Import Manual Invoices into Accounts Payable Version

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Overview

Manual invoices are invoices that are not matched with purchase orders. Manual invoices -- such as patient refunds from a Patient Refund (PBAR) system or reimbursements for employee expenses -- can be imported into Accounts Payable so that you can make payments. The import steps are similar to other import activities, such as importing patient charges.

When you import invoices, you upload an invoice information file to the system. The invoice information file contains invoice header and detail fields for one or more invoices in a comma-separated (.csv) format. The system then processes the successfully uploaded invoice file to generate the individual invoices.

The standard invoice import accepts statistical accounts from the import details. When the application detects a statistical account in the import, the Line Type is automatically set to 8 (statistical). Users can also set the Line Type to 8 in the import file. When the invoice is created, the statistical invoice import details create statistical distribution detail lines and update the Statistical Amount total on the invoice header. For details on using statistical accounts on invoices, see Create Statistical Distribution Lines.

Security

To display the list of invoice imports, the role object "Invoicing" must be set minimally to View.

The Import Process for Manual Invoice Files

When you upload an invoice information file, the system performs these steps:

  1. Validates the file -The system verifies that the file contains invoices and determines if the file format is correct.
  2. Reads the file -The system reads the file.
  3. Processes the file to generate individual invoices.

If the system cannot complete any step because of errors, it logs the errors. You can view the errors and correct them.

To create and edit the .csv file

  1. Generate a .csv export file using a utility, or create the file manually. The file name must be unique.
  1. Open the comma-separated file that you made in the previous step and edit it so that the format is correct. The format must contain the fields as shown in this spreadsheet.
    Important:
    When you save the spreadsheet file, you must save it as a .csv file. The system cannot import an. xls file.

    Field sizes are described in this table.

    Click example to see an example of a .csv file that contains two invoices. Here is a version of the same file formatted as text, with commas.
  2. <EOF>

  1. If your file was generated automatically, you will need to add the final line containing "EOF".
  2. <EOF>

To import invoice information files

  1. From the Accounts Payable main Contents, select Imports/Exports > Invoice Import. The list Imports for Import Type Invoice appears (Figure 1). The list contains invoice information files that have been uploaded.

Figure 1 - Invoice Import List

  1. Click New. The Import panel appears (Figure 2).

Figure 2 - Import an Invoice

  1. Enter the file that you wish to import to the system in the File to Upload field.
  1. At this step, you have a choice. You can work through the import process in two stages or in one stage. For new users of this feature, we recommend the two-stage approach.
  2. - Select the box labeled Load and Verify, No Import.
    - Click Submit. The system attempts to upload your file and validate it. If successful, the system sends you a message. If the system cannot upload your file and validate it, error messages appear. Read and close the error messages. Make changes as needed in your .csv file and try the upload again. Debugging information is described below.
    - The list Imports for Import Type Invoice appears.
    - Click Refresh to see your file listed.

  1. Review the Imports... list entry for your file. The following fields provide useful status data:

Import Status Desc - The successful or unsuccessful status of the import process.

Incomplete: The .csv file could not be read or validated. (Check for errors.)

Ready for Processing: If you have used a two-stage upload, the file is ready for the second step.

Processed - The number of data records processed out of the total uploaded. This number shows how many of the import file records successfully generated invoices.

n of X: X is the number of data records uploaded and n is the number of records processed.

For a one-stage upload, this field indicates whether the system was able to generate invoices using the imported file's records, and, if so, how many. 0 of X means that the system was not able to generate invoices using the imported file's records. Click Menu > View Import Details. The import details list appears, and you can review your data for errors.

For a two-stage upload, 0 of X is normal.

To complete processing of your import file

If you are using the one-stage approach, the system has run the import step for you. You can review any errors, and begin fixing any problems.

If you are using the two-stage approach, you need to process the file that you uploaded. Do the following:

  1. From the Accounts Payable main Contents, select Imports/Exports > Invoice Import. The Imports... list appears.
  2. Locate the file that you wish to process.
  3. Click Menu > ReProcess. The system asks you to verify that you wish to reprocess the file.
  4. Click Submit.

To debug your import file:

You can encounter errors at any or all of the stages of invoice file import. Error messages provide information about problems with the .csv file. In most cases, you will wish to alter your .csv file.

At the validation and reading stages:

  1. Check that the file name and path are correct.
  2. Make sure that the import file is a .csv file.
  3. Verify that your file has the header line.
  4. Check that you have included lines containing the correct column names, in the correct order, with the H and D initial columns, and that none are missing.
  5. Check that the correct number of fields are in the import file for each record.
  6. Check that the file contains <EOF> on the last line.

At the processing stage:

When you select Menu > ReProcess, the system attempts to create invoices using the imported file. The number of invoices successfully created appears on the Imports... list, and errors in processing each record are logged. To see the errors:

  1. Click Menu > View Import Details. The invoices appear.
  2. Review the Processed field for each invoice to determine which have errors. Yes indicates that the invoice was successfully created. If the field is empty, an invoice could not be generated from the import file.
  3. Click View Errors to get a list of the problems with the invoice. In most cases, you will want to go back to the .csv file, correct the data, and re-import the file.

Editing Invoice Details and Reprocessing

In some situations, you may wish to edit an invoice detail and reprocess the invoice.

To edit an invoice header or lines:

  1. From the Accounts Payable main Contents, select Imports / Exports > Invoice Import.
    The list of imported invoices appears.
  2. Locate the invoice that you wish to edit.
  3. Select Menu > Invoice Details.
    One or more summary detail lines appear.

To reprocess an invoice:

  1. From the Accounts Payable main Contents, select Imports / Exports > Invoice Import.
    The list of imported invoices appears.
  2. Locate the invoice that you wish to edit.
  3. Select Menu > ReProcess.