Capability
This Import will allow the User to add or update Charges on Services for Billing.
By default this import will always Add new charges, not Update existing charges. Care should be taken, as this can create duplicate charges.
There is an optional UPDATE Flag that can be set to force the import to do Updates instead of Adds.
The import cannot delete existing charges, but it can set an existing MRC charge Stop Date to end the charge.
Matches On
For adds and updates, the import will usually use the Service ID to find the Service record to apply the charge to. In cases where the Service ID is blank, the Service records RECID can be used.
For updates, the import needs to find the charges to update. At minimum, the Service ID, Charge Catalog and Charge Type must be provided. Optionally the Start Date, Override Amount, and Quantity can be provided. If the values provided match more than one charge, then all of those that match will be updated.
Alternatively, the Service Charge RECID can be provided, and this will override all other key values to find the exact Service Charge to update.
Fields
Service ID
Required
Datatype is String.
Charge Catalog Name
Required
Datatype is String.
Instead of mapping the value, it can be supplied for all records in the Import Record Format.
If the Import Record Format supplies a value and it is mapped, the mapped value takes precedence.
The Charge Catalog Name expects just the name, and will only work if the name is unique in the whole catalog.
Charge Catalog Full Name
Datatype is Hierarchical String.
This is the full test path of the Charge Catalog.
This should be used if the Catalog Name is not unique.
This can be used in place of the Charge Catalog Name. This expects the full catalog Path.
Service Type
Datatype is String.
If a value is provided the Import will limit the Service ID Search to Services of that type.
Permitted values are from the SERVICE_TYPE List Values
All Service Types are valid for Service Charge Imports.
Bill Date
Datatype is String.
This can come from a mapping or the Import File selection form. Mapping takes precedence.
The Bill Date can come from a mapping or from the import file selection form. Mapping takes precedence.
The default value is today's date.
This is the transaction date for NRCs or Start Date for MRCs
Description
Datatype is String.
This will override the Charge Catalog Description for Billing.
Expense GLA
Datatype is Hierarchical String.
Override Amount
Datatype is String.
This is only allowed if the Charge Catalog entry allows 'Override Charge Amount '.
Stop Date
Datatype is String.
Default value is blank.
Used for MRCs only.
NRCs ignore this field.
New Override Amount
Datatype is String.
Default value is blank.
This is only allowed if the Charge Catalog entry allows overrides. Used for updates.
New Quantity
Datatype is String
Default value is blank.
Used for UPDATE only.
RECID
Datatype is String.
Default value is blank.
This is used only as a lookup key for Charge Updates.
Effective Date
Data type is String.
Default value is blank.
This is not a date field. Allowed values are: BACKDATE or TODAY
Alternate Recurring Charges (Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual), when updated will always use BACKDATE as the Effective Date.
Prorate Flag
Datatype is Boolean.
Default Value = False.
Permitted Values: 1, Yes, and True sets the Prorate flag to True [1].
All other Values will enter as False [0].
Quantity
Datatype is String.
UPDATE flag
Data type is Boolean.
Default value is False.
Permitted Values: 1, Yes, and True will set the Prorate flag to True [1].
If set, this import will UPDATE existing records. If the import cannot find an existing record to UPDATE, it will error.
Service RECID
Datatype is Number.
Default is blank.
This is used to specify the Service Record for Services that have a blank Service ID. If this is provided, the provided value must be a valid existing service RECID. If it is not, it will cause an error. The only Service Type permitted to have blank Service IDs is Other Services .
Child Records
Service Charges are a Child record of Services. As such, they can only be added to existing Service IDs.
Flags / Conditional Logic
SERVICE_CHARGE_TYPE:
Default Value = 'NONRECURRING'
- This flag is only needed if there are multiple Charges with the same Names that have the different types.
- If this is set, it must be set to the code of one of the CHARGE_TYPE List Values from the List Values grid.
- The only allowed values are the System Use Values: MONTHLY_RECURRING, NONRECURRING, QUARTERLY, SEMI_ANNUAL, and ANNUAL_RECURRING.
Errors
When an Import Line fails, it is usually because the Line falls into one of the following categories:
The value provided from another table was not found, or multiple matches found within the Database
The value provided from another table is Inactive
A blank value was provided, for a field with a required value
The value provided is not acceptable for the record type being created
The System was unable to save the record
Notes
By default, the GLA Charges import always adds new charges. It never updates or removes charges. This can create duplicates.
If the UPDATE flag is set, the import will only update existing charges. This can be used to set Stop Dates on MRCs, or change Override Amounts, Quantity, Description, GLA, or Prorate flag.
If an NRC has been billed, it cannot be updated in any way.
If an existing Monthly Recurring Charge has been billed, it can be updated. Changing the GLA, Amount, Quantity, or Prorate Flag, the new Charge stops the previous Charge and a new Charge record begins with the appropriate changes. The date of this stop and start is determined by the Effective Date flag. If this is set to 'TODAY', then it will used today's date. If it is set to 'BACKDATE', then it will use the date that the current charge has been billed through.