The No Match error will appear if an item has not been matched to a standardized item during an upload process. You can fix this using the Search N2F Database tool, which lets you search for the correct item or ultimately enter the information manually.
Accessing the Search N2F Database Tool
Software Item Upload
To access the Search N2F Database tool, click on the "No Match" warning or from the action menu.
NOTE: You may re-do the search by selecting "Unmatch N2F Item" from the action menu, which will unmatch the item and reset the status.
Vendor Item Upload
To access the Search N2F Database tool, click on the "Search N2F Database" link in the N2F Item Name column.
NOTE: You may re-do the search by click the red "X" to the left of the Match status, which will unmatch the item and reset the status.
Manage Catalog
To access the Search N2F Database tool, click on the "Search N2F Database" link in the N2F Item Name column.
NOTE: You may re-do the search by clicking on the N2F Item Name. It will start the process over and replace with whichever new item is selected.
Using the Search N2F Database Tool
The Search N2F Database feature allows users to initiate a search within the database. This feature can be utilized not only to search for items within the database but also to replace incorrectly matched items or fix items that have been discontinued. With the search, users can easily navigate through the database to find the exact item they need, using various search parameters and filters.
There are two types of searches:
- Smart Search: The Smart Search will use the information from the uploaded Catalog Item to search for likely matches from the N2F Database and return the top 50 possible matches. This is the recommended starting point.
- Standard Search: The standard Search will use the entered search terms from the search box for a direct search of the N2F Database. This is a backup method if the Smart Search didn’t return the appropriate result.
There are two types of products that you can search for, with either a Smart or Standard Search:
- Branded: Branded items are those with a specific manufacturer product ID from a specific manufacturer and which contain a GTIN.
- Generic: Generic items provide nutrient and pack size information from USDA and other official source for products that don’t contain a GTIN. Fresh produce items commonly fall into this category.
Lastly, if you can’t find a product in the N2F Database, then you can manually setup an item (see Add Item Manually).
Recommended Search Process
The general recommended matching process should follow the following flowchart steps in sequence to find an appropriate match. However, you may find that a different process works better for you depending on the type of product.
Selecting a Branded Item
For Branded items, if you don’t find the item via the Smart Search, we recommend entering the Brand Name in the search box, and then sort or filter on the Mfr Product ID field to look for the possible match. The Mfr Product ID value from GDSN may be similar to but have fewer or more characters than the value provided by the Vendor.
The information from the Catalog is provided in the upper left so you can compare to the information from the N2F Database.
If that doesn’t provide you with the correct product, then you can also do another search by entering other information that may be helpful, such as key terms, manufacturer product ID, etc.
Selecting a Generic Item
With Generic items, to find process is a bit different. Generic items can be setup with multiple serving or preparation styles. For example, the Vendor item may be a case of whole 138 count apples, but the apple can be served whole, sliced, pureed, etc. Each of these values may have different nutrients and servings per pack values, depending on how the district uses the item. Co-op admin: for these Generic items, you would select all possible matches, and then your members would select the specific one(s) they want to setup and use. Additionally, the Net Weight is required for these items as the N2F Database contains the “Servings per Pound” values (e.g., from USDA Food Buying Guide) but it needs to scale those values to the Net Weight as sold by the vendor.
- Find for correct “As Purchased” item
- Select all “As Served” options to make these available to members for menu planning purposes
- Specific serving size, prep style, processed produce, etc.
- Accurate nutrients, meal credits, & servings per pound
- Individual wrapped/portion control items should match to a specific serving size
- Enter the correct Net Weight for the pack to ensure proper forecasting.
Add Item Manually
Adding an item manually is the last resort for when you can’t find an appropriate match in the N2F Database. When it comes to adding information for manual items, the process is similar to what you may have done in the past. While catalog data can automatically add some information, such as product name and description, you will need to source additional details, such as nutrient information, from the manufacturer or vendor. It is important to note that there are minimum required fields that must be completed, and any missing data will be flagged for later review.