Contents of the Import Units Usage Files Screen

Use the fields and options to configure the Import Units Usage Files screen.

Import Units Usage Files

Use the fields in this block to create a new parameter ID or to retrieve a previously saved parameter ID. A parameter ID represents a set of screen selection parameters. After you have saved a parameter ID and its related parameters, you can retrieve them using Query.

You can use the retrieved parameters to produce reports and run processes more efficiently and with greater consistency. The saved parameters are also useful and necessary when you want to run the process as part of a batch job. Many users save a unique set of parameters for each different way they run a report or process. When you select a previously saved parameter ID or parameter description, the associated saved screen selection parameters automatically display as selection defaults. The page setup and print options, if there are any, are also included in the saved parameter ID. You can change any of the associated selection defaults as necessary.

Field Description
Parameter ID

Enter, or click to select, a parameter ID of up to 15 alphanumeric characters. Choose characters for your parameter ID that help identify the type of selections you made on the screen, such as PERIOD or QUARTERLY.

When you save your record, all the selections made on the screen are stored with the parameter ID. Later, you can retrieve the parameter using Query.

You can use the parameter to run the process more efficiently because you can select the parameter ID with its previously defined screen selections. After the default selections display on the screen, you can override the defaults.

Description

Enter, or click to select, a parameter description of up to 30 alphanumeric characters.

Selection Ranges

Field Description
Fiscal Year

Enter, or click to select, a valid fiscal year in which to upload the input file.

Period

Enter, or click to select, a valid period in which to upload the input file.

Subperiod

Enter, or click to select, a valid subperiod in which to upload the input file.

Document Information

In this group box, enter information about the source document for the units being uploaded.

Field Description
Number

Enter the document number that you want to use to identify the input file. You can leave this field blank and the screen assigns the next sequential document number from the Configure Billing Settings screen. An error occurs if this document number has already been used.

Description

Enter the description of this document. This is a required field.

Date

Enter, or click to select, a date for this document. The system date defaults. This is a required field.

Options

Costpoint always posts units to the Maintain Units Usage History tables (UNITS_USAGE_HS and UNITS_USAGE_LN_HS), but you can use this group box to include additional tables where the unit usage should be posted.

Field Description
Post to Billings

Select this check box to post the unit usage to the Maintain Open Billing Detail (OPEN_BILLING_DETL) table. This enables the unit usage information to be included on bills and in revenue calculations.

Post to Service Center

Select this check box to post the unit usage to the Maintain Allocation Journal table (ALLOC_BASIS_JNL), where the Compute/Print Pool Rates process allocates cost to it.

Service Center Number

Enter, or click to select, a valid manual service center to which you want to post. This field is available only if you selected the Post to Service Center check box.

Input File Information

In this group box, enter information about the file to be uploaded.

Field Description
Alt File Location

Enter the location of the input file you are importing. There are two ways to do this:

  • In the Alt File Location field, enter, or click to select, the alternate file location where the input file is located. Alternate file locations are set up in the Manage Alternate File Locations screen.
  • From the Global Menu, click Process > File Upload. On the File Upload Manager dialog box, click Browse and use the dialog box to select the file you want to upload. If you select the Overwrite? check box, Costpoint will overwrite any file of the same name that already exists in the Costpoint database. Click Upload when you are finished. If you use this method, leave the Alt File Location field blank. For more information about the File Upload Manager, see the File Upload Manager topic in the Getting Started Guide.
File

Enter, or click to select, the name of the file that you want to upload.

Format

Use the drop-down list to select the format of the file that you want to upload. Valid options are:

  • Comma-Separated Values
  • Fixed-Length

Comma-separated value files contain data separated by commas with character fields surrounded by double quotes. Fixed-length files contain data positioned in a set range of columns for each particular field.

Truncated Values

Use the drop-down list to select the action that is performed if the values of the input file are larger than the Costpoint database allows. Valid selections are:

  • Always Truncate
  • Never Truncate

If the file format is Comma-Separated Values, both selections are available. If the file format is Fixed-Length, the Never Truncate selection defaults and this field is disabled.

Upload

Click to upload your units usage.