Text File Specifications

Before submitting ASCII text files produced by third-party software or manually produced, you should verify the file formats, record layouts and file names using these specifications.  Verifying the correct format will increase the chances that your files will be accepted.  If a file does not conform to these specifications, the report may be returned or rejected. You will be contacted and asked to correct and re-submit your files. 

Microsoft Windows users can use the PRL text file validation program (Option C) to verify their files. 

Text File Format

The report’s text file(s) should contain ASCII data and use the pipe (“|”) character as a field separator; pipe separators are preferred, but tabs are acceptable.  Each record must always contain all the "pipe" delimiters for all fields in the record type including fields that are not required.

Individual records should occupy one line in the file and terminate with Windows end-of-line characters (line feed / carriage return).  Fixed width records will not be accepted.

Name your files according to the guidelines in the file naming appendix.  At a minimum the file name should begin with the correct form prefix and end with the txt extension.

Record Layouts

The record layouts for text files are similar to the layouts of the forms in Option A and B, except that the header fields from the forms must be added to the records.