Introducing CSV Ports
Using Continia Banking, you can establish integrated communication between Business Central and support importing third party CSV transaction files. This integration allows you to import customer payment files directly from external sources into the Payment Reconciliation Journal, handle .csv files, and enable mapping of transaction information to the corresponding fields in the Payment Reconciliation Journal, allowing for the import of invoices and the separation of fees and other charges from CSV files.
How it's done
To facilitate the import process of account transactions from external files, our system uses CSV reconciliation ports. Importing and mapping transactions from CSV files involves configuring CSV parameters such as the separator, date format, delimiters, and whether to invert amounts for specific columns. The process starts by mapping CSV file headers such as MessageID and Currency Code followed by LineIDs such as Posting Date and Description. You can maintain these mappings in the CSV Port Card interface, which you can access through the CSV Port List window.
The Alternative Posting Description field is used to map a secondary description when the primary posting description is empty. This field is crucial for identifying transactions with additional details, such as fees. Specify the corresponding column in the alternative description import file to provide these fallback descriptions. For instance, if the primary description is missing, the system will use the alternative description to ensure transaction details are comprehensively captured.
To analyze the file
Before creating a new CSV port, it's crucial to analyze the file that you want to import and identify separators, delimiters, and other formatting elements. This allows you to map each column in the CSV file to a corresponding field in the Payment Reconciliation Journal. By using the Skip Lines fields, you can leave unneeded columns unassigned and ensure that they are ignored during the import process.
Review whether essential fields, such as currency, are available in the CSV file. If this field is missing, you can manually add it to your CSV Port configuration in the Currency field. For instance, if the file includes multiple currencies, Continia Banking will create a separate interface for each currency during the import.
Best practices include:
- Work with a copy - use a duplicate of the file to prevent conflicts if other applications access it during setup.
- Review the data - open a sample of the statement file to review and confirm the following details before configuring the CSV port.
Key identifiers to look for:
- Separator - determine the character used to separate values within each line.
- Delimiter - identify the character used to separate different fields. It can be single or double quotes.
- Column headings - confirm if the first line includes headers describing each column.
- Headers and footers - check for any additional information at the beginning or end of the file that may affect data parsing.
- Date format - note the format in which dates are presented within the file to ensure accurate interpretation during import.
- Currency - identify the currency denomination used throughout the transactions for correct financial reporting.
By reviewing these aspects of your statement file, you'll be well-prepared to configure your CSV port and ensure the accurate and efficient importation of bank transactions into Continia Banking.
Go to the Setting up CSV ports article to learn more about adding a new CSV port.