MFC / PRC Files Creation Guide

Overview File Structure

MFC File PRC File File Name Format

Upload Automating Uploads

Overview

Products can be requested from 1WorldSync Content Solutions (1WS) by uploading them in the specially formatted files to a FTP site. The upload files indicate which manufacturers and products are being requested.

The files are referred to as MFC (manufacturers) and PRC (products) files.

After receipt of the uploaded files, a mapping process begins in the DataSource Production Department. Requests for products that already exist in the DataSource database are automatically fulfilled, and the product data is delivered to the FTP site. Requests for new products remain in Production for further review.

Some products inevitably become obsolete or are deactivated in your catalog, and no longer require the specifications from 1WS. Those products can be removed from your DataSource catalog by submitting a deletion request using the same MFC and PRC files.

 

File Structure 

Product requests require two files to be uploaded: 

• MFC File – Indicates the manufacturers whose products are being requested. 

• PRC File – Identifies the products being requested. 

Both MFC and PRC files need to be in tab-delimited text format to be processed by 1WorldSync production system.

All fields in the MFC / PRC files (except the 6th field, for UPC/EAN codes) should not be empty and should not have the values “NULL” or “N/A”. 
The 6th field in the PRC file, for UPC/EAN codes, is optional and can be left empty.

 

MFC File

MFC files consist of two columns: 

• 1st column - Manufacturer Code – indicates the manufacturers in your catalog. This field has a 40 character imit. 

• 2nd column - Manufacturer Name – it is the manufacturer name associated with the manufacturer code specified in the 1st column. This field has a 255 character limit. 

Note: Manufacturer Name once submitted cannot be automatically changed for the same Manufacturer Code. If you would like to update the Manufacturer Name please contact Customer Support team.

Example: 

KNG	Kingston Technology
LEN	Lenovo
123	Microsoft

 

If you do not have manufacturer codes in your catalog, then the manufacturer names can be used twice (for the code as well as the name), as long as the code does not exceed 40 character limit. 
 

Example: 

Kingston Technology	Kingston Technology
Lenovo	Lenovo
Microsoft	Microsoft

 

If you are using an Excel file to enter the manufacturers then save the file as "Text (tab delimited) (*.txt)" type.

Then change the "File name". Please see the section File Name Format below.

 

PRC File 

PRC files consist of five required fields and one optional field: 

• 1st column - Action – Use "A" to request a product or "D" to remove a product from your catalog. 

• 2nd column - Manufacturer Code – Use the same codes that identify your vendors in the MFC file. 

• 3rd column - Manufacturer Part Number – This field has a 40 character limit. 

• 4th column - Cust SKU – This is your internal product identifier. This field has a 40 character limit. 

• 5th column - Short Product Description - This field has a 100 character limit. 

• 6th column - UPC/EAN Codes – This is an optional field and is the only field that can be left empty. 

The UPC/EAN codes should be entered in this format: 

<UPCEAN>345894386594</UPCEAN> where 345894386594 is the UPC code.  

 
Here’s an example, when products are being requested (added): 
 

A	KNG	SKC100S3/480G	67891	KINGSTON 480GB
A	LEN	43493KU	12345	ThinkPad T510
A	IBM	ZRS1NUS	54321	x3850, 2xCPU	<UPCEAN>94532145689</UPCEAN>
A	123	GMF-00093	35732	Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500

 
This is an example for when products are being deleted: 
 

D

LEN

43497LU

12789

ThinkPad T510

 

If you are using an Excel file to enter the products then save the file as "Text (tab delimited) (*.txt)" type.

Then change the "File name". Please see the section File Name Format below.

 

File Name Format

MFC files are named as follows: 

• MFCxxxxx.000 

This format is comprised of “MFC”, then your account number ("xxxxx"), then a sequentially numbered extension (start with "000", then “001”, “002” etc.). 

PRC files are named like this: 

• PRCxxxxx.000 

Use “PRC”, then your account number ("xxxxx"), then a sequentially numbered extension (start with “000” then “001”, “002” etc.).

The extensions at the end of the file names will help you to keep track of your FTP uploads. 

Example: 
 
Account ID: C01234

The initial MFC/PRC files would be named as:

MFC01234.000 
PRC01234.000 

The next MFC/PRC files will be named as:

MFC01234.001 
PRC01234.001 
 
MFC01234.002 
PRC01234.002 

 

Upload

The files should be uploaded to the FTP site ftp://ftp.cnetcontentsolutions.com/ using your FTP account credentials.

The files should be uploaded to the folder “upload”. Once the files are processed, they will be automatically moved to the folder “archive”. 

If you do not know your FTP login, you may contact 1WorldSync Content Solutions Customer Support team.

 

Automating Uploads

The upload of MFC/PRC files can be automated using the ContentConnector tool. You may find the information on how to set up the automated upload process in the ContentConnector Integration Guide in the Upload Products section.