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Manufacturers Import

Import product manufacturers to organize your estimating database and selection catalog.

Overview​

Manufacturers are linked to products, selections, and components in your estimating database. Importing your manufacturer list establishes these relationships and keeps product data organized.

What Gets Imported​

  • Manufacturer Name - Company name
  • Contact Information - Address, phone, email
  • Website - Manufacturer website URL
  • Notes - Internal reference notes
  • Status - Active/inactive

Template Download​

Download the Manufacturers Import Template from Readybuild:

  1. Go to Admin → Estimating Database
  2. Click Import → Manufacturers
  3. Download the template file

Template Fields​

Required Fields​

FieldDescriptionExample
nameManufacturer nameKohler

Optional Fields​

FieldDescriptionExample
codeShort code/abbreviationKOH
addressStreet address444 Highland Drive
cityCityKohler
stateState/ProvinceWI
zipPostal code53044
countryCountryUSA
phonePhone number800-456-4537
emailContact emailinfo@kohler.com
websiteWebsite URLhttps://www.kohler.com
contact_namePrimary contactJohn Smith
notesInternal notesPremium plumbing fixtures
activeStatus (TRUE/FALSE)TRUE

Preparing Your Data​

Manufacturer Names​

  • Use official company names
  • Be consistent with formatting
  • Avoid abbreviations unless common (e.g., "GE" for General Electric)

Examples​

name,code,website,phone,notes,active
Kohler,KOH,https://www.kohler.com,800-456-4537,Plumbing fixtures,TRUE
Andersen Windows,AND,https://www.andersenwindows.com,888-888-7020,Windows and doors,TRUE
Benjamin Moore,BM,https://www.benjaminmoore.com,855-724-6802,Paint and stains,TRUE
KraftMaid,KM,https://www.kraftmaid.com,440-632-5333,Cabinetry,TRUE

Import Steps​

  1. Prepare Your File

    • Fill in the template with manufacturer data
    • Ensure manufacturer names are accurate
    • Save as CSV

  2. Upload

    • Go to Admin → Estimating Database
    • Click Import → Manufacturers
    • Select your CSV file
    • Click Upload

  3. Review

    • Check column mapping
    • Verify sample data looks correct
    • Click Import

  4. Confirm

    • Review import results
    • Check for any errors
    • Verify imported manufacturers

Handling Duplicates​

Matching Logic​

Manufacturers are matched by name (case-insensitive):

  • Exact matches update existing records
  • New names create new manufacturers

Merging Duplicates​

If duplicates exist after import:

  1. Go to manufacturer list
  2. Identify duplicates
  3. Merge or delete as needed
  4. Update product references

Common Issues​

Name Variations​

Problem: Same manufacturer with different names

Kohler
KOHLER
Kohler Co.

Solution: Standardize names before import

Missing Manufacturers​

After import, if products reference unknown manufacturers:

  • Add missing manufacturers
  • Update product manufacturer references

Special Characters​

  • Company names with "&" or special characters
  • Wrap in quotes in CSV: "Smith & Sons"

After Import​

Verify Data​

  • Review manufacturer list
  • Check contact information
  • Verify websites are correct

Manufacturers can be linked to:

  • Selection catalog items
  • Estimating components
  • Vendor products

Organize​

  • Set preferred manufacturers
  • Add additional notes
  • Update missing information

Best Practices​

Data Quality​

  • Use official manufacturer names
  • Keep contact info current
  • Include website for reference

Organization​

  • Use consistent codes/abbreviations
  • Group by product type in notes
  • Mark inactive manufacturers

Maintenance​

  • Update periodically
  • Remove obsolete entries
  • Add new manufacturers as needed

Use Cases​

Selection Catalog​

Link selections to manufacturers:

  • Shows brand on customer selections
  • Helps with product lookups
  • Maintains product relationships

Estimating Database​

Associate components with manufacturers:

  • Track preferred brands
  • Maintain pricing by manufacturer
  • Support specification requirements

Reporting​

Filter and report by manufacturer:

  • Products used per manufacturer
  • Manufacturer spending analysis
  • Preferred vendor tracking