An import file mapping template specifies how to map fields from an import file to a batch template. The template allows you to map fields once rather than manually mapping them each time you create an import process.
You can create templates for delimited and fixed-width import files. For delimited files, this is a one-step process where you map fields from a sample import file to batch template fields. For fixed-width files, mapping instructions are defined by an external layout file provided by your vendor. This file includes (at a minimum) a column of field names and three columns of numbers that represent the start and end positions and character widths for each field. You map the fixed-width layout file in two steps. First, you map the field name and start and end positions to their program values. Second, you map the import fields to the batch template fields. As you map import file fields, the program automatically calculates start positions, end positions, and field widths based on instructions from the layout file.
After you create an import file mapping template, you can use it with any import process associated with the same batch template. You may need to create custom batch templates to accommodate your vendor's import file format. For example, when an import file includes columns for batch or file summary information, you must include those columns in your batch template as well.
Tip: On the Map fields tab of an Add or Edit import process screen, you can select the import file template to use.