Creating a new format

This section describes creating a new format.

Using an existing definition as the basis

In most cases it will only be necessary to make minor adjustments to the existing definition. This involves you only changing individual fields, but not the import file's structure itself. You can only make changes in record type c. You should make a copy of the definition file you want to modify, and then make the changes in the copy.

If you want to change to an entirely new format, you may also have to change the other record types in the import file. In this instance too, it would be sensible to make a copy of an existing import file and use the copy for the task.

Tools

Remember: Use a text editor for this task, and not a word-processing application. Notepad or Edit are ideal for this. Don't use Microsoft Word or similar programs.

Merk: It is vitally important that the number of commas on each line is correct. Check carefully the lines you are changing or adding.

Merk: You must end lines with a comma after the last field.

Description of different record formats

This section provides a description of the different record formats which you can use in an import file. A comma (,) is always used as the delimiter in the actual import definition.

Head information (record type a)

There is only one place where head information occurs in each import definition (record type a).

Description of fields in record type a

Field	Explanation
RecordType	Fixed as a.
Format	File's format. This field must have a value. The following values are valid: 0 = file will have fixed positions 1 = file will have variable positions. A separator character separates the fields. (See Delimiter.)
Delimiter	Specifies the delimiter which is used in the file (with Format = 1).
Character set	Specifies which character set is used in the file. This field must have a value. The following values are valid: 0 = (OEM)MS-DOS 1 = ANSI (Windows) 2 = EBCDIC (IBM) Visma Business converts to / from the selected format.
Field name for Layout ID	Field's logical layout name which defines the layout.
Maximum record length	Maximum record length in the file.
TRUE text	The text used in the file for an expression which is true (Boolean TRUE). E.g. TRUE or 1. This field is only used when exporting data.
FALSE text	The text used in the file for an expression which is false (Boolean FALSE). E.g. FALSE or 0. This field is only used when exporting data.
Comma in file	Specifies whether a decimal character is used in the file. Valid values: 1 = comma is used (TRUE). 0 = comma is not used (FALSE). This field is only used when exporting data.
Decimal character	Specifies which character Visma Business uses as a decimal character in the file. J is standard. This field is only used when exporting data.
Uppercase letters	0 = no conversion (default). 1 = converted to uppercase letters. This field is only used when exporting data.
Number of lines in unknown layout	Specifies the number of lines Visma Business will require an unknown layout to be. (Default is 1.) This field is only used when exporting data.

Starting a new layout description (record type b)

Visma Business uses this record to identify the start of a new layout in the import file. An import file can have several layouts/formats, e.g. national, international, etc.

Description of fields in record type b

Field	Explanation
RecordType	Fixed as b.
Layout ID	Layout name.
Number of lines in layout	Number of lines in the file which a record is divided into.
Length per line in layout	Length per line in file.
Position base	Specifies the starting point for a calculation. Valid values are 0 or 1. This field is only used when Format = 0 (fixed positions in file). Let us assume, for example, Unibank uses 0 as its position base; most others use 1.

Field description (record type c)

Record type c occurs several times per layout. It occurs in each field in the file.

Description of fields in record type c

Field	Explanation
RecordType	Fixed as c.
Field name	This is an internal name, which should match the SQL name or the external number in the database.
Position / Field number	The value depends on the value in the Format field in record type a. When Format = 1 the field will contain a sequential field number. When Format = 0 the field will contain the field's start position in the file. Refer also to the Position base field in record type b.
Length	The field's length or maximum length in the file. The value 0 means that the field can have up to 255 characters.
Decimals	Number of decimal places. Only used for decimal fields. All the figures are expressed without any decimal separator in the file. Example A field with the value 10.50 is described using the value 1050 in the file. The Decimals field must also have the value 2.
DateMask	Date format for the field in the file, e.g. DD.MM.YYYY. Visma Business converts to / from this field when importing / exporting data.
Function	Not used in this version of Visma Business.
Adjustment	This field indicates how the content's layout is justified. It has the following valid codes: 0=left-justified 1=right-justified
Fill character	In this field you enter the character you want to use as a fill character in this field. Example 0 (numeric field) or (alphanumeric field). This field is only used when exporting data.
Initvalue	Visma Business inserts this value if the field is blank in the file (when imported) or does not have any value in Visma Business (when exported). Merk: The value will not be inserted if the NotBlank field is TRUE. Refer to the NotBlank field below.
Import.Justification	This field indicates how Visma Business justifies the content after it has been imported from the bank. It has the following valid codes: 0 = left-justified 1 = right-justified
ImpFillcharacter	Visma Business completes the field using this character after an import operation from the bank.
NotBlank	Visma Business does not run initvalue if the field is TRUE and the field is blank in the file. See the Initvalue field above. Merk: You cannot change this field.
Field Type	This is used to specify the field type. It has the following valid codes: S = string D = date B = bool I = integer F = floating point number

Copying layout (record type d)

An import file can have several layouts. These layouts can have several fields or sequences of fields which are the same in several of the layouts. You can define these field sequences yourself and assign them a name. You can then include them in the layouts by specifying them by name. This process allows you to save time and reduces the possibility of errors.

It is used in e.g. the import file used for Telepay - telepay.imp This file contains a layout called Applhead. This is not used on its own as it includes all the other layouts in the file.

Description of fields in record type d

Field	Explanation
RecordType	Fixed as d.
Layout name	You enter the layout's name in this field. Merk: There are only c lines inserted.

Special functions for Factoring (record type x)

An import file for factoring can consist of logical tests, in which values are tested. Values are exported on the basis of the test. These layouts can contain several fields or sequences of fields.

Field	Explanation
RecordType	Fixed as x.
ActiveX control	VismaFactoring.Factoring is a dll file in the Visma Business program path.
ActiveX Function	Here you define the function you want to call in VismaFactoring. The following functions have been created: SetDebetKreditStatus NorFinans FactoNorKID2 ShellDebet SkipLayout CalculateRoundAmount AddRoundAmount CalculateAmount ChangeLayout ShellTransCount
Method	Here, you specify a method for what will be executed. Depending on which functions you specified in method, you can have several methods followed by a parameter.
Parameter	Depending on which functions you selected in method, the method requires a parameter. The parameter can be a reference to another line in the imp file or a field in Visma Business.