When you attempt to create a manual item import batch the system performs validation to ensure that the Interpreter Review module can read the contents of the import file.
The following conditions must apply to the import file:
the first row must consist of column headers and each column header must be unique
individual fields within the file must be separated by a delimiter character, such as a comma, tab, pipe or some other type of character that must be specified at the time of import.
no grouping rows, such as summed totals, can exist in the file
each row must contain data that can be imported independently of any other row
the first row that contains no data signals the end of the file (for XLS or XLSX files only) all dates must be in the format dd/mm/yyyy
all times must be in 24 hour format hh:mm.
Applying Formatting to Import Files
Data that is output by a third-party application may not be in a format that is readable by the Interpreter Manual Item Import module. Therefore, an import file will usually require some level of formatting before it can be uploaded. The formatting can be applied manually or via an automated macro script.
Macro scripts can be generated automatically via the Record Macro function in Microsoft Excel, or in more complex cases, can be written manually.
Import File Examples
The example below shows an example of an incorrectly formatted import file:
Contract | PO Number | Pay Item | Bill Item | Contractor Name | Service | WorkDay | Pay Qty | Unit | Pay Rate | Pay Net Value | Bill Qty | Bill Rate | Bill Net Value |
123015011 | 78932 | 50 | 60 | Bloggs, Joe | |||||||||
3000456 | 01/01/2011 | 8 | HR | 88.25 | 706 | 8 | 105.90 | 847.20 | |||||
3000456 | 02/01/2011 | 8 | HR | 88.25 | 706 | 8 | 105.90 | 847.20 | |||||
3000456 | 03/01/2011 | 8 | HR | 88.25 | 706 | 8 | 105.90 | 847.20 | |||||
TOTAL: | 24 | 2118 | 24 | 2541.60 | |||||||||
123005111 | 84527 | 30 | 25 | Smith, John | |||||||||
3000458 | 01/01/2011 | 10 | HR | 90.25 | 902.5 | 10 | 112.82 | 1128.20 | |||||
3000458 | 02/01/2011 | 10 | HR | 90.25 | 902.5 | 10 | 112.82 | 1128.20 | |||||
TOTAL: | 20 | 1805 | 20 | 225.64 | 2256.40 |
In the example above, the import data is not formatted correctly because the data includes grouping rows with summed totals. The next example shows the same data but this time formatted correctly to remove the grouping and grouped totals:
Contract | PO Number | Pay Item | Bill Item | Contractor Name | Service | WorkDay | Qty | Unit | Rate | Net Value | Bill Qty | Bill Rate | Bill Net Value |
123015011 | 78932 | 50 | 60 | Bloggs, Joe | 3000456 | 01/01/2011 | 8 | HR | 88.25 | 706 | 8 | 105.90 | 847.20 |
123015011 | 78932 | 50 | 60 | Bloggs, Joe | 3000456 | 02/01/2011 | 8 | HR | 88.25 | 706 | 8 | 105.90 | 847.20 |
123015011 | 78932 | 50 | 60 | Bloggs, Joe | 3000456 | 03/01/2011 | 8 | HR | 88.25 | 706 | 8 | 105.90 | 847.20 |
123015111 | 84527 | 30 | 25 | Smith, John | 3000458 | 01/01/2011 | 10 | HR | 90.25 | 902.5 | 10 | 112.82 | 1128.20 |
123015111 | 84527 | 30 | 25 | Smith, John | 3000458 | 02/01/2011 | 10 | HR | 90.25 | 902.5 | 10 | 112.82 | 1128.20 |