[IM] About Import File Formats

Import templates in Vista define how third-party data files are structured for import. When creating a template in IM Template, you can choose from three file formats: Delimited, Fixed Width, or XML. Your third-party data file must match one of these formats.

Supported Quotation Marks:
Vista supports single quotes ('), double quotes ("), and grave accents (`) in import files.

1. Delimited File Format

• Fields are separated by a delimiter such as a comma, tab, or pipe.

• Each line represents a new record in the system.

• Columns are mapped to fields in the template using the Details tab in IM Template.

• Attachments:

  • Must use a comma-delimited file.

  • Include data record lines with one column as the Record Key.

  • Attachment lines start with #ATTACHMENT in column 1, include the Record Key in column 2, file path in column 3, and optionally attachment type in column 4.

  • Line-level attachments (e.g., for AP invoices) must include the record type and invoice line number.

2. Fixed Width File Format

• Each field has a specified start and end position based on its character length.

• The system reads each field based on these positions to separate the data.

• Example: If a job number field is 10 characters, column 2 begins at position 11.

3. XML File Format

• Used for importing .xml files (single-table forms only).

• The structure is hierarchical, with parent and child tags.

• Each record must start with the same tag, include all required tags, and each tag must be unique.

• Data is identified between start and end tags.

• Once imported into IM Work Edit, XML data is processed like any other import.