To import account information:

• First, set up the import account information. 

• Second, preview the account information

• Third, review the account information

• Fourth, import the account information

What if I need help? Submit a support ticket. We can help you set up the import file format and work with you to make sure the account information is imported correctly. 

1. Open Connect Property Improvements > Accounts > Import Account Information. 

2. Select User-defined Fixed Length as the Import File Type. 

3. Enter the import file name. 

Include the path and file name to the import file. If the import file includes a header row, set the lines to skip to 1 to skip the header row. 

4. Set the Print menu to Report Only. 

5. Set up owners. 

Import new owners
Import new owners and add the imported owners as new owner records. 

Active date
The current date is the default date. The active date lets users and Conenct use the new owner record to create new transactions for property improvements. 

Update existing owners
If the owner already exists in the Property Improvements application, merge the new owner information with the existing owner record. 

6. Set up properties. 

Import new properties
Import new properties and add the imported properties as new properties record. 

Creation date
The current date is the default date. The creation date is the date when the new property record is added to the database. 

Update existing properties
If the property already exists in the Property Improvements application, merge the new property information with the existing property record.  

7. Set up accounts. 

Import new accounts
Import new accounts and add the imported accounts as a new account in the Property Improvements application. 

District
Use the district from the import file or select a district from the menu. The menu will list the districts that have been set up as a district in the application. 

Original assessment
If the option to import new accounts is selected, enter the the original assessment amount. You can also enter the original assessment amount later using Modify Existing Accounts. 

Period amount method
If the option to import new accounts is selected, select the period amount method. Select Calculated to divide the remaining principal by the number of periods. 

Period Amount = Remaining Principal / Number of Periods

Select Manual to enter the amount to bill each period. Divide the remaining principal by the period amount to determine the number of periods to bill. 

Number of Periods = Remaining Principal / Period Amount

Period amount
Enter the amount to bill each period. 

Assessment begin date
If the option to import new accounts is selected, enter the assessment begin date. 

Setup date
If the option to import new accounts is selected, enter the setup date. This is the date to calculate the billed amount per billing period. 

Update existing accounts
If the account already exists in the Property Improvements application, merge the new account information with the existing account record. 

8. Select the fields from the import file to import into the database. 

Now, you're ready to set up the Import File Fields, at the bottom of the view. Match the fields from the import file to the field in the Property Improvements database. 

 

Click . 

 

Move the fields that you want to fill with the imported account information to the Selected Fields list. For example, District, Property, Account number, Original assessment, Interest rate override, Remaining principal, Delinquent principal, Unbilled principal, Period amount method, Period amount, and Billing options. If there are fields included in the import file that you do not want to import into the application database, use (Skip) Do Not Import. 

 

Click OK to add the fields to the Import File Fields section. 

 

Use the section in the middle to determine the start position and length of each field in the fixed-length file. The entire fixed-length file is laid out but you may need to use the scroll bar to view the rest of the fixed-length file. If the fields are out of order, you can use the menu or the Up/Down buttons to move the field to the right place. You want to place the fields in the same order as the fields are displayed in the import file. 

 

The required fields are: 

• Account number

• Account billing group

• Account interest rate override

• Amount period amount

• Parcel ID

• Property address

• Owner number

For each field that will be imported from the import file, add the start position and field length to the Import File Fields section. To exclude a field from the import file, choose (Skip) Do Not Import. 

Previewing the account information

Make sure the Print menu is set to Report Only, and then click GO  (CTRL+G) to preview the imported accounts. If there are errors, you will need to fix them before you continue. The preview will show you the information that will be imported when you run the routine. 

Importing account information from a user-defined fixed length file 

When the report preview is correct, change the Print menu to Report or No Report and then click GO  (CTRL+G) to import the account information into the Property Improvements application.