Trial Balances may be imported from any Excel version (.xls or .xlsx or similar format such as Xero, Google Docs or Open Office Excel output).

A Trial Balance may be constructed by the user (if the client is unable to supply) using the template downloadable from the "Import Trial Balance" dialog box, or a Trial Balance supplied by your client may be used.

The template opens in Excel and includes instructions. Items may be typed in or copied and pasted to produce a satisfactory Trial Balance. The column marked "Section" is optional. Note: Any rows where the "Section" column is left blank will not be imported. This means that if you do not want to pre-select section, you must delete the "Section" heading. It also means that you can filter out rows that you do not wish to import (say heading or totals) simply by leaving the "section" column blank for those items. 

If you have a trial balance from a client or from your own software there are options for how to import:

1. Audit Assistant allows a variety of columns; code, name or account, current (or debit and credit), prior, budget. You may need to change some of the default column names to these names. You don't have to include or use every column (code, budget and prior are all optional). Simply import this file using the dialog box on the Trial Balance page and all the data will be imported in the same order as the Excel file. Headings may then be dragged and dropped into the data from below and individual accounts may be dragged into the correct area. The area where an account line appears may also be changed by selecting 'edit' from the drop-down at the end the the line and selecting a different section there before saving. 
2. Section mapping may be pre-selected prior to import by adding a "section" column anywhere within the data. Then in that column type the section alpha character where the account is to be added (for example an Income item will be given the letter "G"). The section names and alpha references may be seen on the trial balance import page on the list at the bottom. Any lines left blank will be ignored. Any items you wish to import and sort later should be marked with an "*". In this way unwanted lines and totals say within the TB may be ignored from the import without needing to actually delete them.
3. Section mapping prior to import may also be achieved  by inserting headings which correspond to our section headings (for example all items under the heading "Income" will be mapped to the Income section). No "section" column should be used in this case. We will also build in automatic mapping from software where headings are produced as part of the TB such as with Xero (other software will be added). 

In the second year of a job if sections are specified that were different to the prior year the sections specified in the later year will over-ride the first year - items will be matched and moved. NOTE: WHERE USING 'SECTION' COLUMN FOR SECOND YEAR IMPORTS ALL COLUMNS MUST BE CODED - NOT JUST NEW ACCOUNTS. Uncoded lines will not be imported which will mean only a partial import.

Picture shows a TB with a 'section' column included. On import this will automatically map to the specified section without need to drag and drop:

Picture shows a TB out of Xero which has headings. No adjustment is required in this TB at all as it maps heading names directly into Audit Assistant - bringing in the YTD Debit and Credit columns only. If a prior year column was required this could be manually added onto the side of the table with heading "Prior":

Other types of files may be sorted like this by using our default section names as headings within your TB.

Once you are happy with your trial balance in Audit Assistant select the "Create Lead Schedules" button at the bottom of the Trial Balance page and lead schedules will be generated for mapped sections: