1 File Specification
1.1 Introduction
This file format is used to:
o Upload batch files containing direct debit bank account transactions via the Batch Payment option (MULTI module)
Refunds/direct credits to bank accounts are not supported.
The file can be uploaded to BPOINT by a BPOINT user using the BPOINT Back Office or the BPOINT Web Service API.
To ensure that funds are settled same-day, the file must be uploaded and fully processed before the BPOINT daily cut off time (currently 17:30 AEST/ADT).
Bank account transactions will always approve and settle on the day of submission if submitted prior to the BPOINT daily cut off time and will be reflected as such in the BPOINT Batch Result file. Direct Debit returns will be processed on subsequent days and are reflected in the DE Return report.
1.2 File Naming Convention
The File Name can contain characters A-Z, a-z, 0-9, “_” or “-“. File name must be less than 45 characters in length.
The file extension must be either “.DAT”, “.TXT” or “.CSV”. Files may be uploaded as zipped. A zipped file may contain several batches. The zip file must not be password protected.
The result file produced by BPOINT will be named the same as the upload file with “-R” appended to the file name, e.g. “XYZ.CSV” will produce a result file “XYZ-R.CSV”.
1.3 Field Notations
| Column | Notation | Description |
| Format | AN | Denotes an alphanumeric data type under the Format column. Valid characters in this field would include numbers (0-9), “-“ (hyphen/dash), “.” Full stop and “+” (plus sign) |
| N | Denotes a numerical data type under the Format column. Valid data in such fields would include numbers only (0-9) | |
| LJ | Left Justified field | |
| RJ | Right Justified field | |
| ZF | Zero Filled field | |
| SF | Space Filled field | |
| Man/Opt | M | A mandatory field is represented by a value of ‘M’ under the Man/Opt column. |
| O | An optional field is represented by a value of ‘O’ under the Man/Opt column. |
1.4 File Format Rules
| No. | Rule Description |
| 1 | The APCA file is a fixed length ASCII encoded file format. Each record must be 120 characters in length. |
| 2 | APCA files consist of a single file header record, followed by at least 2 transaction detail records and then followed by a single file trailer record. |
| 3 | Each record in the file must end in a Carriage Return Line Feed (CRLF) character (ASCII values 13 and 10). |
| 3 | There are two types of transaction detail records. The debit transaction record in the file is identified as a ‘13’ type record and the credit transaction record is identified as a ‘50’ type record. There can be many debit transaction (type 13) records but only one credit transaction (type 50) record in the APCA file. |
| 4 | The debit transaction (type 13) records would include bank account details of the debtors that the Client intends to direct debit.The credit transaction (type 50) record would include details of the Client’s settlement bank account where the funds need to be credited into. |
| 5 | The APCA file must be a balanced file i.e., a credit transaction (Type 50) record must be included so that the file sums to zero. An unbalanced file will not be processed in BPOINT. |
| 6 | The settlement bank account is predefined by the Client and setup by the Bank. The same settlement account needs to then be used in the APCA file. |
| 7 | The Processing Date must be the date the file is submitted in BPOINT. If uploading the file through the BPOINT Back Office, the Client can set the file to process immediately or process on a nominated future date which must be within 6 weeks. If a future date is selected, the file will be processed overnight on the nominated processing date, or the next business day if the processing date falls on a non-business day.Batch files submitted via the BPOINT Web Service API are processed immediately. The file cannot be set to be processed at a future date.. |
| 8 | The sum total across all transactions in an APCA file is settled as a single credit against the nominated settlement bank account. |
| 9 | If multiple APCA batches are uploaded into the BPOINT Back Office in a single day then they will all be combined into a single credit to the nominated settlement bank account. |
| 10 | The APCA file cannot be used for the purpose of processing refunds/direct credits to bank accounts. |
2 File Layout
2.1 File Header Record
| # | Field Name | Position | Length | Format | Man/Opt | Description | Example |
| 1 | Record Type | 1 | 1 | N | M | Constant Value = “0” | 0 |
| 2 | Unused | 2-18 | 17 | AN/SF | M | Unused, Space filled | |
| 3 | Sequence Number | 19-20 | 2 | N | M | Constant Value=“01” | 01 |
| 4 | Bank Code | 21-23 | 3 | AN | M | Constant Value="CBA" | CBA |
| 5 | Unused | 24-30 | 7 | AN/SF | M | Unused, Space filled | |
| 6 | User Name | 31-56 | 26 | AN/LJ/SF | M | APCA User Name. Left justified and Space filled | ABC Company Pty Ltd |
| 7 | APCA Number | 57-62 | 6 | AN/RJ/ZF | M | APCA number as assigned by the Bank. Right justified and Zero filled. | 123456 |
| 8 | File Description | 63-74 | 12 | AN/LJ/SF | M | Generic Description of the transactions included in this file. Left justified and Space Filled. | DIRECTDEBITS |
| 9 | Processing Date | 75-80 | 6 | AN/ZF | M | Date for processing which must be in DDMMYY format | 060912 |
| 10 | Unused | 81-120 | 40 | AN/SF | M | Unused, Space filled |
2.2 Detail Transaction Record
| # | Field Name | Position | Length | Format | Man/Opt | Description | Example |
| 1 | Record Type | 1 | 1 | N | M | Constant Value = “1”. | 1 |
| 2 | BSB Number | 2-8 | 7 | AN | M | Bank/State/Branch (BSB) number in XXXXXX format. | 063-000 |
2.2 Detail Transaction Record
| # | Field Name | Position | Length | Format | Man/Opt | Description | Example |
| 1 | Record Type | 1 | 1 | N | M | Constant Value = “1”. | 1 |
| 2 | BSB Number | 2-8 | 7 | AN | M | Bank/State/Branch (BSB) number in XXXXXX format. | 063-000 |
| The BSB must be a valid identifier as issued by APCA. | |||||||
| 3 | Account Number | 9-17 | 9 | AN/RJ/SF | M | Bank Account Number to be credited or debited. Must not contain all blanks or all zeros. Leading zeros which are part of an account number must be included. Right Justified and Space filled. | 12345678 |
| 4 | Indicator | 18 | 1 | AN/SF | M | “N” for a new or varied BSB otherwise space filled. | N |
| 5 | Transaction Code | 19-20 | 2 | N | M | Constant Value =”13” indicating a debit transaction record(OR)Constant Value =”50” indicating a credit transaction record | 13 or 50 |
| 6 | Amount | 21-30 | 10 | N/RJ/ZF | M | Amount in cents without the decimal point. Format $$$$$$$$cc E.g. $10.00 = “1000” Right justified and Zero filled. | 1000 |
| 7 | Account Name | 31-62 | 32 | AN/LJ/SF | M | Name of the Accountholder. Left justified and Space filled. | John Smith |
| 8 | Lodgement Reference | 63-80 | 18 | AN/LJ/SF | M | Description to appear against the transaction on the bank statement. Left justified and Space filled. It is suggested that this field be kept unique for every transaction. | Rates 2012 |
| 9 | Trace BSB | 81-87 | 7 | AN | M | Trace BSB for returned items. Must be in XXX-XXX format. Must be the same as the Trace BSB listed on the application or as updated from time to time at the request of the client | 063-000 |
| 10 | Trace Account Number | 88-96 | 9 | AN/RJ/SF | M | Trace Account number for returned items. Must not contain all blanks or all zeros. Leading zeros which are part of an account number must be included. Right Justified and Space filled. Must be the same as the Trace Account number listed on the application or as updated from time to time at the request of the client | 12345678 |
| 11 | Name of Remitter | 97-112 | 16 | AN/LJ/SF | M | Preferred name. Left justified and Space Filled. The remitter name will also appear on the bank statement against this transaction. Must be the same as the Remitter Name listed on the application or as updated from time to time at the request of the client | Company Pty Ltd |
| 12 | Withholding Tax | 113-120 | 8 | N/RJ/ZF | M | Amount in cents without the decimal point. Format $$$$$$cc e.g. $10.00 = “1000” | 00000000 |
2.3 File Trailer Record
| # | Field Name | Position | Length | Format | Man/ Opt | Description | Example |
| 1 | Record Type | 1 | 1 | N | M | Constant Value = “7” | 7 |
| 2 | Bank/State/Branch number | 2-8 | 7 | AN | M | Constant Value =”999-999” | 999-999 |
| 3 | Unused | 9-20 | 12 | AN/SF | M | Unused, Space filled | |
| 4 | File Net Total Amount | 21-30 | 10 | N/RJ/ZF | M | For a balanced file this net total should be all zeros. | 0000000000 |
| 5 | File Credit Total | 31-40 | 10 | N/RJ/ZF | M | Sum of amounts across all credit | 0000001000 |
| Amount | transaction (type 50) records. Amount in cents, without decimal point. Right justified and Zero filled. | ||||||
| 6 | File Debit Total Amount | 41-50 | 10 | N/RJ/ZF | M | Sum of amounts across all debit transaction (type 13) records. Amount in cents, without decimal point. Right justified and Zero filled. | 0000001000 |
| 7 | Unused | 51-74 | 24 | AN/SF | M | Unused, Space filled | |
| 8 | Detail Record Count | 75-80 | 6 | N/RJ/ZF | M | Total count of all detail transaction (credit and debit) records in the file. Right justified and Zero Filled. | 000002 |
| 9 | Unused | 81-120 | 40 | AN | M | Unused, Space filled |
3 Sample File
3.1 APCA File
0 01CBA ABC COMPANY PTY LTD 123456DIRECTDEBITS0609121083-123987654321 130000001000JOHN SMITH RATES 2012 063-000 12345678ABC COMPANY P/L 000000001063-000 12345678 500000001000ABC COMPANY PTY LTD DIR DEBIT 063-000 12345678ABC COMPANY P/L 000000007999-999 000000000000000010000000001000 000002