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TNA Generic Import Format

Applicable version: 5.01 and later

Introduction

TNA supports a variety of import formats for importing clockings. This one is known as the TNA Generic Import format. the main advantage of this format is that it can be used to import items other than just clockings. It is a CSV (Comma Separated) format. The first field on each row identifies the type of record being imported. For example C is for clockings, L is for leave, E is for Employee and so on. 

 If the program exporting the data can be configured, then this is the format you should use. 

A Sample Excel Spreadsheet, which can generate this CSV format can be found here. Remember that when saving from Excel only the active Sheet will be saved, and you need to select CSV from the "Save As Type" list.

Related Articles

    Automatically Importing Clockings and other Data

Clocking Records
Field Name Max Length (Chars) Description
1 Record Type 1 C for clockings
2 Site 4 Optional. Usually left blank. If blank then the site code at the place of import is used.
3 Card Number 10 The Card Number for the employee. This is optional if the Employee Number is used.
4 Employee Number 10 If omitted then the employee assigned to the card gets the clocking. Either the Card Number, or Employee number (or both) must be used. If both are used then the Employee Number will override the Card Number, but the card number is stored with the clocking.
5 Date 10 Required.  dd/mm/yyyy
6 Time 8 Optional. If empty then the clocking will apply from 0:00. hh:mm:ss or hh:mm
7 Direction 1 Either I for in or O for out. Required if the clocking is a payroll clocking, but not required if it's just a change of classification.
8 Device 8 Optional. Usually a reference to the clock being used. In the case of an import you may want to use this field to identify imported clockings.
9 Authorised 1 Y if the clocking is valid, or N, or D, if it still requires further authorisation. If omitted then Y is assumed.
10 Company 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular company, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the company number, or the company name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the company does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
11 Branch 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular branch, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the branch number, or the branch name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.) If the branch does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
12 Department 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular department, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the department number, or the department name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the department does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
13 Cost Centre 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular cost centre, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the cost centre number, or the cost centre name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.) If the cost centre does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
14 Category 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular category, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the category number, or the category name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the category does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
15 Scale 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular scale, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the scale number, or the scale name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the scale does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
16 Type 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular type, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the type number, or the type name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the type does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
17 Workgroup 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular workgroup, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the workgroup number, or the workgroup name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the workgroup does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
18 Job 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular job, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the job number, or the job name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the job does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
19 Customer 10 Optional. Use this only if you are creating a new Job, via field 18 above. If the job already exists (and is assigned to a customer) then this field is ignored.
20 Quantity 10 Optional. The quantity of items completed.
21 Reference 10 Optional. Anything you want. Not used by the TNA system, but can be included on reports.
22 Comment 250 Optional. Anything you want. Not used by the TNA system, but can be included on reports.

Employee Records
Field Name Max Length (Chars) Description
1 Record Type 1 E for employees
2 Site 4 Optional. Usually left blank. If blank then the site code at the place of import is used.
3 Employee Number 10 Required. Each employee on the site needs a unique 10 character, alphanumeric identifier.
4 Pay Number 20 Optional. The identifier used by the payroll system, if it's different from the employee number.
5 Card Number 10 Optional. The Card Number that is associated with this employee.
6 First Name 20 Optional. The first name, or initial, of the employee.
7 Last Name 20 Optional. The last name of the employee.
8 Date Hired 10 Optional. In dd/mm/yyyy format
9 Shift 6 Optional. The shift code, of the shift, that the employee should be processed with.
10 Company 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular company, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the company number, or the company name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the company does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
11 Branch 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular branch, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the branch number, or the branch name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.) If the branch does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
12 Department 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular department, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the department number, or the department name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the department does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
13 Cost Centre 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular cost centre, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the cost centre number, or the cost centre name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.) If the cost centre does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
14 Category 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular category, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the category number, or the category name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the category does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
15 Scale 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular scale, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the scale number, or the scale name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the scale does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
16 Type 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular type, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the type number, or the type name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the type does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
17 Workgroup 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular workgroup, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the workgroup number, or the workgroup name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the workgroup does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
18 Job 30 Optional. Places the employee in a particular job, from the time/date entered above. You can use either the job number, or the job name (as set in the TNA Configuration module.)  If the job does not exist then it will be created on the fly in the TNA system.
19 ID Number 20 Optional. A national identity number for the employee. For example a passport number, or social security number.
20 Work Email 50 Optional. Employee work email address
21 Home Email 50 Optional. Employee home email address
22 Termination Date 10 Optional. Employee termination dates used to update terminations. Format dd/mm/yyy
23 Access Rights 2 Optional. Employee access rights to areas
24 Customer 50 Optional. Set customer name to be added as a customer for job costing

Leave Records

 
Field Name Max Length (Chars) Description
1 Record Type 1 L for leave
2 Site 4 Optional. Usually left blank. If blank then the site code at the place of import is used.
3 Employee Number 10 Required. Each employee on the site needs a unique 10 character, alphanumeric identifier.
4 From Date 10 Required. The first day on which the employee is on leave. In the format dd/mm/yyyy.
5 To Date 10 Required. The last day on which the employee is on leave. In the format dd/mm/yyyy.
6 Type 30 Required. The type of leave that the employee is on. Leave Types must be pre-configured in the Configuration module.
7 Paid Leave Days   Optional. A number valid to 2 decimal places. This will affect his accrued paid leave.
8 Paid Sick Days   Optional. A number valid to 2 decimal places. This will affect his accrued sick leave.
9 Approved 7 Optional. Valid options are Yes, or Y, No or N, Pending or P.
10 Approved By 20 Optional. The name, or number of the employee who approved the leave.
11 Approved On 10 Optional. Date of approval in dd/mm/yyy format
12 Reason 40 Optional. Additional reason information for the leave.
13 Comment 40 Optional. Any other information.

Notes
  • All fields can be entered with trailing spaces clipped, or with trailing spaces included.
  • Commas are not allowed in any fields.
  • Duplicate clockings are not imported. A clocking is a duplicate if it has the same Site, Employee Number (or CardNumber), Date, Time and Direction as an existing clocking. In other words only one In, Out and Job clocking is allowed at the same time.
  • If the first column is blank, ie if the line starts with a , then the line is ignored. This allows for comment records in the file.

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