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Switched batch step-by-step overview

You can create a Switched batch file using the Switched batch ordering template and Switched batch formatter tool.

To use the Switched batch template and formatter tool:

  1. Click Orders, click Manage Orders, then click Batch.
  1. In the Ordering Type field, select the Switched radio button.
Batch Order (showing Switched selected)

Switched batch formatter template

  1. In the Templates section, click Switched Batch Ordering Template to download the template, then fill it out based on  your request (add/change/disco/block/unblock action for ANI/8xx/calling card).

    • See Switched Batch Required Fields.

    • You can copy the information directly from another Excel spreadsheet into the template, or manually key the information in the appropriate fields.

    • Submit Date and LOA Date should be keyed with the year first, the month, and then the date YYYYMMDD (Example: 20140429)
  1. Delete the header line (The first line that identifies what should be populated in each column)
  1. Save the file. (File must be saved as delimited text file—other formats of text will error out.)

Uploading the file into web-based Switched batch formatter tool

  1. In the Formatting Tools section, click Switched Batch Formatter (Web-Based).
Batch Order (showing Switched selected)
  1. Click Load File.
  1. Click Browse, navigate to your file, then click Open.
  1. Click Load.

    The formatter tool loads your data.
  1. Validate the file:

    1. Click Validate button.

      New window/tab will open with errors.

    2. Correct any errors.
  1. Save the file:

    1. In the Web‑Based Switched Batch Formatter Tool, click Save.

    2. Save as: Customer Code/Date/Letter.txt (e.g., CTL042924A.txt)

    3. Click Save.
  1. Open your saved file to update customer code:

    • Your file maybe saved in a different format so you will need to open it in notepad for it to remain in text format.

    • When you open your file it should now have a header line starting with all Hs and a footer line starting with all Ts.

    • On your header line you are going to see BATCH_ID=abcd. You need to change the generic abcd to your desired RMC ID.
  1. Save your changes to the file.

Loading your file into Control Center

  1. In the Upload Files box, click Browse, navigate to your file, then click Open.
  1. Click Send.

    Control Center loads your file.

Checking to determine if your file was processed or was a bad file

  1. Determine if your file was processed or if it was rejected as a bad file. Go to Orders > Order Status > Preliminary Order Status. Search for file name (case sensitive), or search for Ordering Method as Switched Batch.
  1. Click on the link under the Parent Order ID column, and an overlay will display with two tabs: Order Details and Files.

    Files will display:

    • Upload: the file will initially sit here waiting to be picked up for processing.

    • Archive: the file is moved here when it is successfully picked up for processing.

    • Bad Files: the file is moved here when it is rejected, see DIR.LOG in Upload for more information.

    • Results: 4 results files are generated, open the .WHL file using Notepad.
  1. Reviewing a successful processed order:

    • Your order will list all the services submitted, and identify if the service was accepted or rejected.

    • If the individual service rejected the report will give you an explanation of why it rejected.

    • At the bottom of the file it will also identify Total Records Processed, Total Records Accepted, Total Records Rejected.
  1. Reviewing your bad files:

    • See DIR.LOG in Upload for more information.

    • Some common issues resulting in rejected file:

      • The Batch ID on the header line was not changed from generic to the customer code.

      • There was an extra line at the bottom of the file.