3.2 Export Builder

Learn how to use the Export Builder tool on the Acuity Pricing platform.

The Export Builder tool allows customers to build bespoke reports that combine price, promotion, nutrition and availability data in one report in their preferred format.

Contents:

• File format

• Row mode
• Adding columns 
• Category columns
• Adding groups
• Calculations, logical tests and row filters
• Creating templates
  
  

Users can use this tool to:

• Create truly custom, bespoke reporting
• Define the presentation of datasets
• Assign calculations to reduce the need for data manipulation 
  
  

Export Builder is located within the Tools section of Acuity Pricing. Use the Report Editor to select the data for the export – choose the specific categories, brand(s), manufacturer(s), retailer(s) and date range.

Choose the preferred format of the export, either CSV, XLS or XLSX (if CSV is selected you are limited to one sheet per file).

Next, select a row mode to specify how data is displayed in the export:

Product: One Acuity Pricing (parent) product per row

Raw Product: One retailer raw product per row

 

 

Adding Columns

Select from one of the available column types: 'Product Data', 'Retailer Data', 'Price and Promotions', 'Other' and 'Nutrition'.

Drag and drop (or double click) your chosen fields from the 'Add a Column' list to the 'Columns' list, in any order or combination.

 

 

Rename selected columns to fit with your preferred reporting style by clicking on the column, selecting the drop down arrow, clicking on the pencil, renaming and then saving.

Adjust the reporting options, for example the preferred price option for the ‘Price Column’, by clicking the corresponding dropdown arrow and populating the fields.
Columns that need specific fields to be populated will show in red.

 

Category Columns

When adding a category, select whether you want to see the Acuity Pricing hierarchy or, if you have one, your Custom Hierarchy by selecting from the category type.

When selecting the category level, these start at the lowest level, so  'hierarchy level 0' will display the lowest category level, 'level 1' will display the second lowest level and so on.

Adding a group

Add a group to the columns section to refine how the data displays. Groups can be added from the 'Other' column type.

Retailer Group: Adding this when the export builder is in Product Mode will display repeating columns per selected retailer based on the columns added into the group, similar to the Daily Prices & Promotions report layout. This makes it easy to compare the prices and promotions of matched products. Using a retailer group with Raw Product Mode enabled is not recommended as it can cause duplicate data within the report.

Date Group: Adding a date group when using Raw Product Mode allows repeating columns at the selected frequency within the group. For example, a date group with a weekly frequency selected containing a Price Column over a date range of 4 weeks, will return 4 entries for the product’s price over that period.

Calculations

To add calculations to the export, select 'Calculation' from the 'Other' column type. Build a calculation using other columns and/or numbers. Number, Column and Nested Expression can be used by dragging the relevant option over any of the selection fields.

 

 

Logical Tests

To add a logical test to the export, select 'Logical Test' from the 'Other' column type. This function behaves as an IF Statement. Drag the required options over the appropriate Condition and output If True/False. This can be used for a number of comparisons.

Row Filters

Add row filters from the ‘Add a row filter’ options in the 'Other' column type. Once added, select a column to aim the filter at and populate the fields as necessary.

Blank Filter can be used to include or exclude rows based on blank values.

Date Row Filter must use a column that includes a date and can be used to exclude rows based on a tolerance of days.

Duplicate Row Filter can be used to remove duplicate values (the first iteration of the duplicate will remain).

Numeric Row Filter can be used to exclude rows that don’t meet the defined criteria.

Text Row Filter can be used to include or exclude rows based on the text contents of the cells in the selected column.

Conversion: Add Replace functions from the 'Add a Conversion' section in the 'Other' column type. This can be used to replace any value found within cells under a specified column with any other value as required. Select the column you want to aim the conversion at, enter a value to be replaced and a replacement value.

Saving and exporting

When you have completed your data selection click the 'Save' tab, name the export and then press the 'Run' button.

Keep track of your export progress in the 'Running' tab.

Create Multiple Files: Click the 'Add File' tab on the top of the left-hand column – multiple files will be zipped into one export.

Add Additional Sheets: Select the ‘Add Sheet’ tab on the left of the page above the sheet name. CSV files can only contain one sheet.

Schedule your customised export as per usual from the Export tab. View our quick-start video guide in the Getting Started section on how to do this.

Templates

Build your report as normal, adding all the required columns, row filters and conversions. Once the report is set up as required, select 'load/save template' and click on 'save'.

Give the template a name and select who to share it with - you can either share it with no-one, so it will only be available in your account, selected colleagues or with all users in your business.

 

 

The users this has been shared with can access the template by selecting 'load/save template' and selecting the required template.

NOTE: When you load a template it will replace the content you have in your Export Builder report at the time, so make sure you load this into a blank report.
If you would like to amend your template, open the template in Export Builder and make the changes. Then click to save the report, and select replace existing template and select ok.