A P P E N D I X A UNIVERSAL BRIDGE EXTERNAL FILE FORMATS This Appendix outlines the requirements for the external files.

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Transcript A P P E N D I X A UNIVERSAL BRIDGE EXTERNAL FILE FORMATS This Appendix outlines the requirements for the external files.

Slide 1

A P P E N D I X

A
UNIVERSAL BRIDGE EXTERNAL FILE FORMATS
This Appendix outlines the requirements for the external files that are used for
the Cougar Mountain Universal Bridge feature. This feature imports
transactions into several of the Cougar Mountain Accounting core and AddOn modules: General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable,
Inventory, Order Entry, Payroll, and Bank Reconciliation.


Slide 2

Import External Transaction File

Import External Transaction File
The External File option allows you to import unposted transactions from an
external data file. The option to import is accessed from different menus
within these modules, as shown in the table below. The following pages
contain the external file requirements for each module.

Table 2:1
Module

752

Menu Option

General Ledger

Journal / Generate Journal Entries From /
External File

Bank Reconciliation

Enter Activity / Generate Activity From /
External File

Accounts Payable

Enter Bills / Generate Bills From / External
File

Payroll

Enter Payroll / Track Daily Units / Generate
Transactions From / External File

Accounts Receivable

Transaction / Generate Transactions From /
External File

Inventory

Adjustments / Generate Adjustments From /
External File

Order Entry

Manager / Generate Orders From / External
File

Cougar Mountain Accounting


Slide 3

Requirements for Importing Transactions from an External File

To import transactions from an external file in the above modules, do the
following:
1. Select the import option from the appropriate menu (see previous table in
this section).

"N

2. Create a new batch into which to import or generate transactions.

ote Transactions can only be imported into or generated in an empty batch. If you
are in single batch mode, you must post or clear any unposted transactions
that are currently in the batch before you can import.

Requirements for Importing Transactions from
an External File
Transactions can only be imported into or generated in an empty batch. If you
are in single batch mode, you must post or clear any unposted transactions
that are currently in the batch before you can import.
The following window appears:

3. Select one of the following file types that describes the file you want to
import:
 Column Position File (fixed length): Each field in the file to be
imported starts at a specific position and contains a fixed number of
characters. This file type is sometimes referred to as “fixed length.”
 Tab Delimited File: The fields in the file to be imported are separated
by tabs.

Universal Bridge - External File Formats

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Slide 4

Requirements for Importing Transactions from an External File

 Semi-Colon Delimited File: The fields in the file to be imported are
separated by semi-colons.
4. Select Begin Import to start importing the transactions, or Cancel to exit
without importing.

Import Transaction Validation
When transactions are imported, each piece of information is checked to make
sure it is in an acceptable format, required fields are not empty, etc. See the
following pages for the field definitions for each module.

Printing the Import Error Report
If errors were detected during the import process, an error report is generated,
and a message appears. To print the error report, do the following.
1. When the error report message appears, click OK.
Depending on the defaults you set for print options in your Module
Preferences, the Print Options window may appear.
2.

If the Print Options window appears, select the report destination:
Printer, Screen, or File.
If you select Printer or Screen, specify Laser or Dot Matrix. If you
select File, type the output file name. The default is REPORT.TXT. If you
regularly save to a file, the new file will append to the end of the existing
file, so you will not lose previously saved information.

3. Enter the number of copies to print.
By default, one copy will print, unless you enter a different default
number in your Module Preferences, or unless you select File or Screen
as the report output destination.
4. Select OK to print the report or Cancel to exit without printing.

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Cougar Mountain Accounting


Slide 5

Requirements for Importing Transactions from an External File

Correcting Errors
While it may be possible to correct some of the errors on the error report in
the Cougar Mountain batch file, we recommend clearing the batch, correcting
the errors in the external file, and then importing again.

"N

ote Certain information, such as dates, will be required at posting, but will not be
required at the time of import. Be sure to print an Edit Report and review it
carefully prior to posting. If errors are detected at posting, an error report will
be generated. Use this to correct your entries.

Using the following instructions, correct any errors prior to posting the batch.
Correcting Errors in the External File
1. Edit the transactions in the external file, as necessary.
2. Clear the transactions you previously imported. The menu option used
will vary depending on the module.
3. Import the file again. For more information, see “Import External
Transaction File” on page 752.
Correcting Errors in the Imported Batch
1. Select the option that allows you to enter transactions from the main menu
of the module with which you are working. For example, in Accounts
Payable, select the Enter Bills option on the Enter Bills menu.
2. Use the Find button to locate and select the transaction(s) you want to
change.
3. Select Edit to change the transaction, and update it as needed.
4. Save the corrected transaction.

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Slide 6

Requirements for Importing Transactions from an External File

Requirements for Importing Transactions from
an External File
When you import transactions from an external file using one of the Universal
Bridge options, the information in the file being imported must be in the
correct format to be written to the Cougar Mountain files. For example, fields
must be of the correct lengths and be delimited as expected.

Date Formats
The import will accept the following date formats:
 YYYYMMDD__ ...

.If the import is based on column position,
then two spaces will be required on the
end of this format to accept the dates
correctly. Without the two spaces, the
record size will be incorrect.

 MM/DD/YYYY ...

..When using this date format, be sure to use
all 4 digits of the year. If all four digits are
not used, the date may not be imported
correctly.

"N

ote Certain information, such as dates, will be required at posting, but will not be
required at the time of import. Be sure to print an Edit Report and review it
carefully prior to posting. If errors are detected at posting, an error report will
be generated. Use this to correct your entries.

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Slide 7

Requirements for Importing Transactions from an External File

External Files
The external files must be named as follows, where xxx is your company’s
three-character company code. These files must be located in the CMSWIN
directory (or wherever your Cougar Mountain software is installed).
 General Ledger: ...

..GLEXT.xxx

 Accounts Receivable: ... ...AREXT.xxx
 Order Entry: ...

.OEEXT.xxx

 Inventory: ...

...INEXT.xxx

 Accounts Payable: ...

..APEXT.xxx

 Payroll: ...

..PREXT.xxx

 Bank Reconciliation:...

.BREXT.xxx

The external file must be in one of the following file formats: column position
(sometimes referred to as “fixed length”), semicolon delimited, or tab
delimited. The user must indicate which of these formats will be used when
they start the import process.
When information is imported from the external file, it will be imported into
one or two files (see the information contained later in this section) in the
batch selected by the user. The selected batch must be empty or an error
message will display.
Depending on the module you are using, the following files in the selected
batch are updated, where xxx is your company’s three-character company
code, and aaa represents your batch identity.

 General Ledger: ...

..xxxGDaaa.DBF and xxxGJaaa.DBF

 Bank Reconciliation:...

.xxxBTaaa.DBF and xxxBLaaa.DBF

 Accounts Payable: ...

..xxxAIaaa.DBF and xxxAEaaa.DBF

 Order Entry: ...

.xxxOTaaa.DBF and xxxOLaaa.DBF

 Payroll: ...

..xxxPRDLY.DBF

 Accounts Receivable: ... ...xxxATaaa.DBF and xxxALaaa.DBF
 Inventory: ...

Universal Bridge - External File Formats

...xxxIHaaa.DBF

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Slide 8

General Ledger File Format

Transaction numbers will be generated automatically based on the next
available number in the batch.
The file will contain multiple records, each having a CR/LF at the end and an
“H” or “D” as the first character. Records with an “H” at the beginning are
header or master records, and subsequent records with a “D” at the beginning
are the detail lines (sometimes referred to as “child lines”) for that header
record. The remaining pages in this section describe the external file formats
for each of the above modules.

"N

ote In the tables on the following pages, the Field Len column shows the
maximum length of the field; any characters over the specified length will be
truncated. Fields in column position files must be the exact length specified,
whereas fields in semicolon or tab delimited files may be shorter.

General Ledger File Format
The following tables show the requirements for the external file that is used to
import General Ledger journal transactions. The first table shows the file
definitions for the header record, and the second table shows the file
definitions for the detail records.

Table 3: General Ledger Header Record (xxxGJaaa.dbf)
Field Description

Field
Len

Pos

Data Type

Req

Header Identifier

1

01

Char-Caps
Type = “H”

Yes

Transaction Date

10

02

Date

Yes1

Posting Reference

15

12

Char-Caps

Yes

Trans Description

50

27

Character

No

End of Record

02

77

Yes

Maps To
Use to identify Header
Row
GLJHDATE
GLJHREF
GLJHTDES
Nowhere/used as record
separator

Record Length is 78 characters

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Slide 9

Accounts Receivable File Format

Table 4: General Ledger Detail Record (xxxGDaaa.dbf)
Field Description

Field
Len

Pos

Data Type

Req

Maps To

Detail Identifier

1

01

Char-Caps
Type = “D”

Yes

Used to identify Detail
Row

Account Number

30

02

Char-Caps

Yes

GLJDACCT

Detail Description

50

32

Character

No

Debit/Credit Flag

1

82

Character

Yes1 GLJDCREDIT

Transaction Amount

14
(11.2)

83

Numeric

No 2 GLJDAMOUNT

End of Record

02

97

Yes

GLJDTDES

Nowhere/used as record
separator

Record Length is 98 characters

"N

otes The Debit/Credit Flag must either be blank or contain a “D” for debit or a “C”
for credit. If left blank, the field defaults to “D.” The “C” must be in the field
for credit transactions to process correctly.
If the Transaction Amount is a negative number, then the import process
reverses the debit/credit flag and makes the transaction amount positive.

Accounts Receivable File Format
The following tables show the requirements for the external file that is used to
import Accounts Receivable transactions. The first table shows the file

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Cougar Mountain Accounting


Slide 10

Accounts Receivable File Format

definitions for the header record, and the second table shows the file
definitions for the detail records.

Table 5: Accounts Receivable Header Record (xxxATaaa.dbf)
Field Description

Field
Len

Pos

Data Type

Req

Maps To

Header Identifier

1

01

Char-Caps
Type = “H”

Yes

Use to identify Header
Row

Customer Number

20

02

Char-Caps

Yes

ARTHCUST

Source Document

15

22

Char-Caps

Yes

ARTHDOC

Transaction Date

10

37

Date

Yes1

ARTHDATE

Transaction Code
(2,3,4,5,6,7,9)

4

47

Char-Caps

Yes

ARTHTCODE

Description

30

51

Character

No

ARTHTDES

Terms Code

2

81

Char-Caps

No

ARTHTCODE

Transaction Amount

14
(11.2)

83

Numeric

No

ARTHAMOUNT

Electronic? Flag

1

97

Char-Caps

No

ARATEFT (“Y” or “N”)

Bank Account Code

03

98

Char-Caps

No

ARTHBANK

Discount Amount

14

101

Numeric

No

ARTHDISC

CC Payment

1

115

Numeric

No

ARTHCCPMT

CC Code

4

116

Character

No

ARTHCRCD

CC Number

20

120

Character

No

ARTHCRNO

CC Exp Date

5

140

Character

No

ARTHCREX

CC Authorization
Code

15

145

Character

No

ARTHCRAU

CC Processed Flag

1

160

Numeric No

CC Authorization
Flag

1

161

Numeric

No

ARTHCRFL (1=Yes,
0=No)

CC PCCharge
TransNum

10

162

Character

No.

ARTHCCPCTN

Universal Bridge - External File Formats

ARTHCPROC (1=Yes,
0=No)

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Slide 11

Accounts Receivable File Format

Table 5: Accounts Receivable Header Record (xxxATaaa.dbf)
Field Description

Field
Len

Pos

Data Type

Req

Maps To

CC Address

20

172

Character

No

ARTHCRADDR

CC Zip

9

192

Character

No

ARTHCRZIP

CC Clerk

6

201

Character

No

ARTHCLERK

End of Record

02

207

Yes

Nowhere/used as record
separator

Record Length is 208 characters

"N

otes If the Transaction Date is invalid, an error will be printed on the Import Error
Report. If the Transaction Date is blank, it will be imported as is.
A blank entry in the Electronic (EFT) field will be treated the same as a “0”
(No). If AR is not integrated to BR then the Bank Account Code field in the
Import File will instead be the 3-character EFT Account Code.

Table 6: Accounts Receivable Detail Record (xxxALaaa.dbf)
Field Description

Field
Len

Pos Data Type

Req

Maps To

Detail Identifier

1

01

Char-Caps
Type = “D”

Yes

Used to identify Detail
Row

Document to Pay

15

02

Char-Caps

No

ARTLDOC

Discount Override

1

17

Numeric R:
{0-9}

No1

ARTLDISC

Discount Amount

14(11.2)

18

Numeric

No

ARTLDISAMT

Apply Amount

14(11.2)

32

Numeric

Yes

ARTLAMOUNT

End of Record

02

46

Yes

Nowhere/used as record
separator

Record Length is 47 characters

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Cougar Mountain Accounting


Slide 12

Order Entry File Format

"N

otes If the Discount Override has a value of 8, then the discount used will be the
amount in the Discount Amount field. (0-No Discount; 1-Discount #1; 2Discount #2; 3-Discount #3; 4-Discount #4; 5-Discount #5; 8-Special
Discount; 9-Normal Discount).

Order Entry File Format
The following tables show the requirements for the external file that is used to
import Order Entry transactions. The first table shows the file definitions for
the header record, and the second table shows the file definitions for the detail
records.

Table 7: Order Entry Header Record (xxxOTaaa.dbf)
Field Description

Field
Length

Pos

Data Type

Req

Maps To

Header Identifier

1

01

Char-Caps
Type = “H”

Yes

Used to identify
Header Row

Shipping Customer

20

02

Char-Caps

Yes

OETHNUM

Shipping Address

35

22

Character

No

OETHADD1

Shipping Address

35

57

Character

No

OETHADD2

Shipping Address

35

92

Character

No

OETHADD3

Shipping Address

35

127

Character

No

OETHADD4

Cash/Check/CC/Chg 1
(0-Cash; 1-Check; 2CCard; 3-AR Charge)

162

Numeric

Yes

OETHPAY

Transaction Type
1
(0-Normal; 1-Hold; 2Quote; 3-Work Order)

163

Numeric

Yes

OETHTYPE

Invoice Number

15

164

Char-Caps

Yes

OETHINVNO

PO Number

20

179

Char-Caps

No

OETHPONUM

Ship Via Code

6

199

Char-Caps

No

OETHSHIP

Universal Bridge - External File Formats

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