> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.solutioo.de/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.solutioo.de/datanorm-item-import/datanorm_en_us/overview/purpose.md).

# Purpose of the App

## The problem

Suppliers in the building trades deliver their catalogues as DATANORM files: text files with fixed record types where each line describes an article, a price, a long text or a part list line. A full catalogue easily runs into several thousand articles, and every price round brings a new file.

Without a tool that means transferring data by hand or maintaining a bespoke import script. Both are error-prone, and neither scales once several suppliers deliver several times a year.

## What the app takes over

The app reads the file, maps each record type to the matching Business Central fields and puts the data into intermediate tables first – **staging**. Items, price lists and BOMs are only created once you approve.

That intermediate step is the heart of the design: you see what arrived before it touches your item master.

<table><thead><tr><th width="180">From the file</th><th width="260">becomes in Business Central</th><th>Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>A and B record</td><td>Item</td><td><a href="/pages/kT7d9wFMDakyRZpD53eQ">Import Process</a></td></tr><tr><td>T record</td><td>Extended text on the item</td><td><a href="/pages/kT7d9wFMDakyRZpD53eQ">Import Process</a></td></tr><tr><td>P and Z record</td><td>Purchase price list for the vendor</td><td><a href="/pages/zeTZiXm0GcEkoi1VPlk7">Purchase Price Lists</a></td></tr><tr><td>R record</td><td>Discount group</td><td><a href="/pages/h57MxEGpoL44t7o0mLMl">Discount Groups</a></td></tr><tr><td>S record</td><td>Product group</td><td><a href="/pages/OrNqapY4KaYEuombnGIk">Product Groups</a></td></tr><tr><td>J record</td><td>Assembly BOM on the set item</td><td><a href="/pages/gKFg9vxYRgMP92H2TvVX">DATANORM Sets</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## A typical workflow

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Receive the file

The supplier makes the file available – by email, download or on an SFTP server. With SFTP the app collects it on its own, see [Automated SFTP Import](/datanorm-item-import/datanorm_en_us/importing-datanorm-files/sftp-import.md).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Import and assign the vendor

As you read the file in you pick the vendor it belongs to. That assignment applies to every article, price and set in the file and later determines which price list the prices are written to.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Review staging

You see every imported line with its status. Reported duplicates are resolved here, before anything is written to the item master.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Approve and synchronise

After approval, items, price list lines and BOMs are created. This step can also run automatically.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Who the app is for

<table><thead><tr><th width="240">Role</th><th>Responsibility</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Purchasing / master data</td><td>Read files in, review staging, approve</td></tr><tr><td>Administration</td><td>Setup, vendor assignment, SFTP, price list options</td></tr><tr><td>Business users</td><td>Use items and BOMs in day-to-day work</td></tr></tbody></table>

Which permission set covers what is described under [User Roles & Permissions](/datanorm-item-import/datanorm_en_us/getting-started/user-roles-and-permissions.md).


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