How To Work With LBSS Files

This topic covers how to import files of a very specific type, created with the interface called LBSS. This interface provides lending institutions with comprehensive control of accounts assigned to outside collection agencies and attorneys. It allows for direct interface between any collection agency or attorney using Collect! and any lending institution using ACSwitch. This interface is referred to in long-hand as the London Bridge Agency Control Switch.

This is for end- users who are not using the current import/export module and are running on dated versions of Collect!.

This subject will be covered by way of examples in it's usage.

1. Open an LBSS Import Library
2. Import an account download
3. Export an audit file

LBSS Import Library

The LBSS import library contains the file layouts, and other details required to import and export files. You must select this library before using the LBSS functions.

To select the library the menu path is \File\ Import/Export\ Select Import Library.

See the Help topic LBSS Import Library for more information on opening the import library.

Import Account Download

This series of steps will import an account download file.

For concise storage, reproducibility and easy access, it is recommended that you create a sub-folder structure under your CV11 folder to store your incoming and outgoing files that are separate from each other and clearly labeled. Files stored in the folders should bear meaningful names so that you know what they are and where they came from. If the date you received/created them is other than the system date of the file itself, you may wish to incorporate the date into the file names as well for organized audit trail of your incoming and outgoing data files.

For purposes of the examples in this Help page, we will assume data exists in the simplest named sub-folders, "In" for files being received for import and "Out" for files being sent out to clients or attorneys.

1. Click the File menu and choose Import/Export. The Import Export sub-menu is displayed.

2. Click Import File from the Import/Export sub-menu. The Import window pops up.

3. Press F2 to select the file format to import. The list of file specifications is displayed. Select Account Download from the list.

4. Enter the name of the file containing the new accounts stored in the In folder. Example, if the file is named ad001000.dl and stored in your "In" sub-folder, key in 'in\ad001000.dl' and click OK.

5. Click START to start importing. The import will read the file and display the header record, containing the total numbers of the different records in the file.

For more information on this import, check LBSS ACCOUNT DOWNLOAD.

As It Imports

Press the Y key to continue, and examine the next record being imported; press C to cancel, and press A to import "All" records from the file.

If you choose to view the records one at a time as they are being imported, you will see them as they are being constructed out of pieces of different parts of the file. If you do not select "A" for All to import, you will continue to press Y to accept the current records being displayed for approval prior to import. After you have spot-checked a few and everything appears to be positioned correctly, it is time efficient to choose All to expedite the import.

After Importing

At the end of the import process, a window is displayed showing the count of records processed. This is not necessarily the number of accounts actually imported, but is rather the count of records read. One debtor may be comprised of multiple records of different types.

Once you click OK on the file scan summary, the Import window is displayed.

Click Totals to display the Accumulator screen; this allows you to review the total count of records scanned in this import.

Click Print and choose the import summary report. If you don't have this report, go to www.collect.org and check the Member Center area that is appropriate for the version of Collect! you are running.

It is important to spot-check the files you just imported for data integrity and correct placement into required fields.

After importing, you may wish to recalculate Debtors, Clients and Daysheets to bring your totals up-to-date.

See Also

- How To Export An LBSS Agency Audit
- How To Export an LBSS Agency Upload
- How to Implement Note Codes in LBSS
- How to Close LBSS Client Accounts
- How To Learn More About Importing In Collect!