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
- Database Connection Setup
- Database Creation
- Database Restore
- Transfer Settings from Database
- Connecting a Second Computer
- 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
- 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
- Chat with Support
- 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
Falcon POS Import
What is this?
The Falcon import reads inventory data directly from an Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx) exported from the Falcon POS system and loads it into Margin Master for pricing analysis. Falcon data is imported from Excel files; the older text-file import is no longer used.
Import File Format
- File type: Excel workbook (
.xlsx) - File pattern:
*.xlsxin the configured import directory - Header row: Yes (column names are matched case-insensitively)
| Excel Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Stock # | Item SKU number |
| Warehouse # | Store number (leading zeros removed) |
| Department | Department name |
| Class | Class name |
| Description | Item description |
| Retail | Current retail price |
| On Hand | Current inventory quantity |
| Cost | Item cost |
| RU | Location / retail unit code |
| H0 | Current month sales |
| H1 | 1 month ago sales |
| H2 | 2 months ago sales |
| H3 | 3 months ago sales |
| H4 | 4 months ago sales |
| H5 | 5 months ago sales |
| H6 | 6 months ago sales |
| H7 | 7 months ago sales |
| H8 | 8 months ago sales |
| H9 | 9 months ago sales |
| H10 | 10 months ago sales |
| H11 | 11 months ago sales |
| H12 | 12 months ago sales |
How Import Works
The export file is read from the Import Path set under Tools > Options > Miscellaneous:
- Place the Falcon Excel export file (
.xlsx) in the configured import directory. - Margin Master opens the Excel file using a built-in workbook engine (no need for Excel to be installed on the computer).
- Column headers in the first row are matched case-insensitively to the expected field names.
- Each row is read and mapped to Margin Master fields.
- Duplicate records (same SKU + Store combination) are automatically filtered out so only one record per combination is kept.
- Leading zeros are stripped from store numbers.
- The previous Falcon data is replaced with the rows from the file in one operation.
- After a successful import, the Excel file is renamed with a
.bakextension and a timestamp to prevent re-importing the same data. - The import result is recorded.
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 the column list 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
Excel does not need to be installed. Margin Master reads the
.xlsxfile directly using a built-in workbook engine. You do not need Microsoft Excel installed on the computer.
Column headers are case-insensitive. The header row must contain the expected column names, but capitalization does not matter. For example, "stock #", "Stock #", and "STOCK #" are all recognized.
The file is renamed after import. After a successful import, the Excel file is renamed to
.bakwith a timestamp appended (for example,data.xlsxbecomesdata.xlsx.bak.20260321_143022). This prevents accidentally importing the same file twice.
Duplicates are automatically removed. If the Excel file contains multiple rows with the same SKU and Store combination, only one record is kept. The deduplication happens automatically during import.
Place only one export file at a time. Margin Master looks for
*.xlsxfiles in the import directory. To avoid confusion, place only the current export file in the directory before importing.
Common Questions
Q: What happened to the old text-based Falcon import? A: The Falcon import now reads directly from Excel files. The older text-file import is no longer used. The Excel-based import is simpler and more reliable.
Q: What if my Excel file has extra columns? A: Extra columns are ignored. Margin Master only reads the columns listed above.
Q: Why was my file renamed to .bak?
A: After a successful import, Margin Master automatically renames the file by adding .bak and a timestamp. This is normal and prevents the same file from being imported again.
Q: What if I have multiple stores in one file?
A: The Warehouse # column identifies which store each row belongs to. Multiple stores in a single file are supported and will be separated during main table processing.
Q: What is the unique key for records? A: Each record is identified by the combination of SKU and store number. If duplicates exist in the Excel file, they are automatically deduplicated during import.
