The Export Item Screen is used to provide details regarding a particular data field or calculated item included in the export file. Export format, customized column header, and rules for converting numeric values to text are some of the items addressed here.

• Location in File: used to specify the location of this data item within the export file. For space delimited files, enter the Starting Column and Ending Column in which the field is located. For comma delimited files, only the Starting Column is specified to indicate the field's position within the row.
• Detail to Export: this section is where you choose the specific data element to include when a field has multiple components or periods.
• Plan Detail/Item Detail: use a combination of these two drop down boxes (as applicable) to select the component to be exported. Choices for Plan Detail and Item Detail vary depending on the particular data item selected.
• Period: for data items with multiple periods, use this area to select the specific period to export. This is common when working with Earnings or Hours amounts that have a multi-year history.
• Text to export if value is blank/zero (optional): if applicable, enter the text you would like exported if the value of the field is blank or zero. For example, you may wish to export the text "N/A" for display purposes for a joint & survivor optional form of payment when the participant has no spouse and the amount in the system is blank/zero.
• Column Header Override: enter a customized column header to use in the export file. The system will replace the standard field name in the header row with the label inserted here.
• Item should never be formatted as a date: prohibit date formatting for this item.
• Display totals row at bottom of file: select this box if you wish to display the total of this field for all records in a row at the bottom of the file. This option is only available for certain fields that can be summed.
• Save calculated values to the following: enter a value in the Multiply values by box to take all values for the item and multiply by some number. Check the save box to store these values under a chosen Reported Amount.
• Format: area to specify the format to use for the item in the export. The choices vary based upon the type of item exported. Be sure to review/fill in any unghosted boxes. Format related items include:
• Category: select the type of format to be displayed. Choices will vary by data field.
• Decimal: specify the number of decimals places for numeric items.
• Use 1000 separator (,): indicate whether commas should be used in the display.
• Symbol: indicate whether or not a currency symbol ($) should be included.
• Negative numbers: select how you wish to display negative numbers.
• Conversion of numbers to text: for specifying the rules used to convert numeric information stored in the system into text for display purposes in the export file. The table displays the mapping between the numeric values and the applicable text. Note that no two conversion rules may contain the same numeric value.
  
  There are three ways to enter conversion rules into the table:
• Manual Entry: use the "+" button to add a row then double click on it to access the Value Conversion screen where you define the specific rule. On this new screen, enter the numeric value stored in the system into the space labeled Value and corresponding text to be export in the space labeled Converted Value. You can always use the "-" button to delete any unwanted rule.
• Use Reported Amount Conversion Values (Fill Button): use the blue Fill button to access this option via the Value Conversion Fill screen. Select the button Use Reported Amount conversion values to import the conversion rules set up for an existing Reported Amount field here. This option is useful when you simply wish to apply the same conversion rule to the export that has already been set up internally for displaying a Reported Amount within the system.
  
  Select the applicable Reported Amount from the drop down box and click on the green "check" button. The numeric values and text from that Reported Amount conversion will now show up as conversion rules in the table here.
  
  Once you import the rules into the table, you can always edit them further like any manual entry described above. Simply double click on the item you wish to change to navigate the screen for editing.
• Import from File (Fill Button): use the blue Fill button to access this option via the Value Conversion Fill screen. Select the button Import conversion values from file to import the conversion rules from an external ".csv" file. This option can speed up the process of defining conversion rules when you have a long list of items or when they are already defined in the required format elsewhere. Your file must be a ".csv" file with the following two columns:
  
  
  • Column 1: Numeric conversion code
  • Column 2: Conversion text
  When you click on the green "check" button with this option selected, a warning comes up reminding you of the necessary format. If you click OK, you are redirected to an area where you can then select the import file. Select the file and click Open. The numeric values and text from the file will now show up as conversion rules in the table here.
  
  Once you import the rules into the table, you can always edit them further like any manual entry described above. Simply double click on the item you wish to change to navigate the screen for editing.