First Choice Final Accounts home page

User guide

Overview                                                  
What you need to know
System requirements 
Upgrades
Version history

Getting started
Introduction
Setting up a new client
 Creating your first accounts - step by step        
Final accounts production checklist
Console toolbar

Using First Choice Final Accounts    
Chart of accounts
Accounts description file
Special account codes
Posting file data entry
Transferring opening balances
Importing trial balances
Using the client data screens
Printing the final accounts
Using Quick View/print
Dealing with fixed assets
Creating/filing accounts for Companies House

Other Topics
Periods of accounts and comparatives
Final accounts creation options
Cashflow statements for limited companies
Final accounts validation
HMRC Live validation
The trial balance import wizard
How the software handles iXBRL
The iXBRL viewer
Submitting accounts to HMRC and Companies House
Exporting self assessment data to tax packages
The Clients directory screen
 Installing import conversion files
Final accounts formatting options               
Limited Company abbreviated accounts                                                                     
                                                                         

 

 

 

                        

Importing trial balances

First Choice Final Accounts uses the trial balance import wizard to import trial balances from accounting software packages or any trial balance in Excel format. Trial balances in the CSV (comma separated values) format and other formats, can be imported directly into a posting file with a few button clicks. Most accounting software and accounts production packages have an export function which can create a csv file for a trial balance and Excel files can be easily saved in this format.

As well as the trial balance file, the import wizard requires a conversion file which maps the values into the account codes of First Choice Final Accounts. Conversion files are stored in the wizard. There are 2 pre-installed conversion files stored in the wizard - Default1Numeric34 and  VT Sole Trader. The topic Creating your first accounts - step by step uses the first in the demonstration. VT Sole Trader can be used to import any trial balance from a VT Final Accounts Sole Trader xls file. New conversion files can either be created during the import process or purchased from HMSoft and installed.- see Installing import conversion files.

This help topic assumes you have saved the trial balance file you want to import on your computer and a matching conversion file is stored in the import wizard. (If you want help on how to create a new conversion file during the import process see the trial balance import wizard topic.)
  1. Click the Import trial balance button on the toolbar.
  2. The Select import conversion file dialog box will appear.
  3. Select the conversion file required and click OK. The Open dialog will then appear.
  4. Navigate to the folder where your trial balance is saved and double click the file. The trial balance and the conversion file will load into the Import wizard. 
  5. Click Lock file.
  6. If the conversion file has been fully mapped, then the wizard dialog will indicate that all records are mapped.
    If not, the dialog will show how many records require mapping. (For help on how to do this see the trial balance import wizard)
  7. Click the Insert data button to complete the import.