IIF and shipping cost

Posted by jeff on July 10, 2009, 7:00 am

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I'm a web developer with a client who uses Quick Books. He'd like to
import the web sales.

It looks to me that QB has two main files for this, one for
transactions and one for items.

What I don't understand is how to import shipping costs (which are
calculated on the website), all I see in the transaction IIF is a single
field for "AMOUNT". I don't see this (shipping cost) in any of the other
possible IIF files. Can someone shed some light om how QB handles
shipping costs, and for that matter actual taxes, which we also
calculate online.

Jeff

Posted by dpb on July 10, 2009, 1:52 pm

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jeff wrote:

> I'm a web developer with a client who uses Quick Books. He'd like to

> import the web sales.

> It looks to me that QB has two main files for this, one for

> transactions and one for items.

> What I don't understand is how to import shipping costs (which are

> calculated on the website), all I see in the transaction IIF is a single

> field for "AMOUNT". I don't see this (shipping cost) in any of the other

> possible IIF files. Can someone shed some light om how QB handles

> shipping costs, and for that matter actual taxes, which we also

> calculate online.

QB handles shipping charges as an "other charge" item on invoices, etc.

As for IIF importing, see my response a week or so ago to a thread on
importing csv data -- there are some definite limitations to the IIF
format noted there as well as some links to the QB web site. If you're
really talking of making this a production-type environment, you'll
probably want to use the QB SDK instead or perhaps find a ready-built
addon that has the required functionality.

--

Posted by jeff on July 11, 2009, 11:47 am

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dpb wrote:

> jeff wrote:

>> I'm a web developer with a client who uses Quick Books. He'd like to

>> import the web sales.

>> It looks to me that QB has two main files for this, one for

>> transactions and one for items.

>> What I don't understand is how to import shipping costs (which are

>> calculated on the website), all I see in the transaction IIF is a

>> single field for "AMOUNT". I don't see this (shipping cost) in any of

>> the other possible IIF files. Can someone shed some light om how QB

>> handles shipping costs, and for that matter actual taxes, which we

>> also calculate online.

> QB handles shipping charges as an "other charge" item on invoices, etc.

OK. I figured that out and did that.

> As for IIF importing, see my response a week or so ago to a thread on

> importing csv data --

I missed that, but had read the rest of the thread. Thanks.

there are some definite limitations to the IIF

> format noted there as well as some links to the QB web site. If you're

> really talking of making this a production-type environment, you'll

> probably want to use the QB SDK instead or perhaps find a ready-built

> addon that has the required functionality.

I'm mostly interested in a one off so I can move on. I'm on the *nix
side and it looks to me that the SDK is not and I'm guessing requires
some client side code.

Jeff

> --

Posted by dpb on July 11, 2009, 12:39 pm

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jeff wrote:

> dpb wrote:

...

>> you're really talking of making this a production-type environment,

>> you'll probably want to use the QB SDK instead or perhaps find a

>> ready-built addon that has the required functionality.

> I'm mostly interested in a one off so I can move on. I'm on the *nix

> side and it looks to me that the SDK is not and I'm guessing requires

> some client side code.

...

What's the client interested in??? :)

The SDK is definitely Windows, true; the question will probably be
whether the IIF facilities will handle what is needed well enough to run
a business with. Volume of number of transactions may be a key there.

That portion of the enterprise may not be your contractual
responsibility of course...

--

Posted by jeff on July 11, 2009, 2:46 pm

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dpb wrote:

> jeff wrote:

>> dpb wrote:

> ...

>>> you're really talking of making this a production-type environment,

>>> you'll probably want to use the QB SDK instead or perhaps find a

>>> ready-built addon that has the required functionality.

>> I'm mostly interested in a one off so I can move on. I'm on the *nix

>> side and it looks to me that the SDK is not and I'm guessing requires

>> some client side code.

> ...

> What's the client interested in??? :)

Being the developer, I'm downstream a bit. I could call him, but he
would have someone else get back to me because he wouldn't know!
Sometimes I wonder how any business runs.

> The SDK is definitely Windows, true; the question will probably be

> whether the IIF facilities will handle what is needed well enough to run

> a business with. Volume of number of transactions may be a key there.

I would guess in the low double digits/day for transactions.

> That portion of the enterprise may not be your contractual

> responsibility of course...

I hope!

How does this SDK work? I didn't see a download link, do I need to
sign up?

Jeff

> --