Import a chart of accounts from a spreadsheet

You can use the spreadsheet import wizard to import data like account numbers, descriptions, groupings, and balance information.

Before you begin

  • You can use the import option to add new accounts to a client's chart or update existing ones.
  • The spreadsheet file you import needs to be in .XLS or .XLSX format.
  • For non-segmented clients that have accounts with subcodes, you'll need to format the spreadsheet column as text.
  • Make sure the spreadsheet is closed, remains closed during the entire import process, and is not password protected.
  • The maximum amount limit is 999,999,999.99 when importing balances into the chart of accounts.
Do the following steps to import a spreadsheet.

Sample spreadsheets

We've provided sample spreadsheets for you to download and review. 
Select one of the following files to download it:

Map spreadsheet columns

The Column Mappings screen displays the data of the selected spreadsheet. You can use this screen to map the spreadsheet columns to specific data fields. If you saved mapping information from a prior import as a mapping template, that template will be included in the
Template
dropdown. If applicable, select the appropriate template.
  1. Mark the checkbox in the Omit Row column for any column headings or rows of data that shouldn't be imported. The application won't validate or import data in that row.
  2. Select a column heading in the grid and then choose the applicable mapping item from the
    Column [X]
    field.
    Mapping item
    Additional info
    Additional info 2
    Required?
    Account number
    None
    None
    Yes
    Account description
    None
    None
    No
    Account grouping
    Account classification code
    Account classification subcode
    Leadsheet schedule code
    Leadsheet schedule subcode
    None
    Yes
    No
    No
    No
    Tax information
    Tax code
    Tax code unit
    M-3 tax code
    None
    No
    No
    No
    Beginning balance
    <Year>
    Dr/Cr
    Debit
    Credit
    No
    No
    No
    Unadjusted balance
    <Period end date>
    Dr/Cr
    Debit
    Credit
    No
    No
    No
    Budget
    <Period end date>
    Dr/Cr
    Debit
    Credit
    No
    No
    No
    Adjusted budget
    <Period end date>
    Dr/Cr
    Debit
    Credit
    No
    No
    No
    Budget 3
    <Period end date>
    Dr/Cr
    Debit
    Credit
    No
    No
    No
    Budget 4
    <Period end date>
    Dr/Cr
    Debit
    Credit
    No
    No
    No
    Budget 5
    <Period end date>
    Dr/Cr
    Debit
    Credit
    No
    No
    No
  3. Repeat step 2 for all applicable columns.
  4. Select
    Next
    .

Map account classification codes and subcodes

Accounting CS requires a code for the Account Classification account grouping for all new accounts. If your spreadsheet doesn't include a classification code, the application opens the
Classification Assignment
screen and lists all new account numbers.
Use this screen to assign a code to each new account. If applicable, you can also assign subcodes to each account. The classification codes and subcodes listed in this screen were set up in the
Account Groupings
screen.
  1. In the Classification Code column for each account, select the appropriate classification code.
  2. In the Classification Subcode column, select the appropriate subcode for each account, if applicable.
  3. Select
    Next
    .

Choose import options

You'll get the Import Options screen only if you mapped at least 1 balance-based column. Use this screen to specify how the spreadsheet data should be imported.
  1. Choose the Chart of Accounts import option:
    • Append to existing chart:
      • The application adds new accounts and their balances to the existing chart of accounts.
      • If the spreadsheet includes data for any existing accounts, the application updates data for those accounts with the new information.
    • Zero existing balances and import new balances:
      • The application adds new accounts and their balances to the chart of accounts.
      • If the spreadsheet includes data for an existing account, the application zeros the balances for that account for the selected dates, and imports only the balances in the spreadsheet file.
      • If the spreadsheet doesn’t include data for an existing account, the application zeros the balances for that account.
  2. Choose the applicable balance import option:
    • Current period balances:
      The application imports the balances from the spreadsheet directly into the period selected for the balance column.
      Example
      The application adds the balance from the spreadsheet to the existing balance in the client data to create year-to-date balances.
      Date
      Starting account balance
      Balance in spreadsheet data
      Balance for activity journal entry*
      Year-to-date unadjusted account balance
      01/31/15
      100.00
      100.00
      100.00
      200.00
      02/28/15
      200.00
      200.00
      200.00
      400.00
      03/31/15
      400.00
      300.00
      300.00
      700.00
      04/30/15
      700.00
      400.00
      400.00
      1100.00
      05/31/15
      1100.00
      500.00
      500.00
      1600.00
      06/30/15
      1600.00
      600.00
      600.00
      2200.00
      07/31/15
      2200.00
      700.00
      700.00
      2900.00
      08/31/15
      2900.00
      800.00
      800.00
      3700.00
      09/30/15
      3700.00
      900.00
      900.00
      4600.00
      10/31/15
      4600.00
      1000.00
      1000.00
      5600.00
      11/30/15
      5600.00
      1100.00
      1100.00
      6700.00
      12/31/15
      6700.00
      1200.00
      1200.00
      7900.00
      *During the import process, Accounting CS creates an activity journal entry to store balances that are imported from the spreadsheet.
    • Year-to-date balances:
      The application calculates current-period activity based on existing prior-period balances and creates a journal entry with the net change for the period.
      Example
      The balance in the spreadsheet data should be the current year-to-date balance in the client data. The application calculates the difference between the current year-to-date balance in the client data and the balance in the spreadsheet data.
      Date
      Starting account balance
      Balance in spreadsheet data
      Balance for activity journal entry*
      Year-to-date unadjusted account balance
      01/31/15
      100.00
      100.00
      0.00
      100.00
      02/28/15
      100.00
      200.00
      100.00
      200.00
      03/31/15
      200.00
      300.00
      100.00
      300.00
      04/30/15
      300.00
      400.00
      100.00
      400.00
      05/31/15
      400.00
      500.00
      100.00
      500.00
      06/30/15
      500.00
      600.00
      100.00
      600.00
      07/31/15
      600.00
      700.00
      100.00
      700.00
      08/31/15
      700.00
      800.00
      100.00
      800.00
      09/30/15
      800.00
      900.00
      100.00
      900.00
      10/31/15
      900.00
      1000.00
      100.00
      1000.00
      11/30/15
      1000.00
      1100.00
      100.00
      1100.00
      12/31/15
      1100.00
      1200.00
      100.00
      1200.00
      *During the import process, Accounting CS creates an activity journal entry to store balances that are imported from the spreadsheet.
  3. Select
    Import
    to begin the data import.

Review import diagnostics

You'll get import statistics on the Data Analysis screen. It shows a list of information that will be imported from the spreadsheet and the analysis results for the data.
  1. Select
    Back
    if you need to make changes to any of the previous mapping and option screens.
  2. Mark the checkbox next to an item and then select
    Preview Selected
    or
    Print Selected
    to get the diagnostic report for it.
  3. Select
    Finish
    when you're satisfied with the data you'll import.
The Import Complete screen gives a summary of the information that you imported from the spreadsheet.
  1. Review the diagnostic messages.
  2. You can select
    Print
    for a report of the import results.
  3. Select
    Close
    to close the spreadsheet import wizard.
The following are some diagnostic messages you might get:
  • Number of accounts read:
    displays the number of accounts in the spreadsheet.
  • Number of new accounts added:
    displays the number of accounts added to Accounting CS.
  • Number of accounts not matched in the import:
    displays a list of accounts that currently exist in Accounting CS but were not included in the spreadsheet.
  • <date> Unadjusted balances successfully imported:
    informational message to let you know that Accounting CS imported unadjusted balances for that date.
  • Number of tax codes imported (tax codes, tax units codes, M-3 tax codes):
    displays the number of tax codes imported into Accounting CS. Note that you may get this message even if you didn't include a tax codes column in your spreadsheet if you mapped both a classification code and subcode. The application assigns tax codes based on the account mappings in the
    Setup
    Standard Account Mappings
    screen.

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