Hi Ruth, Just one more question.
I have the Data Model book. But is the Data Model part 2 book also interesting for Ofbiz? thanks, Heidi 2011/12/10, Ruth Hoffman <rhoff...@aesolves.com>: > Hi Mike: > I too looked at the Data Model book and would agree with your > interpretation from the book. > > Since my opinions seem to inflame David to no end, I think I'll just > stop trying to help out here and wish everyone best of luck in > understanding how this all fits together. > > Should anyone care for more of my opinions on this or any matter > concerning OFBiz (or the coming elections :-), please feel free to > contact me via the myofbiz.com website. That is what it is there > for...to spread OFBiz information - real or imaginary. > > Best Regards > Ruth Hoffman > ruth.hoff...@myofbiz.com > > On 12/10/11 12:59 AM, Mike wrote: >> Hey Dave. It is a little confusing, so I looked at Data Model >> Resource Book to see if there is clarification. From what I can >> garner, a Vendor "sells" stuff (to you), and a Supplier "supplies" you >> with repetitive items, over and over. >> >> You may call your local light vendor and ask for 100 15w br30 CFL >> bulbs. You don't care about the make and models. The vendor looks at >> his OWN suppliers, and ends up shipping to you 100 sylvania 15w, model >> xyzzy, or a combination of equivalent items from various sources. >> >> That is a Vendor. He takes your order, looks at what suppliers HE has >> relationships with, and ships to you what you need. He's a middleman, >> and he may also use his own, unique part numbers for these items. >> (VendorProduct). >> >> A Supplier is more precise. He still takes your order, and sends to >> you ONLY what HE makes/manufactures/distributes. That's it. You know >> exactly what you need, you know the exact make, model, manufacturer, >> size and part number. He supplies the same exact part to you, over >> and over. (SupplierProduct) >> >> Is this closer, or am I way off. >> >> On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 6:31 PM, David E Jones<d...@me.com> wrote: >>> >>> Ruth Hoffman wrote: >>>> Hi David: >>>> Nice to hear from you again. Thanks for your input. I have some >>>> responses. Please see below: >>>> >>>> On 12/9/11 4:44 PM, David E Jones wrote: >>>>> Ruth Hoffman wrote: >>>>>> 2) If you look at how vendor/supplier is used in some of the OFBiz >>>>>> applications, you might observe that: >>>>>> >>>>>> A vendor "supplies" goods or services to the Company of record for the >>>>>> OFBiz instance. Those goods or services may be raw materials for >>>>>> manufacturing, products for resale on the ecommerce site or computers >>>>>> to >>>>>> run your business. When a vendor (with a record in the VENDOR table) >>>>>> supplies you with something, they are acting in a role called a >>>>>> "SUPPLIER". >>>>>> >>>>>> So, in the OFBiz world, my interpretation is: A vendor is a supplier. >>>>>> It >>>>>> is as simple as that. Anything more is making it too complicated :-) >>>>>> >>>>>> Anyone care to comment on my interpretation? >>>>> Actually a Supplier is a Party the sells things to the company running >>>>> OFBiz, hence the SupplierProduct entity. In other words, a purchase >>>>> order is sent to a Supplier. >>>> A vendor is also a Party that could sell things to the company running >>>> OFBiz. Just depends on how you set up your accounting system and how you >>>> name your accounts. >>>>> The term vendor doesn't mean much in OFBiz, but has been used for any >>>>> Party that sells something. For example, if you have multiple stores in >>>>> your OFBiz instance you may have a vendor per store. You could also >>>>> have >>>>> multiple vendors selling through a single store. >>>> Seems to me if the Party sells something and the term vendor is used to >>>> express that activity, then the term DOES have lots of meaning. OFBiz >>>> e-commerce, after all, is all about selling products. >>>> >>>> That said, there is also an entity named VendorProduct that when coupled >>>> with the Vendor entity may be used in the same way as the >>>> SupplierProduct entity. Perhaps I should have said a vendor is a type of >>>> supplier? Unfortunately (or maybe fortuneately - who is to say?), the >>>> data model does not enforce this relationship. >>> Okay, so did you ask to get an answer, or did you ask to start a >>> discussion? It's not like this is open to interpretation, this was >>> discussed and decided on a long time ago. >>> >>> A supplier sells stuff to the company running OFBiz. A vendor sells >>> stuff to the customers of the company, and a vendor could be an >>> affiliate or consignment seller sort of thing. >>> >>> The SupplierProduct and VendorProduct entities are VERY different and >>> meant to model these 2 totally different things. I'm sorry, but looking >>> at them again to make sure, I'm not even sure how they could possibly be >>> confused. >>> >>>>> They are not really equivalent terms. >>>> Maybe, maybe not, but I would argue, based on the data model, that they >>>> ARE equivalent terms when a vendor acts in the role of supplier. >>>> Regardless, there is really no need to make this more confusing or >>>> complex than it already is. >>> There is a clear distinction here. It's not making things complex, it's >>> two different concepts. It's not one concept, that would be >>> over-simplifying it. It is two separate, distinct concepts that need >>> different words, and have them. >>> >>> Damn, with all the mis-information buzzing around these lists no wonder >>> people have so many issues with OFBiz. Of course, OFBiz itself is >>> admittedly complex and often unclear or just plain buggy and >>> inconsistent, so this is understandable. >>> >>> I don't know exactly what we can do about all of this, but being more >>> careful and detailed might be a good start for all of us. >>> >>> -David > -- Olagos bvba http://www.olagos.eu <http://www.olagos.eu/> http://www.olagos.com http://www.olagos.be http://www.olagos.nl Olagos team Heesterbos 5 2570 Duffel Belgium
