Setting up or editing data exchange definitions

  • 08/02/2024
  • 5 minutes to read

A data exchange definition is a configuration that controls how Continia Finance Factoring structures, exports, and imports data exchanged with a factor. It defines the file format, field mappings, and processing rules used to generate proposal files sent to the factor, as well as to interpret and import retransition files containing the factor’s feedback.

You can create your own data exchange definition from scratch or edit an existing one. The existing Continia data exchange definitions start with FAC_EXP (for export) and FAC_IMP for import. For more information on data exchange definitions, see Data exchange definitions and Set up data exchange definitions (Microsoft articles).

Note

No matter if you edit an existing data exchange definition or create your own, you must as a minimum edit the line definitions as described below. As there's no need to have identical headers and footers in each factoring proposal or retransition file, either the header or the footer must be deleted, or both must be edited to ensure no overlap. You can of course also customize the data exchange definition in many other ways, if necessary.

To set up or edit a data exchange definition

To set up a data exchange definition, follow the steps under Create a data exchange definition (Microsoft article). To edit an existing data exchange definition, follow these steps:

  1. Search (Search) for and select Data Exchange Definition.
  2. In the list of data exchange definitions, select the one you want to edit. Be sure to select one starting with FAC_EXP or FAC_IMP, depending on what you want to do.

    Tip

    Before you start editing the selected data exchange definition, export it as a precaution: In the action bar, select Import/Export > Export Data Exchange Definition. It's good to have the data exchange definition backed up if you face unexpected challenges when editing it.

  3. On the Line Definitions FastTab, go to the Footer line and do one of the following:
    • If you want factoring proposals and retransition files to contain only headers, select Delete Line.
    • If you want the footers of factoring proposals and retransition files to contain specific elements, go to the Column Definitions FastTab, and then add new lines or delete lines as needed.
  4. On the Line Definitions FastTab, go to the Header line and do one of the following:
    • If you want factoring proposals and retransition files to contain only footers, select Delete Line.
    • If you want the headers of factoring proposals and retransition files to contain specific elements, go to the Column Definitions FastTab, and then add new lines or delete lines as needed.

    Note

    If you add or delete lines on the Column Definitions FastTab, you must go to the Line Definitions FastTab and update the number in the Column Count column for the relevant line accordingly, as this isn't adjusted automatically. So if, for example, you've deleted three lines under Column Definitions for the Header line on the Line Definitions FastTab, you must manually change the Column Count number from 6 to 3 to avoid errors upon export.

    Make sure that there's no overlap between the Column Definitions lines of the Footer line and those of the Header line. Any Column Definitions line that's present in the footer should not also be present in the header, and vice versa.

  5. Make any additional changes to the selected data exchange definition. For details on this, including information about field mapping, see the Microsoft articles mentioned above.

The data exchange definition has now been customized.