BEAM Generic Import File Specs
For the BEAM Web Portal
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3
File Delivery................................................................................................................................................... 4
Existing File Imports ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Portfolio import ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Payments................................................................................................................................................... 5
The New Import File Formats ....................................................................................................................... 6
File Type: Tags .......................................................................................................................................... 6
File Type: Interest..................................................................................................................................... 6
File Type: Demographic Changes ............................................................................................................. 6
File Type: Notes........................................................................................................................................ 7
File Type: Scores....................................................................................................................................... 8
BEAM tasks..................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
VGA tasks ....................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Introduction
This spec concerns the design and delivery of several new types (new to BEAM, that is) of data import
files. These files will share the following features in common:



1
They will either be, or be importable to, single-worksheet Excel (2003 or 2007) files1.
Each file will have a set name denoting the type of data the file contains.
The first line of each file or worksheet will have a fixed set of column names, as defined below.
They may be tab-delimited.
File Delivery
We would like to amend this by having the VGA process send each file (or set of files—TBD) via web
service call. That way the Beam side can avoid scanning of a folder, the possibility of attempting to load
a file that is in the process of being Ftp’d, etc. Beam will assist, if requested, with the web service
access.
Existing File Imports
The following already exist as import procedures in BEAM and will not change.
Portfolio import
Portfolio imports are mapped in the BEAM file mapping wizard. Templates are saved, and, if there are
no changes from file to file, importing new files is easy. Beam does not have the ability to re-map a file
and replace existing data.
Payments
Payments are imported by copying and pasting from agency-supplied data into an Excel workbook that
you export from BEAM.
The New Import File Formats
File Type: Tags
Filename: tags.tab, tags.xls or tags.xlsx
Notes: The import process will allow adding an additional value for an existing tag or replacing existing
values. Tags are searchable in Global Search and viewable and optionally editable in Account Center.
Fields:
Import column Names
AccountID
IssuerAccountNumber
Tag
Value
ValueDate
Notes
Beam AccountID
Either Account ID or Issuer
Account Number is required. If
both are entered, they must
match.
Already exists in Custom
Property Setup
Type must match Property as set
up (text, number or date)
Date value was assigned. Import
date will also be kept in
database.
Required?
Y - At least one
Y
Y
N
File Type: Interest
Filename: interest.tab, interest.xls or interest.xlsx
Notes: Interest postings as made at agency.
Fields:
Import column Names
AccountID
IssuerAccountNumber
InterestAmount
InterestDate
AccountBalance
Notes
Beam AccountID
Either Account ID or Issuer
Account Number is required. If
both are entered, they must
match.
999999.99
YYYYMMAA
After adding interest
File Type: Demographic Changes
Filename: demos.tab, demos.xls or demos.xlsx
Required?
Y - At least one
Y
Y
N
Notes: Contains new or updated phone and/or address information.
Fields:
Import column Names
AccountID
IssuerAccountNumber
DebtorName
DebtorSSN
Operation
NewPhoneNumber
NewAddress1
NewAddress2
NewCity
NewState/Province
NewZIP/PostalCode
OldPhoneNumber
OldAddress1
OldAddress2
OldCity
OldState/Province
OldZIP/PostalCode
Notes
Beam AccountID
Either Account ID or Issuer
Account Number is required. If
both are entered, they must
match.
First Last
999-99-9999 Either name or SSN
may be entered. If both are
entered, they must match.
Add, Update, Invalidate, Delete,
Hot2
(999) 999-9999
(999) 999-9999
Required?
Y - At least one
N – If only one debtor on
account, optional. If more than
one debtor, required and either
one can be entered.
Y
Y - Either phone number or
complete address or both are
required
If Updating, Invalidating,
Deleting or making an existing
phone number or address Hot, it
must be entered here. A new
Hot may be entered by not
entering Old…. Any existing Hot
will be reset to Active status.
File Type: Notes
Filename: notes.tab, notes.xls or notes.xlsx
Notes:
Fields:
Import column Names
AccountID
IssuerAccountNumber
2
Notes
Beam AccountID
Either Account ID or Issuer
Account Number is required. If
Required?
Y - At least one
The Hot phone is the one usually selected for campaigns. The Hot address is the one that receives letters. If an
account has any Active phone numbers or address, one of them, and only one, must be marked as Hot.
DateTime
Note
both are entered, they must
match.
YYYYMMDD or
YYYYMMDDHHMMSS
No real length limit
Y
Y – For a payment the amount is
the substring up until the first
space
File Type: Scores
Filename: scores.tab, scores.xls, scores.xlsx
Notes:
Fields:
Import column Names
AccountID
IssuerAccountNumber
DebtorName
DebtorSSN
Notes
Beam AccountID
Either Account ID or Issuer
Account Number is required. If
both are entered, they must
match.
First Last
Required?
Y - At least one
N – If included, score will attach
to debtor
999-99-9999 Either name or SSN
may be entered. If both are
entered, they must match.
Provider
ScoreName
Score
Rating
Expected$
RetainOnlyLatest
Y or N
ScoreDate
YYYYMMDD
Y
Y
Y
N – These fields are new to
Beam
Y – N will remove previous
entries for account or debtor for
this provider/score combination
N – If left blank, current date will
be used