-import data without downloading from the Eagle server again (for example, when troubleshooting or when the Eagle server is unavailable), you can reprocess a previously downloaded file:

Navigate to the Epicor download folder: C:\ProgramData\RetailerSoft\MarginMaster\Epicor\
Open the subfolder for today's date (e.g., Downloads_20260408).
Find the file named INdecoded.bak — this is the backup of the last successfully imported file.
Rename INdecoded.bak to INdecoded (remove the .bak extension).
Click Import Data in Margin Master.
A prompt will appear: "An existing INdecoded file was found. Would you like to re-import this file instead of downloading from FTP?"
Click Yes to re-import the file without connecting to the Eagle server.

No Eagle server connection required. When you choose to re-import an existing file, Margin Master skips all FTP connection steps entirely. This is useful when the Eagle server is offline or unreachable.

Clicking No will attempt a fresh download. If you decline the re-import, Margin Master will try to connect to the Eagle server via FTP. If the server is unavailable, you will see an error message.

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	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.

Main Table Processing Mode

The Epicor tab under Tools > Options > POS / Connections has one setting, Use a single main table (one row per SKU per store). It chooses how the main tables are laid out; it does not change what the strategies do or the prices they produce. It is offered on both Epicor import routes, this FTP import and the MySQL/Compass import.

Off (the default) - multi table processing. Margin Master builds one main table per store. Selecting a store picks that store's table.
On - single main table processing. Margin Master builds one table with one row per SKU per store. Selecting a store filters that table by store number instead of choosing a table, and one set of indexes replaces one set per store.

Changing the setting does nothing until you close the Options window. You are then asked to confirm, and the confirmation names every main table that will be replaced. If you answer Yes, Margin Master builds the new table first and removes the old ones only once the build has succeeded, so a failed rebuild leaves everything as it was. No keeps the current mode; Cancel returns to Options.

Either way the rebuild reads the Epicor data already on this computer (it does not download the file again), builds each store's rows exactly as that store's own table is built, applies the vendor catalog, zone pricing and MAP pricing store by store afterwards as the multi table build does, and discards all current pricing work - future prices, applied rules and locks. Re-run your strategies afterwards. Later imports rebuild the single table in the same way. Rows the export files under the store * (Epicor's all-stores marker, typically coupons) are left out of the single table; multi table processing does not use them either.

Store grouping on the FTP import keeps multi table processing for now. With Use Store Grouping? on (Store Information tab), the single main table cannot be selected on this import route; turn store grouping off first, or keep multi table processing. The Compass import supports both.

Tips

Store letters map to store numbers. Epicor Eagle identifies stores using single ASCII characters (A, B, C, etc.). Margin Master automatically converts these to their numeric equivalents based on your store configuration.

The file has no extension. The import file is simply named IN with no file extension. This is normal for Epicor Eagle exports.

FTP credentials are configured in Options. Go to Options, then the Epicor tab (with Connect via MySQL / Compass unchecked) to set your Epicor Eagle FTP server address, username, and password. Both standard FTP and SFTP are supported.

Ace Direct SKUs are handled automatically. Items with SKU numbers ending in "D" (Ace Direct items) have the suffix stripped during post-processing so they match correctly with Ace catalog data.

Zone pricing is applied after import. If your store has zone-specific pricing configured, Margin Master will apply zone pricing overrides from the synced Ace zone data after the main tables are built.

Common Questions

Q: What vendor data does Epicor Eagle use? A: Epicor Eagle pairs with Ace Hardware or Emery Jensen vendor data. Your Ace/EJ catalog must be synced from the cloud before building main tables.

Q: What is the difference between FTP and MySQL Compass import for Epicor? A: FTP import downloads the binary IN file directly from the Eagle server. MySQL Compass reads from a local MySQL data warehouse on your network. Both produce the same result. Use whichever method your store has configured.

Q: Why do I see letters instead of store numbers in Epicor? A: Epicor Eagle uses single characters (A-Z) as store identifiers. Margin Master translates these to numeric store numbers automatically.

Q: What are the two import modes? A: Direct mode is the standard mode that loads the data straight into Margin Master's database. BCP mode is a troubleshooting option that writes intermediate files; use it only when Margin Master support asks you to.

Q: What is MAP pricing? A: MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) enforcement ensures that future prices do not go below manufacturer-set minimums. This is applied automatically during post-processing for Ace Hardware items.