Overview

As we saw in the previous page, the process for using the NetSuite UI XML interface is as follows:

1. Create an smbXML file on your local computer.
2. From within NetSuite go to Transactions --> Other --> Submit XML Document.
3. Click the Browse button, and select the smbXML file on your local computer.
4. Click the Submit button.  You will be taken to the smbXML Imports page
5. Click the Refresh button until the Status column for your import says FINISHED.
6. Click on the XML Response link.  You will be asked to open or save the response file 'upload.xml'.  Save it on your local computer.

Unfortunately, steps 1 and 6 still leave most users baffled.  We are used to manipulating our data in Excel and sometimes flat files, but smbXML is a mystery.  How do I create an smbXML file for import, requred in step 1?  And how do I process the response file returned in step 6?

This is where the smbXML Wizard comes in.  He helps with steps 1 and 6 for both import and query files.

The Import Process

The smbXML wizard can help in the import process by creating an smbXML import file for you, based on the data contained in a csv or flat file.  Since the wizard does not know how your import data is formated, he steps you through the process of defining a template file for your data.  This template file is used, along with your data file, in the creation of your smbXML import file.

He can also help by translating the smbXML response file returned by NetSuite.

The process for using the smbXML Wizard to import data is:

1. Create or acquire a sample data file in the format that will be used for the import.
2. Create an Import Template using the sample data file.
   1. From the main menu, select Template --> Create a New Import Template.
   2. The Create Import Template Wizard will open and guide through the steps for creating a new import template.
3.  Create an smbXML Import File.
   1. From the main menu, select Import --> Create an smbXML Import File.
   2. The Create smbXML Import File Wizard will open and guide through the steps for creating an smbXML Import file.
4. Import the newly created file into NetSuite, and save the Response file.
5. Import the Response file into the Wizard.
   1. From the main menu, select Import --> Evaluate an smbXML Response File.
   2. The Import Response Wizard will open and guide through the steps for evaluating the smbXML Response file.

The Wizard will translate the returned smbXML and display the results of your import, by line number. the results will indicate either success or the NetSuite error returned.  These results are also written to a text file.

The Query Process

The smbXML wizard can also help in the query process by creating an smbXML import file for you.  He also helps you limit the data returned by allowing you to create constraints for the query.

After the response file is returned by NetSuite, he then translates the resultant smbXML into csv format.

The process for using the smbXML Wizard to query data is:

1. Create an smbXML Query File.
   1. From the main menu, select Query --> Create an smbXML Query File.
   2. The Create smbXML Query File Wizard will open and guide through the steps for creating an smbXML Query file.
2. Import the newly created file into NetSuite, and save the Response file.
3. Import the Response file into the Wizard.
   1. From the main menu, select Query --> Create a Text File from a Query Response File.
   2. The Create Text File from Query Response Wizard will open and guide through the steps for creating a csv file from the data returned in your response file.

The Wizard will translate the returned smbXML and write the results to a csv file.  For parent/child relationships such as Sales Order Header and Line Item Details, two files will be created.  The parent file will contain one record for each parent type returned, and the child file will contain all ot the child types with a reference back to the parent record.

For more information on using the smbXML Wizard, visit our support forum.