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With this functionality, you can import bank transactions into your accounting using files Camt ISO20022. By selecting a folder containing Camt (052,053,054) files, the program detects all transactions not yet recorded in the accounts and imports them. This feature helps you speed up the process and reduce the risk of errors or duplications.
The program reads the camt files, saves them in a database, then reads their content and saves the found transactions, which are then proposed for import into the accounting.
This functionality is currently in BETA version for experimental use, which means that we welcome feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Prerequisites
- Using Banana Banana Accounting Dev-Channel with the Advanced plan.
- Using a Double-Entry or Income and Expenses accounting.
Data Preparation
Before starting with the data import process, to let the program work properly, make sure to:
- Prepare a folder containing all camt files (*.xml) to be imported into accounting. Within this folder, the data can be organized to your liking; you can subdivide them by accounting year or by bank, for example.
- Check the folder's permissions. The program must be able to read and write data to the selected folder.
- For each account, enter the IBAN in the 'BankIban' column. If you do not see the 'BankIban' column in the ‘Accounts’ table, you can add it from the menu ‘Tools --> Add/Remove functionalities’ and select ‘Add address columns in Accounts table’. Make sure that the IBAN is written correctly, all in uppercase and without any space or character between the characters.
- Install the extension: Swiss Camt ISO20022 Reader. This extension is mandatory to make the import work.
How to start
- Open Banana Accounting Plus.
- Open your accounting file or create a new one.
- On menu 'Actions' click on the command "Import bank transactions (Camt ISO20022)"
- Select the folder where your files are placed
- Visualize and manage the data inside the dialog
- Press OK to import the transactions
Once you have imported the transactions, you can use the rules for the automatic completion of imported transactions. if you select again the command "Import bank transactions", you should see that all the bank accounts are up to date.
Folder selection
The first time you run this functionality, you need to select the folder containing your files, for subsequent interactions, the program memorize the selected folder.
Once the folder is selected, the program reads the files and their contents. During the process, a dialog shows you the progress of the operation. The data reading is divided into two main steps:
- Reading the files in the folder: The entire folder is scanned, and all new files are saved in the Database.
- Reading the content of the files: Only files with a creation date within the accounting period are opened and read. In the dialog, you can also choose to read files created before the accounting opening date by modifying the "Ignore files older than" field.
You have the ability to stop reading files or their contents at any time pressing the "Cancel" button, if you stop, the data read up to that point are still saved. The next time, the program resumes reading by adding the missing data to the database.
For convenience, the program automatically checks for new content in the folder every day. If you have added new files and want to force a read, you can do so by pressing the "Read all Files" button in the import dialog.
Import bank transactions dialog
The dialog provides an overview of the processed files, the parameters used, and the transactions to be imported. You can change the parameters in the dialog at any time, and the data is recalculated immediately.
Folder Tab
Provides an overview of the import and the list of files containing transactions to be imported.
In the "Select Folder" box, you can see the path of the chosen folder, and you can change it at any time. The program tells you if the selected folder is not a valid folder.
In case you need to rename the folder, remember to update the name here in the dialog as well; by default the program uses the name of the last saved folder, if the folder is not found, reports an error.
If you need to change the name of the files within the folder, you can do so without any problem, this is because the files are recognized based on their content and not their name, for the same reason, if there were to be two files with the same content but different name, the program would calculate them as one the copy of the other, going to work then only with one of them, ignoring the other.
Ignore subfolders
This checkbox allows you to ignore the contents of all subfolders within the selected folder. It is useful if, for example, the camt files related to the current accounting are in the selected folder, while those related to past accounting (or other files) are placed in subfolders. This way, data reading becomes more efficient. By default, this checkbox is enabled. The ignored files are not inserted into the database.
By disabling the checkbox, all the data from the camt files in the subfolders will be read and saved in the database, regardless of their creation date.
Ignore files older than
This tells the program not to read the content of files older than a certain date. By default, files older than the accounting opening date are only saved in the database, but their content is never read. With this field, you can define a date that replaces the opening date.
Read all files
Reads the content of the folder. By default, the folder’s content is read daily, but by clicking this button, you can force the folder to be read immediately. This is useful if you have added a new camt file to the folder and want it to be read immediately to import its transactions
Bank accounts Tab
The accounts tab groups the list of bank accounts appearing in the accounting. For each account, the basic data is shown, along with some information that may vary depending on the import:
- Accounting Balance: The current balance in the accounting.
- Last Bank Balance: The most recent bank balance detected from the Camt files.
- New Transactions: The number of new transactions found.
- New Transactions Total: The total (balance) of the transactions to be imported.
- Last Import: The date of the last complete reading of the folder containing the files.
- Status:
- Up to date: No new transactions were found for this account.
- New Transactions: Some transactions were found for this account that do not exist in the accounting.
Transactions details Tab
Shows, grouped by account, the data for all the transactions that need to be imported into the accounting. You have the option to exclude specific transactions or all transactions related to a certain account by using checkboxes; these excluded transactions will then be proposed to you again the next time you display the dialog.
It is currently not possible to permanently exclude a transaction from import.
Consider only transactions from
You can choose to consider transactions only after a certain date, which by default is the accounting opening date. The program reads the content of the files saved in the database and presents you with a list of transactions that have not yet been imported into the accounting. You can define a date from which to consider new transactions for import.
To determine if a transaction already exists in the accounting file, the program primarily relies on the transaction ID (ExternalReference column). If the transactions in the Transactions table do not have an ID, for example, because they were imported via CSV files, and often this information is omitted by banks in CSV files, you can simply enter a date after the last imported transaction. This way, the program will not propose to import transactions before this date.
All new transactions imported using Camt files (052, 053, and 054) should come with an identifier for each individual transaction, as defined by the ISO20022 standard.
Settings Tab
Delete saved data
Currently, here you only have the option to delete the data of all imports saved in the database. Once the deletion is confirmed, you will be redirected to the Folder Tab, and by default, you will see all default values. If you want to perform a new import, just click the "Read All Files" button.
This command deletes only the contents of the tables in the database, if you want to delete the database completely, you must manually delete the file “*.db ”that is created in your folder.
Deletion of database data does not affect the data in accounting.
Database file
The program uses an SQlite database to save import data.
The first time you use this function, in the selected folder, if valid, the program saves the database file (*.db).
This file must remain in its location and should not be moved, as the program will look for it, If you accidentally move or delete the .db file, the program will create a new one. Each time the program creates a new .db file, it will need to read the entire contents of the file folder again.
The database saves all data about the files read in various steps:
- Saves the list of files in the folders. If it is indicated in the dialog to ignore subfolders, the files within the subfolders are not saved (default active).
- Saves the list of bank accounts (and related information) present in accounting. Should this data be changed in accounting, the database would update its information.
- Saves the list of transactions found within open and read files.
- Saves the import history (Who performed it, when and with what software version).
Log file
Banana also generates a log file during the import process. This file can be useful for developers in case problems occur with the import process, to understand what went wrong.
Contact our support team, and they will help you locate the file in your active directory.
Troubleshooting
- If you don’t see any transactions to import but the selected folder is correct, please check:
- If the bank accounts inserted in the Accounts table are correct.
- If The accounting period includes the transactions you are trying to import.