WebSphere Commerce 7 | Dataload Utility | Enhancements in Feature Pack 8

As part of WebSphere Commerce Feature Pack 8, there are couple of enhancements to Dataload Utilities,

• Configuring a Data Load utility scheduler job

Now, you can configure the Data Load utility as a WebSphere Commerce Scheduler. You can schedule Dataload utility as Scheduler and Administrators can configure this job with the WebSphere Commerce Administration Console.
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/3TmRpH

• Data Load file difference preprocessing

By using this preprocessor that you can compare two input files, such as a previously loaded file and the newest version of this file. The preprocessor generates a difference file that contains only the records in the new file that are not within the old file or that are changed from the records in the old file. The Data Load utility can then load this difference file.

If your routinely loaded files contain many previous loaded records, then running this file difference can result in shorter load times. This preprocess can be scaled to compare files with millions of records.

By default, there are two data reader preprocessors that are provided for running a file difference; one for comparing CSV files (CSVFileDiffPreprocessor) and one for XML files (XmlFileDiffPreprocessor).
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/dB6Hng

• Loading promotions with the Data Load utility

If you create promotions in lower environments and later, if you replicate the same in higher environments, you can use this feature. After creating promotions, do a data extract of the same and it generates the CSV with the required details. Later, do a dataload with this CSV in the higher environment.
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/RpzsnL

• Loading promotion folders and promotions into promotion folders

Create promotion folders, and sort promotions into the promotion folders
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/6oCPvN

• Loading customer segment members by email address with the Data Load utility

A customer segment is group of customers who share one or more attributes that are relevant to marketing activities. 

For example, you can define a customer segment that contains all registered customers, or all customers that spent over $1000 at the store, or all male customers over the age of 40. You can then use these customer segments as targets for advertising, promotions, and suggestive selling.

After you create a customer segment, you can specify that customer segment as a target when you create:
    Web and dialog activities
    Email activities
    Promotions
    Introduced in Search rules

You can create a customer segment that business users can manage in the Marketing tool by loading a list of email addresses.
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/PlVJq3

• Update mode for Catentry Dataload

Earlier, Dataload utility used to support Insert, Replace and Delete Modes. Now, with this Feature Pack 8, it is supporting Update mode.

Use this update mode for loading changes to catalog entry information. This update mode compares catalog entry data in an input file with the corresponding catalog entry data in the database. The utility then replaces or adds data for only the columns that are specified in the input file. All other columns remain unchanged.
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/saSoaY

• Category Deletion

With this new WebSphere Commerce Feature Pack 8, you can mark categories for delete instead of explicitly deleting the categories.
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/dvlhMo

• Reuse attribute assigned values with the Data Load utility

You can use the Data Load utility to reuse assigned values for attributes when the same value is needed for multiple catalog entries. By reusing attribute assigned values across catalog entries, you can reduce the number of duplicate values that are created in the database.
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/Tl0UTO

• Loading marketing objects with the Data Load utility

You can configure the Data Load utility to load marketing data to create customer segments, e-Marketing Spots, activities, marketing content, and any associated assets. By using the Data Load utility to load this data, you can quickly create multiple marketing objects and types of objects in a single operation.
Reference Link: http://goo.gl/ZA2DoQ

Dataload Utility Enhancements for WebSphere Commerce Feature Pack 8 Reference Link: http://goo.gl/R3byCc