eCommercial Batch File Processing User Manual - … Batch File Processing Manual – 10/04 Page 6 Step 2: Format Management (Input) In order for ePORT to process a file, it must first

eBatch File Processing

ePORT eCommercial

User Guide

October 27, 2004 Version 1.0

Confidentiality Agreement The material presented in this manual is confidential and proprietary to Equifax Information Services LLC. This manual is not to be disclosed to any third parties or reproduced in any form, except as permitted in writing by Equifax.

Equifax Information Services LLC Marketing Communications – H22 1550 Peachtree Street, N.W. Atlanta, GA 30309

Equifax is a registered trademark of Equifax Inc. Equifax ePORT and Business Principal Report are trademarks of Equifax Inc. Copyright © 2004, Equifax Inc., Atlanta, Georgia. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents Preparing to Process Batch Transactions on ePORT................................................................... 1

Before You Begin .......................................................................................................................... 1 Delimited Input .......................................................................................................................... 1 Product Activation ..................................................................................................................... 2

Batch Home Page ............................................................................................................................. 4 Overview........................................................................................................................................ 4 Login .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Step 1: File Management .............................................................................................................. 5

Adding a file .............................................................................................................................. 5 Viewing data .............................................................................................................................. 5

Step 2: Format Management (Input)............................................................................................. 6 Add New Input File Format....................................................................................................... 7

Step 3: Submit a Batch Job ........................................................................................................... 9 1. Create and Enter a Batch Job Name ................................................................................... 10 2. Select the Input File Previously Uploaded for Processing.................................................. 10 3. Identify the Input Format File Name .................................................................................. 10 4. Select the Report Profile (product) Name........................................................................... 10 5. Submitting the Job .............................................................................................................. 10 Error Processing....................................................................................................................... 11

Step 4: Batch Output................................................................................................................... 12 View Contents.......................................................................................................................... 13 Batch Job Detail....................................................................................................................... 14 Listing Reports or Inquiries ..................................................................................................... 15 Unprocessed Records............................................................................................................... 15 Saving Records ........................................................................................................................ 16 Advanced Features................................................................................................................... 16 eCommercial Inquiry Format Rules......................................................................................... 17

eCommercial Batch File Processing Manual – 10/04 Page 1

Preparing to Process Batch Transactions on ePORT This guide is intended for eCommercial users who subscribe to Report History Storage and assumes that users are familiar with ePORT. Companies that wish to use ePORT to import files should already have member numbers input into ePORT and have users and report profiles setup. Report History Storage activation is required to activate Batch Processing. The charges will appear in the ancillary section of the invoice as billing code RHC for Unlimited Report History Storage and will bill to the first eCommercial member number obtained for your company ID. Business Principal Report is not available for batch processing.

Before You Begin Before attempting to use the batch processing feature, you should have all of the following information available:

1. A file that contains PIPE (|) delimited records of inquiry information. 2. Knowledge about the format of the data contained in the file. 3. Access to the eCommercial Service with appropriate report profiles setup.

Equifax recommends breaking up large files into 20,000 records or less for the best performance.

Delimited Input When using the batch capability on ePORT, data uploaded to ePORT must be in PIPE (|) delimited file format. Additionally, input fields must contain data in certain data formats and lengths. Each data element is considered an inquiry field. The acceptable formats for ePORT inquiry information are documented in the ePORT Format Inquiry Rules document available on ePORT. The user is responsible for ensuring that the data is in PIPE (|) delimited format. Common ways in which data can be stored in delimited format is by using a spreadsheet, by some type of application program that saves data in pipe-delimited format, or from a customer database, which has been saved in pipe-delimited format. Example: Pipe Delimited File


Product Activation In order to use batch processing, the Report History Storage product option must be activated by your company administrator. To activate, the company administrator should click the eCommercial Info link from the ePORT Welcome page. Then click the [Company Administration] button at the top of the eCommercial page. From the company administration page, click the ePORT Account Administration link. Next, select the Unlimited for 6 Months Report History option. You will now have access to Batch Processing link on the eCommercial Home Page.


• Report History Storage Example: eCommercial Subscription Options


Batch Home Page

Overview Batch Processing requires four steps performed from the Batch Home page:

1. File Management - Upload a delimited input file that contains inquiry information. 2. Format Management (Input) - Identify the order and format of the input data fields. 3. Submit a Batch Job - Name the batch job, identify the product (report profile) to be

processed, and submit the batch job for processing. 4. Batch Output - Review the report results.

Login 1. Login to ePORT. 2. Select the eCommercial Info (Business Credit Reports, NTDE) link. 3. Select the Batch Process link. 4. The Batch Home page will be displayed.

Example: Batch Home page


Step 1: File Management On the Batch Home page, select File Management to upload a file from you PC or network. Once selected, the following page will display: Example: Batch Input File Management page

Adding a file 1. Click [Browse…] to find the file containing records to be imported into ePORT. 2. After selecting a file, click [UpLoad File]. 3. Use the ePORT Inquiry Format Rules link to make sure you have the acceptable field

formats in your input file.

Viewing data You can view existing files. The first 25 records of a file will be displayed by clicking View Data. Additionally, you can delete unwanted or previously processed files by clicking Delete. Other details included in this view are the number of records, size of the file, the user who uploaded the file, and a date/time stamp.


Step 2: Format Management (Input) In order for ePORT to process a file, it must first “understand” the order of the data included in the file. To define the input format or change an existing format, select Format Management (Input) from the Batch Home page. The following page will display: Example: Batch Input Format File Management page

This page allows you to:

• Add a new input file format [Add New] • Edit a file format Edit • Delete a file format Delete


Add New Input File Format On the Batch Input Format File Management page, click [Add New] to add a new file format. The following page will display: Example: Create/Edit an Input Format File page

1. Enter an input Format File Name. 2. The Format type should be selected (“Delimited” is the only current option). 3. The data delimiter is Pipe (|). 4. Inquiry fields included in the file should be selected in the logical order they appear on

each row of the file. Select an available field and click [Add>>]. It is helpful to review your delimited input file while creating the format file.

5. After completing the file format, click [Save]. Note: Please pay special attention to the following fields when requesting blended

products via batch.

PIPE


Available Inquiry Field Equifax Access Pin The states of California and Texas have enacted laws permitting their residents to place a "Security Freeze" on their credit file. Credit grantors and other users of credit reports, subject to the exceptions discussed below, will not have access to the consumer's file when a security freeze is in place. Consumers have the option of lifting the freeze for a specific period of time or for a specific party. When the security freeze is lifted for a period of time, users will have normal access to the consumer's file during that period of time. When the consumer wishes to lift the security freeze for a specific party, Equifax will provide the consumer with a four-digit personal identification number (PIN), good for one-time use only, which the consumer must provide to the specific party (i.e. the user) in order for access to the credit file to be granted. When attempting to access a frozen file, users will receive a message that reads "CONSUMER REQUESTED SECURITY FREEZE ON HIS/HER CREDIT FILE - REPORT UNAVAILABLE.". If there is an active PIN on the frozen file and a user attempts to access the file, either without the PIN or with an incorrect PIN, the user will receive a message that reads "REPORT UNAVAILABLE - ACCESS NUMBER PROVIDED DOES NOT MATCH CONSUMER'S FILE." If you have questions regarding the state specific obligations, we recommend that you consult with your provider of legal services. Available Inquiry Field Equifax Permissible Purpose Code

When ordering scoring products that utilize consumer credit information (Blended products), you must indicate the FCRA Permissible Purpose for accessing consumer credit file of the identified Principal or Guarantor. Valid inputs are as follows: Blank A blended score product is not being requested. 24 Credit transaction involving sole proprietor, co-signer or personal guarantor. (Blended product) 25 Principal’s written consent (for all other Principals). (Blended product)


Step 3: Submit a Batch Job After uploading your input file and defining the input and output formats, you are ready to submit a batch job to ePORT. Select the Submit a Batch Job link from the Batch Home page. The process to submit a batch job contains the following steps:

1. Create and enter a batch job name. 2. Select the input file previously uploaded for processing. 3. Identify the input format file name. 4. Select the product to be processed (report profile). 5. Check the box if you want to be notified by e-mail when the batch job is completes.

Example: Submit a Batch Job page


1. Create and Enter a Batch Job Name Select a name for the job that would help you quickly identify it later.

2. Select the Input File Previously Uploaded for Processing The drop down menu will display all files available for processing. Supervisors and company administrators can view all files uploaded by any user for the company. Users will only be able to view their own files.

3. Identify the Input Format File Name This is the file format that the user has previously created. It should be the file format that represents the layout of the input file.

4. Select the Report Profile (product) Name The input file should access this eCommercial product.

5. Submitting the Job After completing the previous steps, check whether or not to be notified by e-mail and then submit the job by clicking [Submit File]. If e-mail notification is checked, you will be prompted for an e-mail address to receive the notification.


Error Processing IMPORTANT: ePORT will “pre-process” the input file to verify that an equal number of fields exist on the input file as are described by the File Format. If there are an unequal number of fields on the input and the file format, an error condition will occur. Example: Field mismatch error when submitting a batch job

Errors are generally caused by the following situations:

• The data on the Input File does not have the same number of fields as the Format File you selected:

Solution: Either change your Format File or correct your data.

• You have selected a Report Profile with required data elements that do not exist on your Format File:

Solution: Either correct your Format File or select an appropriate product that your current File Format will support.

• Your Input File may be using a different delimiter than you selected in your File Format:

Solution: Verify your delimiter in your input file.


Step 4: Batch Output After a file is processed, you may be notified by e-mail if you checked the ‘Notify me by e-mail when the batch job is complete’ checkbox on the Submit a Batch job page. Once the process is completed, select Batch Output from the Batch Home page. The following page will display: Example: Batch Output page

This page allows you to: • Search for previously submitted batch jobs [Search Batch Job] • View Contents View Contents • Cancel batch jobs that are waiting to be processed Cancel • Delete a previously submitted batch job Delete


View Contents • On the Batch Output page, clicking View Contents displays the following page:

Example: Batch Job Content page

This page allows you to: • Search for reports by Consumer Last Name, SSN, and Reference Number [Search] • View Individual Reports Report • View Original Request Inquiry • [Print Reports] • Delete Reports [Delete Reports] • View Batch Job Detail displays the following page:

Check the top box to select all reports, or place a check in the box beside the report(s) you would like to view.

Requirements for Download


Example: Batch Job Detail page

Batch Job Detail The Batch Report History view contains the following statistics:

• Batch job name • Status of the batch job • User ID that submitted the job • The input file name • The file format • The report profile requested • The number of records on the input file • The number of records successfully processing • The number of records with a processing error (if any) • The number of records that could not be processed (if any)


Listing Reports or Inquiries The listing of records allows you to view the reports or inquiries. Reports can also be printed or deleted. Only supervisors or administrators have the ability to delete reports. Note: Records that cannot be processed will not be displayed in this view.

Unprocessed Records Records that have not been processed can be viewed at the link Unprocessed / Processing Errors. Records in this view did not process due to problems with the data or the job was canceled while processing. Example: Unprocessed Batch Input File Data page

This page allows you to: • Resubmit a job for processing [Submit] • Access an Online Inquiry page where they can resubmit the request • Edit the records Edit Record so that another batch may be resubmitted. This advanced

feature may only be suitable for larger volume customers. • Delete a record Delete


Saving Records In order to save records, you must meet the browser requirements below: • Internet Explorer 5.5 with SP2 or 6.0 and higher • Netscape 4.x and higher

All batch output files will be saved as a single zipped file. Note: No-hits are considered successful; however, you will not be billed for them.

You will not be billed for duplicate inquiries if you run them on the same business day. Duplicate inquiries run on the next business day will be billed.

Advanced Features ePORT provides advanced features allowing the editing of inquiry information and resubmission of data. Through ePORT, you can process a batch job, view error records, correct errors, and resubmit the records individually or as another batch.


eCommercial Inquiry Format Rules Field Name Length Format Reference Number 20 Alphanumeric Company Name 65 Alphanumeric Company Federal Tax ID/SSN 9 Alphanumeric Company Address 60 Alphanumeric Company City 28 Alphanumeric Company State 2 Alphanumeric Company Zip 5 Alphanumeric Country Code 2 Alphanumeric Company Telephone Number 10 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor First Name 20 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Middle Name 15 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Last Name 25 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Suffix 2 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Company Name 65 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor SSN/Federal Tax ID 9 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor House Number 10 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Direction 2 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Street Name 26 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Street type 2 Alpha Principal/Guarantor Apt 5 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor City 20 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor State 2 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Zip 5 Alphanumeric Principal/Guarantor Telephone Number 10 Alphanumeric Principal Date of Birth 8 Alphanumeric (MMDDYYYY) Equifax Access Pin 4 Alphanumeric Permissible Purpose Code 2 Numeric (Blank, 24, 25)

eCommercial Batch File Processing User Manual - … Batch File Processing Manual – 10/04 Page 6 Step 2: Format Management (Input) In order for ePORT to process a file, it must first

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