Upon entry to the grid the user is given a choice of several boxes to select from:
HEADER [STD JNL]
By dropping down on the 
button will result in the choice of selecting the loading of standard journals or Imported journals. By selecting one of these options, the
button to the immediate right of the standard/imported box is used to actually display the selections of a] Standard journals, or b] Imported journals, depending on which selection is set in the dropdown box.
STANDARD JOURNALS
If the Standard journal dropdown is selected, the previously saved standard journals are displayed in a child window for the user to select. Once selected, providing the journal balances and uses valid account codes,and a valid posting date is entered, the user can post the journal using the
icon.
IMPORTED JOURNALS
If the Imported dropdown is selected however, when the
is clicked,
the user is presented with an information box prompting them to either SEARCH for an imported journal or IMPORT a new journal.
IMPORTED JOURNALS- SEARCH
If the former is selected, the user is presented with a window displaying all the journals that have already been imported from user's PCs to Autoline. From this point they can select the relevant journal,and then verify and post it in the normal way. There is one further piece of functionality that exists however- the "save" button will be enabled and consequently the user can save the journal as a STANDARD or IMPORTED journal [obviously this can't take place if the imported journal has been posted as it will be deleted from the import directory at this point.] The saving of the journal is more useful for users who do not want to proceed to the posting stage at this point[perhaps an amendment had been made to the Imported journal] , or want to use the journal in the future [for example as a monthly standard journal] . The button to use looks like this: 
.
IMPORTED JOURNALS- IMPORT
If the user wants to import the journal [that is, it is not already on the Autoline system but resides on the user's PC] , the import journal function will import a journal from an excel spreadsheet or CSV file in the same way that the "Import File to NL" program currently does. Once imported it will return to NL/JPOST and populate the journal grid with new imported journal. The user simply has to select the "IMPORT" button instead. At this point, the imported journal routine is called and the form below is presented to the user. Use the Explorer tree diagram to select the directory and file you wish to import. The user must fill in the details of the file to be imported. Once this has been completed, clicking the Next button, the user can see what is about to be imported. If all looks correct, click the Finish button and a message explaining that the transfer has been successful will be displayed. Again, the grid will be populated with the records and the user can choose to veri fy and post or save the journal for the future.
OTHER POINTS
Menu entry to have a new parameter to pass in the priority to activate the import function. The import function will then be enabled/disabled depending on whether this priority is less than or more than the user's priority.
Imported Journal Options are enabled/disabled depending on whether Default or Grid [either Single or Double line entry] is selected via NL system parameter for NL Journal. If Default is selected, the functionality discussed as above regarding imported journals is not available.
Type:
This drop down allows the user to select the type of journal [for example. Accrual, Standard, blank for normal default journal entry, Reversing etc. Use the
box for selection.
Reference:
This is a user-definable reference field and will become the "REFERENCE" field when the daybook is printed and postings go through to the NL.trans file
Branch Analysis:
This field is only visible using the grid style journal entry, and is only accessible when one enables the parameter entitled "Branch Analysis" within
System Parameters. There is an button available to search for the relevant branch. The branch that is entered will be written to the NL.trans/atran files to indicate which branch the journal was related to, but no further detail. Please remember that Branch Analysis is more relevant to Debtor and Creditor control, for reporting purposes.
Posting Date: Depending on System Parameters[that is, the date may default to start or end of period, or be blank] and which option the user is in [Prior year journals always select the last day of the previous year and the user can't edit the date] , the user can edit the date by either typing it in or using the
to bring up the calendar form.
Document Date: This date will default to the Posting date that has been entered , but the user can edit and change the date if they wish,by either typing it in or using the
to bring up the calendar form. A date must be entered, and it is not possible to amend the date to the future- it can't be greater than "today" in effect.
Value Date: Depending on System Parameters being set [on Bank Reconciliation tab, field entitled Use Value Dates, ] , the user can edit the date by either typing it in or using the
to bring up the calendar form. The logic behind this is to show the date that a cheque will clear after it has been posted. Be aware that this functionality is only normally used for markets other than the UK.
Note:Bear in mind that depending on priorities and parameters, the Global Date Validation routine will check to determine whether the date selected will be classed as valid and as such will allow/warn/disallow the user from progressing ,depending on the date entered. Refer to Global Date Validation for further information.
Entry of journals is not significantly different to the line entry of journals, but it is worth discussing the fields nonetheless, even if the concepts and general functionality is not different to Insert NL Journal Entries
Account: Select the relevant account to post, using the search facility if necessary. An button is available to facilitate easy searching.
Description: This will already be populated once the account has been selected.
Suffix: This is only entered if required by the expense code selected. If the suffix type allows, the user can search on available suffix masks.
Debit/Credit [Amount]: The user does not have to enter anything in these fields, but if they do, they must always be positive values [that is, not -£20]. If a debit is entered, a credit cannot be entered on that line, and vice versa.
Narrative: If the user wishes, some narrative to add audit trail can be entered here.
SL/PL Account: This allows the user to enter [for information only] a "source" account from the Purchase or Sales Ledger, depending on where the source was from. This field is not mandatory.
Customer Reference [SL/PL Reference]: This is another information only field that allows the user to enter some further meaningful detail to aid reporting etc, once the daybooks have been processed. By tabbing, the next input line is available for use, if required. This field is not mandatory.
Once all lines have been entered, and the journal balances, the user is ready to post the journal. [at the foot of the form there are 3 fields- a debit and credit total, and a balance. Obviously the first two fields must be the same, and the balance field must be zero. Click the post icon, and the journal will be posted. Daybooks can be printed at this point if required. Other functionality is the same as Journal Entry For further discussion on grid style journal entry, please refer to Double line Grid Journal Entry