Scanning Checks / Importing Files ================================= If you are using a check scanner from your bank, you will be able to import a file of contributions into TouchPoint. This gives you both the benefit of having your check deposits made automatically (thus being able to keep the checks for referral) and having that process create batches in TouchPoint to automatically create contribution records for your donors. .. note:: To scan check **images** and data directly into a TouchPoint batch, see :doc:`CheckImageImport`. Importing Other Types of Files ------------------------------ You can also import files from other online payment processors if you are using one that is not supported as a Payment Gateway into TouchPoint. The process works the same way as the check file import. :ref:`See below `. Associating Donors ------------------ The first time you use the import for either checks or a file, you will of course need to associate each check/contribution with a donor in your database. After that, any subsequent checks from that donor will be matched automatically. Assigning Fund and/or Splitting Check into Multiple Funds --------------------------------------------------------- The check file will have the total amount of the check, so you will need to use the envelope or check itself to know to which fund you should post the contribution, and also to make any splits that are required if the check is going into multiple funds. We have detailed instructions and a video in a separate help article that shows how to split contributions. .. seealso:: :doc:`/Finance/SplitContribution` New Clients and/or 1st-Time Check Scanners ------------------------------------------ Each bank has different formats for their exports, and we need to ensure that TouchPoint will read the file from your bank correctly. Typically, this requires us to program support for your bank's deposit export before TouchPoint will read your file correctly. We do this as part of your hosting service so there is no extra charge. So, if you are a new TouchPoint client or you are using you bank's check scanner for the first time, you must send us a sample deposit export first. Submit a support request, letting us know you are going to begin using your bank's check scanner, and include a sample file from your bank's software. If you have questions on obtaining that, just let us know and we can help you. After we have verified that your file will import correctly, you will be ready to begin importing your check files. If a special setting is required, we will tell you what that should be. .. important:: Please be sure you contact us before your try to import a file for the first time. Send us a sample file from your bank in order for us to see if it works with our existing formats. If not, we will create a new one for your bank's software at no charge. If you are not familiar with the Contribution Process in general, you will want to read about that. .. seealso:: :doc:`/Finance/ContributionsOverview` .. _ImportPayPalFiles: Importing Files from PayPal, etc. --------------------------------- You can use the same process outlined below if you have files from PayPal or some other payment processor. You would start with **Step 2** below, but please read the :ref:`important note in Step 1` regarding how to open and save the file. The file must be **.csv**, *NOT* Excel. .. _importfile: Importing Scanned Check Files to Create Batches ----------------------------------------------- .. note:: Before proceeding, see the :ref:`Bank Drafts ` section below. Step 1 Scan all of your checks for the day using the specific instructions from your bank for your scanner. You can separate them into separate batches, just like you would if you were not scanning the checks. Make the deposits to your bank (using their instructions). Using your banking software, create a deposit export and download the file. Save it in your download folder (or wherever you prefer). .. _ImportantNoteFile: .. important:: Do **not** open this in Excel and then re-save it. Use your browser to "Save As" the **original file format**, which will be **.csv**. This insures that we get the file exactly like it comes from the bank without it being altered by Excel. After you have imported the file into TouchPoint, you can open it in Excel if you need to for any reason. Step 2 Navigate to `Finance > Upload > Batch Upload Contributions`. Click `Choose File` and open the saved file you downloaded (the file name will then appear beside the button). Select the `Contribution Date or Posting Date`. Enter the `Fund ID`. This is the same as the Default Fund you would select if you were creating the batches manually. Click the blue `Submit` button. Once you click `Submit`, a batch gets created for **each batch** included in the file, and you will be taken to the last batch. The **Actual Amount** and the **Actual Count** will be populated automatically. .. _AssigningDonorAndFund: Assigning Donor and Fund ------------------------ You will always need to verify that each donation has a donor assigned and is associated with the correct Fund, even after you have imported a file for the first time. Most donors will automatically be assigned because they would have been in a previous file, but you might have new donors. Step 1 Find one of the new batches in the Batch List and click the `Details` icon (it looks like an eye) to go directly to the details page for that batch. You can click the `Batch ID` which will take you to the same page. Step 2 Using the checks as your reference, associate each item with the donor on the check as follows: Click `Select` in the `Name` column for the first item. ``Select`` is what you will see in the field where you would normally see the donor's name. Search for the person using the normal Search/Add procedures. .. caution:: For this process, do not select the `Edit` icon. Always use the `Select` link as indicated above. This is what stores the match for the donor. When you find the person, click on the name to select it, and then click `Commit and Add`. .. note:: Each item (contribution) is associated with only one person, even though the check may have the names of both spouses on it. So, you will just select one of them. Proceed through the fields, verifying that you have the correct `Fund` selected, choosing a different one, if necessary. If the total amount goes to one fund, then proceed with the next contribution in the batch. If the contribution is assigned to the correct person and the correct fund, you do not need to make any changes. If the total amount is to be split between funds, proceed as outlined in the :doc:`SplitContribution` help article. Step 3 Complete associating contributions until all have a donor and the contributions are assigned to the correct fund(s). Then proceed to the next batch and follow the same procedures. Subsequent Imports ------------------ For subsequent imported check files, you will **not** have to associate any contributions from donors whose bank information has already been associated with them. However, you will always want to go through each batch and verify that each contribution has a donor and that the correct Fund has been selected. Split any that are going to multiple funds. Corrections ----------- If you have associated a check to the wrong donor, you can correct it just as you would any other type of donation that has been incorrectly associated. For these types of corrections, you will need the user with `Admin` and `Finance` role or a user with `FinanceAdmin` role to reopen the batch if it is closed, as you need to make the correction using the scanned check information that is attached to the contribution. Step 1 Go to `Finance > Search > Batches`, find the correct batch and click the `Details` icon to see the batch details. Step 2 Click the `Edit` icon for the contribution that needs correcting, and then remove the *incorrect* People ID/Envelope # and Name. Once those fields are blank, click the blue `Save` button. Step 3 Click the `Select` link in the `Name` column for the contribution that needs to be associated with a new donor and search for the correct person using the normal Search/Add procedures. .. important:: If the contribution was a check for multiple funds, be sure to `Edit` all items, if the change is to correct the donor. .. _BankDrafts: How to Handle Bank Drafts ------------------------- Most churches will have some donors who direct their bank to mail you a check. If you have more than one donor using the same bank (which will probably be the case), all the checks will have the same account number. Because the scanned import depends on matching the account number with the donor, you must handle these bank drafts differently. Here's what you do: Keep all of those checks (bank drafts) together and scan them as one batch. Or, as least scan them at the beginning or end of the batch so they are all together. You will associate each check with the correct donor. .. important:: Remember, all of these types of bank checks that are issued from the same bank will have the same account number, so the last person you associate with that account will be the one that will display the next time you scan this type of check from that specific bank. So, you will always need to follow these procedures with bank drafts, in order to associate those checks with the correct donor. Once you associate the contribution with a donor, it stays on that donor's record, even if that account number for that bank gets associated with another donor. Now return for the :ref:`steps to import the file `. | | +--------------------+------------------+ | **Latest Update** | **2/20/2024** | +--------------------+------------------+ Update steps for new menu