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
- Database Connection Setup
- Database Creation
- Database Restore
- Transfer Settings from Database
- Connecting a Second Computer
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
- 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
- Chat with Support
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 2026-09-15
Westlake POS Import
What is this?
Westlake is a point-of-sale system used by Ace Hardware stores. Margin Master imports Westlake data files to build your pricing analysis tables, supporting the largest text-based field set of any POS system at 47 fields.
Import File Format
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Delimiter | Tab (\t) |
| File pattern | *Westlake*.txt |
| Header row | Yes (1 row) |
| Total fields | 47 |
How Import Works
The export file is read from the Import Path set under Tools > Options > Miscellaneous:
- You place your Westlake export file (a tab-delimited
.txtfile with "Westlake" in the name) in the configured import folder. - Margin Master reads the file, validates the fields, and loads the data into its database.
- From there, Margin Master joins the store data with vendor catalog data to build your main pricing analysis table.
Export Columns
Core Fields
| Westlake Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Sku | Product identifier |
| Store | Store identifier |
| Dept | Department |
| Class | Product class |
| Description | Primary description |
| Desc2 | Secondary description |
| Location | Bin/shelf location |
| PrimeVendor | Primary vendor code |
| AVendor | Alternate vendor code |
| ProductGroup | Product grouping |
Pricing Fields
| Westlake Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| CurrentPrice | Current retail price (currency formatting accepted) |
| COST | Product cost (currency formatting accepted) |
| OnHand | Current inventory quantity |
| TaxRate | Tax rate |
| P2 | Pricing tier 2 |
| P3 | Pricing tier 3 |
| P4 | Pricing tier 4 |
| P5 | Pricing tier 5 |
| P6 | Pricing tier 6 |
| P7 | Pricing tier 7 |
| Comp1–Comp5 | Competitive pricing fields |
| CompA | Competitive pricing A |
| CompMemo | Competitive pricing memo |
Westlake is the only POS system with six pricing tiers (P2 through P7).
Sales History Fields
| Westlake Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| H0 | Current period (integer) |
| H1–H12 | Monthly history (integers) |
Additional Fields
| Westlake Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| OrderMultiple | Order multiple |
| RetailUnits | Retail units |
| SVelocity | Sales velocity |
| RedLabel | Shown in user field 1 |
| District | Shown in user field 2 |
| AceStoreNumber | Ace store number for vendor pairing (shown in user field 3) |
| AceZoneNumber | Ace zone number for vendor pairing (shown in user field 4) |
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 Export Columns 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
- Ace Hardware pairing: Westlake files include
AceStoreNumberandAceZoneNumberfields, which Margin Master uses to pair your store data with Ace Hardware vendor catalog and zone pricing data. - Two mapping variants: Westlake has two data mapping configurations (standard and legacy). Margin Master selects the correct one automatically based on your file format.
- Pricing tiers: The P2 through P7 fields are unique to Westlake. If your export does not include these tiers, they will be empty in Margin Master.
Common Questions
Q: My file is not being detected. What should I check?
A: Make sure the filename contains the word "Westlake" and has a .txt extension. The file must be tab-delimited with a header row.
Q: Why do I see RedLabel, District, AceStoreNumber, and AceZoneNumber in user fields 1–4? A: Margin Master places these Westlake-specific fields into general-purpose user fields so they can be displayed and filtered in the main table.
