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Loading Catalogs Overview

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

Load a CIF catalog
Use the Catalog Manager
Define the Catalog Hierarchy

Exploring Loading Catalogs

Catalogs can be uploaded to the SAP Ariba Procurement application by users with the appropriate site permissions. For example, catalog managers will prepare a CIF or a cXML file which they upload to the system either via the Catalog Manger menu or the Content Management System, if that feature is on. For each item in a static catalog, simply create a line entry with the desired information.

CIF (Catalog Interchange Format)

A static CIF catalog can be built from a comma-separated Microsoft Excel (CSV) based template. This is the recommended method for manually creating a catalog file, as it is much easier to read and edit. Suppliers can also fill in the CIF file and then handed over to the customer or upload it themselves on the SAP Business Network.

CXML (Commerce Extensible Markup Language) File

cXML was designed specifically for e-commerce communication. cXML files are not easily human-readable or editable. In cXML, catalog data is described with tags and attributes, using a syntax similar to that of HTML. cXML also supports the communication of purchase orders and PunchOut catalogs.

Full Load versus Incremental Load

Catalogs can be loaded in either full or incremental load. The LOADMODE parameter in the CIF header determines whether SAP Ariba will perform a full load of the items or an incremental update. Use "F" for full and "I" for incremental in a CIF file. Use "full" or "incremental" within a cXML catalog.

Full load	Incremental load
Replaces all items in the subscription with the items in the content file being uploaded	Replaces only items that have changed (are updated or brand new)
Items that do not exist in the new content file will be removed	Can add new items, update descriptions or pricing, or even delete items

Importing Catalogs and Managing Catalogs

Select the plus icons to learn more about Catalogs.

Watch the video below for a complete guide on how to upload a CIF catalog to the SAP Ariba Procurement application

Catalog Import Process Using Catalog Manager

Advantages and Disadvantages of Static Catalogs

Advantages	Disadvantages
Very easy to get up and running (static file upload)	No real-time inventory or pricing
Maximum control and audit for contract compliance	Supplier management to keep catalogs current
Catalog approval workflow	Large files must be split for network loading
User searches in Ariba interface, gets results and can compare items side-by-side
Users can create favorites
Item ranking

Catalog Hierarchy Categories

Catalog Hierarchy determines how catalog items are organized and displayed to users.

Catalog Hierarchy Model

Catalog Hierarchy

The Catalog Hierarchy is made of different categories, shown above in blue, with some category levels having commodity codes assigned.

Items, shown in yellow, will fall into categories with matching commodity codes.

Note that the same item may fall under two different categories if those two categories have the same commodity code assignment.

Catalog Hierarchy Editor

The Catalog Hierarchy Editor is available under Core Administration | Catalog Manager, and allows you to view, add, delete, rename, and reassign commodities to hierarchy nodes.

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