{"id":27195,"date":"2026-08-18T05:24:31","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T05:24:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/?p=27195"},"modified":"2026-08-19T06:44:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T06:44:58","slug":"how-to-configure-import-loader-format-in-idempiere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/how-to-configure-import-loader-format-in-idempiere\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Configure Import Loader Format in iDempiere"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Import Format window defines how columns in an external file map to iDempiere table fields during data loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retail businesses use it to bring in chart of accounts, financial statement structures, fixed asset registers, and payroll movement data from legacy or third-party systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accurate format definitions keep imported records consistent, reducing manual re-entry and posting errors across accounting and HR data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Process Flow<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tenthplanet-iDempiere-Import_Format-WorkFlow\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Business Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Each Import Format is reusable across every import run that references it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Format Type (Fixed Width, CSV, or XML) determines how the source file is parsed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The Table field defines the staging table records are loaded into.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Format Field Sequence controls the column parsing order within the source file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Inactive Import Formats do not appear in Import Loader selection lists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Constant Value on a Format Field supplies a default when the source file has no matching column.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Prerequisites<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Target staging table identified (e.g., Account, GL Journal, Asset, Payroll Movement).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Sample source file available to confirm column order and headers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • System Administrator role access to General Rules > Data Import.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Data Type of each source column confirmed (String, Number, Date).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Navigation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        System Admin \u2192 General Rules \u2192 Data Import \u2192 Import Format<\/strong>\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
        \"Tenthplanet-iDempiere-Import_Format-1\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        Opens the Import Format header tab listing existing formats (Name, Description, Active), with the Format Field tab below for column-level mapping of the selected format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Configuration Steps<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Step 1: Create the Import Format Header<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
        This step establishes the reusable definition that Import Loader windows call during a data load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Instructions: Enter a Name and Description, choose the Format Type, and select the target Table the records will load into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Field<\/strong><\/td>Sample Value<\/strong><\/td>Description<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
        Name<\/td>Accounting – Accounts<\/td>Identifies the format definition<\/td><\/tr>
        Format Type<\/td>CSV<\/td>Defines how the source file is structured<\/td><\/tr>
        Table<\/td>Account<\/td>Target staging table for imported records<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        Step 2: Add Format Fields for Each Source Column<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Format Fields map every source column to the correct target field so values load into the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Instructions: Add a Format Field row per column with Sequence, Name, and the mapped Column; set Start\/End position for Fixed Width files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Field<\/strong><\/td>Sample<\/strong><\/td>Purpose<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
        Sequence<\/td>30<\/td>Sets the column parse order<\/td><\/tr>
        Name<\/td>C – Description<\/td>Descriptive label for the field<\/td><\/tr>
        Column<\/td>Description<\/td>Target column the value loads into<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        Step 3: Set Data Type and Constant Values<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Correct Data Types and Constant Values prevent numeric, date, and default fields from failing validation on import.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Instructions: Set Data Type per field (String, Number, Date); use Constant Value for fields with no source column, such as a fixed Account Sign or Document Controlled flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Field<\/strong><\/td>Sample Value<\/strong><\/td>Purpose<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
        Data Type<\/td>String<\/td>Defines the expected value format<\/td><\/tr>
        Column<\/td>Account Type (Asset, ..)<\/td>Maps account classification<\/td><\/tr>
        Constant Value<\/td>Y<\/td>Default value when no source column exists<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        Step 4: Activate and Test the Format<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Testing confirms the format parses a real sample file correctly before it is used in production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Instructions: Set the Import Format to Active, then run a sample file through the matching Import Loader window and review the staging results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Common Issues and Resolutions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Issue<\/strong><\/td>Cause<\/strong><\/td>Resolution<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
        Import fails with column not found<\/td>Format Field Column name does not match the source file header<\/td>Verify exact column spelling against the sample file<\/td><\/tr>
        Numeric fields import as text<\/td>Data Type set to String instead of Number<\/td>Correct the Data Type on the Format Field<\/td><\/tr>
        Fixed Width import misaligns fields<\/td>Start\/End positions overlap or leave a gap<\/td>Recalculate positions against the source file layout<\/td><\/tr>
        Format missing from Import Loader list<\/td>Import Format record marked Inactive<\/td>Activate the Import Format header record<\/td><\/tr>
        Constant Value is ignored<\/td>A source column is also mapped to the same field<\/td>Remove the conflicting column mapping<\/td><\/tr>
        Date fields fail validation<\/td>Source date format does not match the expected pattern<\/td>Adjust the source file date format before import<\/td><\/tr>
        Duplicate records after import<\/td>No unique key field mapped for matching<\/td>Map a unique identifier field for record matching<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        Next Steps<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • Configure the matching Import Loader window (Import Account Value, Import GL Journal, Import Asset, Import Payroll Movement).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Review Format Field mappings for the Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, and Tax Statement formats used in reporting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Check imported staging records before final validation and posting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
          The Import Format window defines how columns in an external file map to iDempiere table fields during data loads. Retail […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,92],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-idempiere-product","category-idempiere-data"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27195"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27528,"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27195\/revisions\/27528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tenthplanet.in\/idempiere\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}