Re: [SL] importing csv files

[Ed W <li...@wi...>]

Nathan Leach wrote:
> One option I have used is to write an app in Ruby on Rails that
> integrates with SL.  With Rails ActiveRecord you just give the name of
> the table representing your object and you can then address fields as
> attributes.  Ruby has built-in libraries for dealing with CSV, so
> getting data in from there is no problem.
>
> This is most effective for what I call "master" data (parts, customers,
> etc.), but be careful of the ID sequences that SL uses.  I had trouble
> with those until I found out how to specify them within ActiveRecord.
>
> I won't bore the entire list with more details, but if you are
> interested contact me off list.
>
>   

Hi Nathan

I'm getting into Rails right now and building some small apps for our 
business.  I am actually working on a web facing frontend for SQLledger 
so that people can pay their bills directly. 

I would be curious to see what kind of things you have done with rails 
because you are obviously diving directly into the data rather than 
going via the http interface?  I haven't really plugged through the 
tables - is there a quickstart guide that you can offer?

I have to say that SQL-Ledger is rather a pain in the arse - it's a nice 
looking product, but there is minimal support and fairly slow 
development.  The code is quite messy as well. (Having bought the manual 
I wrote to Dieter to request a feature and he sent me an estimate of 
$16,000 to implement it... Outside of my budget and not what I would 
call supportive - he keeps blocking my emails to the list it seems and I 
sent him at least one patch and didn't even get a reply that it was 
received...)

I would love to have the time to write an alternative in Ruby - I think 
a rip off would be possible in just a few months, the trick is having a 
few months free to write it...

Regards

Ed Wildgoose