Import/Export Options for Non-Programmers
Import/Export options available to customers with relatively low technical knowledge or programming skills.
- Function Specific Imports within CenterPoint
- Export Data from Reports within CenterPoint
- Import Data with the CenterPoint Data Importer
Function Specific Imports within CenterPoint
Certain functionality in CenterPoint allows for the importing of data from external sources, such as Budgets, Item Pricing, and Employee Time and Deductions. These are documented in the CenterPoint Help system and supported through your Customer Care Membership.
Export Data from Reports within CenterPoint
CenterPoint reporting is extensive and extremely customizable, so there's a very good chance the data you are looking for can be found in one or more of the standard reports within CenterPoint. Often, an existing report with some customization can provide you with the information needed. The Red Wing Software Technical Support team can help you locate the report that is closest to the information needed (a current Customer Care Membership is required).
Every report in CenterPoint can be customized to alter the columns included on the report, the sorting, grouping, and filtering. All CenterPoint reports can be exported to Excel or .CSV files, which is useful for editing and saving, and also making them a great source of import file data for other systems.
Import Data with the CenterPoint Data Importer
The CenterPoint Data Importer provides the ability to import a wide range of data into CenterPoint from a .CSV (Comma Separated Values) file with flexibility around how that data is formatted.
You can import vendors, customers, employees and sales items, as well as A/R and A/P Invoices, and much more. For added convenience, a command line can be used to automate or schedule the data import.
Installation
The Data Importer is installed as a custom selection in any of the CenterPoint Accounting or Payroll product installers. To install, on the Setup Type screen, select Custom, and then select Tools > Data Import.
Command Line Setup
Once the import is set up and saved, select Show Command Line from the bottom of the Data Importer screen to display the proper command line. You can also view the command line options from within the UI, where you can also learn how to override settings.
Import/Export Options for Programmers
Import/Export options for customers who are programmers or developers.
- Export Data using the CenterPoint Data Browser
- Integrate with CenterPoint using the REST API
Export Data using the CenterPoint Data Browser
The CenterPoint Data Browser allows third parties to access report data from outside of CenterPoint via a command-line driven interface. There is a UI component that helps with configuring the command line.
Installation
The Data Browser is installed as a custom selection in any of the CenterPoint Accounting or Payroll product installers. To install, on the Setup Type screen, select Custom, and then select Tool > Data Export.
Data Format
The data format for the CenterPoint Data Browser is comma-delimited (.csv), tab delimited (.tsv), or XML (.xml) format.
Integrate with CenterPoint using the REST API
A new REST API option was introduced in CenterPoint 17 and can be used locally to access limited data and functionality directly from CenterPoint. This is the best choice if you are developing an application that you want to tightly integrate with CenterPoint. Currently the API is limited to A/R data and actions, such as retrieving customers and salespersons or adding customer invoices and receipts. This will expand in the future to include other areas of CenterPoint Accounting and Payroll.
The REST API is an HTTP-based RESTful service that runs locally on the PC where CenterPoint is installed.
Because it's HTTP-based, any desktop development platform that can make HTTP requests can utilize it.
The service uses the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format for encoding data transmitted over the HTTP protocol. Most programming languages can convert data into and out of this format.
Installation
The REST API is installed as a custom selection in any of the CenterPoint Accounting or Payroll product installers. To install, on the Setup Type screen, select Custom, and then select Tools > Rest API.
REST API Data Availability
To see which data is available for use with the REST API, browse the library of API calls available after installing the CenterPoint API Service by clicking View API in the context menu of the system tray icon.
For questions regarding, the CenterPoint Data Importer, CenterPoint Data Browser, and the CenterPoint Rest API, visit the Red Wing Software Developer forum at redwingsoftware.com/devforum