Customer Interface: Pipe Delimited Method


Customer Interface: Pipe Delimited Method

Use the Customer Interface to add new or update existing customer information using data from external applications. Information you load using this interface adds to the data already stored in PENTA.

The Customer Interface has a Request Type of CUS and an Interface Type of U. Data files you load must have Request Types assigned to the U (Customer) Interface Type.

You can use the Customers window to view customer data that you load through the Customer Interface.

A Note About Detail Records

For Detail Records, you can add new customers and update existing ones:

  • If you are adding a customer, data must exist for the fields listed as Key or Req for each of the Detail Record types you add.

  • If you are updating an existing customer:

  • You can enter any number of Detail Record types (assuming you set up the customer earlier in the data file, in a previous data file, or directly into PENTA).

  • Data must exist for the following:

  • Fields listed as Key or Req (required) under each record. PENTA does not process the record if these fields contain no values.

  • Fields with previously entered information that you want to retain.

Available Records

Contact (CON) Detail Record

#

Field

Entry

Format

Description

#

Field

Entry

Format

Description

1

Record Type

Req

C! 5

The value should be CON.

2

Customer Id

Key

X

Id of the Customer.

3

Contact Number

Key

I 3

Id of the customer’s contact record.

4

Activity Code

Req

C! 1

Required for all activity. Possible values are:

  • A (Add) – If a record with the same key already exists, PENTA records an error.

  • C (Change) – Update an existing record. If PENTA cannot update the field, it records an error.

5

First Name

Opt

C 15

First name of the Customer’s contact.

6

Last Name

Opt

C 20

Last name of the Customer’s contact.

7

Type

None

C 3

This must be left blank. This classifies the Contact.

8

Title

Opt

I 4

The Contact’s job title.

9

Email Address

Opt

C 50

The Contact’s email address.

10

Customer Location

None

C 8

This must be left blank. This is the location of the customer.

Contact Phone (CONPHN) Detail Record

#

Field

Entry

Format

Description

#

Field

Entry

Format

Description

1

Record Type

Req

C! 5

The value should be CONPHN.

2

Customer Id

Key

X

Id of the Customer.

3

Contact Number

Key

I 3

Id of the Customer’s contact.

4

Phone Number Type Code

Key

C 8

Id of the phone number’s category.

5

Activity Code

Req

C! 1

Required for all activity. Possible values are:

  • A (Add) – If a record with the same key already exists, PENTA records an error.

  • C (Change) – Update an existing record. If PENTA cannot update the field, it records an error.

6

Area Code

Req

C 3

Area code of the Contact’s phone number.

7

Phone Number

Req

C 11

The Contact’s number.

8

Extension

Opt

C 5

The Contact’s extension.

Customer (CUS) Record

#

Field

Entry

Format

Description

#

Field

Entry

Format

Description

1

Record Type

Req

C! 5

The value should be CUS.

2

Customer Id

Key

X

Id of the customer.

3

Activity Code

Req

C! 1

Required for all activity. Possible values are:

  • A (Add) – If a record with the same key already exists, PENTA records an error.

  • C (Change) – Update an existing record. If PENTA cannot update the field, it records an error.

4

Type

Req

C! 1

Valid values are:

  • C (Regular Customer)

  • E (Employee)

  • I (Intercompany Customer)

5

Prefix

Opt

C 15

Do not enter a value if the Type is E.

6

Name

Req

C 30

Required if the Type is not E; otherwise, do not enter a value.

7

Status

Req

C! 1

Default is A.

8

Prospective Customer

Req

Y/N

Default is N.

9

Employee Id

Opt

X

Required if the Type is E; otherwise, do not enter a value.

10

Parent Customer Id

Opt

X

Id of the “parent” Customer with authority over the (“child”) Customer.

11

Default Invoice Loc

Opt

C 8

You cannot enter this value on Activity Code A records, since the location does not exist yet.

12

Customer Contact

Opt

I 3

You cannot enter this value on Activity Code A records, since the location does not exist yet.

13

Currency Id

Opt

C! 3

You can only enter this value if System Option 44 is Y.

14

Credit Limit Amount

Opt

F 12.2

The maximum amount of open receivables that can exist for the Customer Location at a point in time.

15

Credit Limit Hold Code

Opt

C! 6

Id of the hold applied to the Credit Limit Amount. You can only enter this value if the Credit Limit Amount has a value.

16

AR Days Outstanding Limit

Opt

I 5

The maximum day limit you allow for open receivables on this Customer Location at any point in time.

17

AR Days Limit Hold Code

Opt

C! 6

Id of the hold code associated with AR Days Limit. You can only enter this value if the AR Days Outstanding Limit has a value.

18

Customer Hold Code

Opt

C! 6

Id of the hold code associated with the Customer and/or Location.

19

Receivable Statements

Req

Y/N

Indicates whether you want to print AR statements for the Customer. Default is Y.

20

Credit Rating Code

Opt

C! 3

Id of the credit rating applied to the Customer.

21

All OU Code

Req

C! 1

Valid values are:

  • A (All)

  • S (Some)

22

Invoice Form Id

Opt

C! 8

Id of the form you want to use when printing the Customer’s invoices.

23

Number of Copies

Opt

I 3

Number of invoice copies you must print for the Customer.

24

Payment Terms

Opt

I 3

The term of payment for invoices billed to the Customer.

25

Invoice Cycle Number

Opt

I 3

Id of the invoice cycle signifying the periods and times at which you want to generate invoices.

26

EQ Rental Discount Percent

Opt

F 8.3

The discount percent you want to apply to equipment rental cost billed to jobs for the Customer.

27

Other Pay Code

Req

C! 1

Default is based on the value in System Configuration window’s Invoicing tab.

28

Reimbursements

Req

C! 1

Default is based on the value in System Configuration window’s Invoicing tab.

29

Taxable Fringes

Req

C! 1

Default is based on the value in System Configuration window’s Invoicing tab.

30

Non-Taxable Fringes

Req

C! 1

Default is based on the value in System Configuration window’s Invoicing tab.

31

Payroll Burden

Req

C! 1

Default is based on the value in System Configuration window’s Invoicing tab.

32

Overhead

Req

C! 1

Default is based on the value in System Configuration window’s Invoicing tab.

33

Split Premium

Opt

C! 1

Possible values are:

  • C (Complete Overtime)

  • P (Partial Overtime)

  • S (Split Overtime)

34

Labor Rate Schedule

Opt

I 3

Id of the rate schedule for labor items billed for the Customer’s invoices.

35

Equipment Rate Schedule

Opt

I 3

The rate schedule for equipment billed for the Customer’s invoices.