Mandatory blocks.
First, you need to fill in the first 5 FAB-DIS blocks. These blocks are called mandatory because they are essential for your file to be valid, usable and accepted by distributors.
📚 The mandatory blocks to know
Five blocks form the minimum foundation of any FAB-DIS file. They describe who issues the file, what it contains, how to ship it, how to present it and how to make it compliant with regulations.
| Bloc | Block name |
|---|---|
| B00 | CARTOUCHE |
| B01 | COMMERCE |
| B02 | LOGISTIQUE |
| B03 | MEDIA |
| B04 | REGLEMENTAIRE |
🧾 B00 — CARTRIDGE
The file roadmap. Identifies the issuer, the brands, the FAB-DIS version, etc.
- Check that all the brands present in your catalogue are declared.
- DATEDIT and DATEAPPLI cannot be earlier than today’s date.
- NRB01 and NRB05 correspond to the total references in COMMERCE and ARRET, regardless of brand.
The cartridge is your file’s ID card: take care of it, as it is the first thing distributors read on receipt.
💬 B01 — COMMERCE
Lists all the references on the market.
- Reference type: item or service, with or without price.
- Product lifecycle via the STA and DATEPREV fields.
- Base unit (UB), labels, minimum sales quantity (QMV), range, customs code, etc.
Check the status (STA) and the forecast dates (DATEPREV) for each reference depending on whether they are new, active or end-of-life. If they are discontinued or will be discontinued by the FAB-DIS application date, they must appear in the ARRET block and not in COMMERCE.
Make sure the labels are clear and representative of the product. This is what end users will see first.
📦 B02 — LOGISTICS
Lists the logistics data.
- The dimensions and weight of packaged or bare items.
- Multi-pack management.
📏 MMT
Unit of measurement for dimensions in millimetres.
📐 CMT
Unit of measurement for dimensions in centimetres.
⚖️ KGM
Unit of measurement for weight in kilograms.
📦 Volumes
Precision to 3 decimal places, without rounding.
Strictly follow the required units of measurement (MMT, CMT, KGM). Express volumes with a unit that allows precision to 3 decimal places, and avoid rounding.
Use the =PRODUCT() function to calculate your volumes before entering them in the FAB-DIS. This makes your work easier and ensures reliable results.
🖼️ B03 — MEDIA
Showcases offers across all multi-channel publications: web, print, etc.
- Photo, Tutorial video, Brochure, Diagram, etc.
- Ability to assign a language or a target to certain media.
Use explicit file names, without special characters (accents, spaces, punctuation). Prefer hyphens or underscores.
This block can be duplicated if you exceed the available number of rows. When duplicating, just add a suffix — for example B03_MEDIA2.
⚖️ B04 — REGULATORY
Product compliance with certain regulations.
- Concerns only the references subject to one of the identified regulations.
- Examples of regulations: eco-contributions, repairability index, carbon footprint, wood, SDS (Safety Data Sheet), etc.
Only fill in the products concerned by the regulations. There is no need to fill in this block for references that are not subject to them.
Check the application dates of new regulations. Updates are made regularly, and this block evolves with each version of the model.
✅ Best practices
Four golden rules to produce a quality FAB-DIS on the first attempt:
- Work block by block with the manual open beside you.
- Check the attributes to see which fields are expected in your cases.
- Validate your file regularly with Easy-Check.
- Start with a few “pilot” references to practise.
Block by block, manual open, frequent validation: these are the three keys to producing a compliant FAB-DIS without spending your weekends on it.
Remove spaces with the =TRIM() function, count characters with =LEN(), and replace occurrences with =SUBSTITUTE().
⚠️ Caution: don’t forget to remove the formulas after use (paste “values only”) before running the file through Easy-Check.
Need to go further?
The FAB-DIS KIT contains all the FAB-DIS documentation (template, manual, tables…) so you can get hands-on right away. It is also included in the FAB OFFER.