Using the Dedicated 8XX batch formatter

1. Launch the Dedicated 8XX Batch Formatter application and create a new file [File > New].  A new file window appears.
   

1. Enter the header information in the Header Record of the Batch Formatter per the required fields.
   

1. Validate the file information [Tools > Validate].
   
   The file is validated or formatting errors.
   

1. Correct any errors that may appear in the Validation Results section.
   
   You can use Find/Replace under Tools: select the column to search and the find/replace criteria, then click the OK button.
   

You can find the Dedicated 8XX Batch Ordering Template in Control Center: Manage Orders > Batch > Dedicated.

The template is a spreadsheet used to arrange the data to be loaded into the Batch Formatter application,  via the CenturyLink Protected Internet Delivery [QPID] utility for scripted uploads to the Control Center folders, or in Control Center via Manage Orders > Batch > Dedicated. It is divided into three sections – Header Record, Data Record and Trailer Record. Each field must be populated with the required information for the order to be provisioned successfully.

Header & Trailer Records

• The file must be tab-delimited
• A tab must come before and after fields in the header and trailer
• The Header Record must be the first line of the file and be followed by a carriage return
• The Trailer Record must be the last line of the file

Data Records

• A tab must follow each data field between the first and last field of each record. If a field is null, a tab should be inserted before and after the null value, e.g. if there are three fields and the second field is a null value, the format would be: Field 1{tab}{tab}Field3 where Field1 and Field3 represent the field contents
• 84 tabs should exist for each Data Record (85 data fields)
• When viewing the file, field spacing may be different for each record due to the tab-delimited format (e.g. the Comment_Remarks field may only be 20 characters for one record and 75 for another)
• Do not enter a tab after the last field; use a carriage return instead

1. Open a copy of the Dedicated 8XX Batch Ordering Template available at Control Center > Manage Orders > Batch > Dedicated:
   

1. Populate each field with the provisioning data. Insert a space in the last field (Product Transfer Indicator) by pressing the spacebar followed by the Enter key (this ensures the proper tab lengths are saved). If the file includes multiple 8XXs or rows, this cell can be copied down to the last 8XX on the order.
   

1. Delete all rows EXCEPT the Header, Data Records and Trailer.
   

1. Click File > Save As.
   

1. Enter a new file name in the File Name field.Click File > Save As.
   
   The file name must adhere to the following parameters:
   
   
   • Use a unique file name
   • Use .txt as the file extension (tab delimited format)
   • The file name must contain at least 13 characters
   • Example: 01012004CTLTA.txt
   • Where month, day, and year are in MMDDYYYY format (ex.: 01012004)
   • Where the three-digit customer code (ex.: CTL). (The customer code is validated during the submission process and must be populated correctly)
   • Where the letter T identifies the file as tab-delimited
   • Where sequential letters of the alphabet identify more than one file sent in one calendar day, e.g. A for the first file and B, C, D, etc. for subsequent files sent the same day
      

File names with the same root name but different extensions are not recognized as different files. Submitting files with the same name will result in the file being rejected by Control Center. For example: 11082003CTLTA.txt, 11082003CTLTA.tx1, and 1108CTLTA.tx3 would all be viewed as the same file (11082003CTLTA) and be rejected by the system.

1. In the Save As Type field, select Text (Tab delimited) as the format type.
   

1. Click Save.
   

1. Select OK if prompted with a ‘multiple sheets’ decision box.
   

1. Select Yes when prompted with Tab-delimited decision box.
   

1. Open the file using a text application such as Notepad or Text pad (Text pad is recommended because hidden characters such as tabs, spaces, etc. can be viewed). If using Text pad, select the Visible icon to view hidden characters in the file.
   

1. Remove extra spaces or tabs after the requested_due_date data field in the header row of the file.
   

1. Remove extra spaces or tabs after the trailer_identifier data field found in the trailer row of the file.
   

1. Click Save.
   

You can copy data from a spreadsheet and paste it into the Batch Formatter.

1. Open a new file in the Dedicated 8XX Batch Formatter [File > New].
   

1. Copy the header information from the original spreadsheet and paste in the Header Record section of the Batch Formatter file.
   

1. Copy data information from the original spreadsheet and paste in the Data Record section of the Batch Formatter file.
   

1. Validate the information and correct any validation errors that may have been detected by the Validate function.

1. Save the file as previously noted (for example, 01012004CTLTA.txt).