Timelink - Time and attendance

The TimeLink for Opera II and Opera 3 module is designed to import data from any Time & Attendance system that has the capability to output its time data in a CSV, TXT or DBF format.

TimeLink can also import data that has originally been created in a package such as Microsoft Excel, and then output in one of acceptable file types.

The functionality of the software includes

• Developed in Microsoft Visual Foxpro as an additional Opera II or Opera 3 module

• Full integration into the standard Opera II or Opera 3 system with full access control and password protection

• Most Pegasus standard functions supported with full Opera II or Opera 3 ‘look and feel’

• User-definable multiple import format types

• Extensive validation and error trapping

• Detailed and summary reporting

Easy Configuration
The module has the ability to be configured separately for each of the Payroll Groups, and therefore a different import file is required for each Group and is imported independent of any others awaiting processing. Pre-processing Hook and Pre-processing File are only used if the end user has requested a different file format other than the standard defaults. The Pre-processing Hook field will load an additional program that must be developed by Applied Business Solutions Ltd. This can be used to format a file (specified in Pre-process File) to be converted into one of the default file layouts.

Options Form
The Options form displays some Opera II or Opera 3 payroll information for the benefit of the user, these include the Payroll Group, current pay period and whether Opera II or Opera 3 Payroll handles units in hours and minutes or hours and percentage of hours. The user must enter the Data Path and the Import File Type. Once the Import File Type has been entered, various other fields will become enabled or disabled.

Field Mappings
The Field Mappings screen allows the user to define the structure of the import file. The fields available for defining the import are dependant upon which import file type was set-up in the TimeLink Set Options screen. For example, the Field Number box changes to list column numbers (1-50) for CSV files, character starting positions (1-255) for a TXT file, and field names for a DBF file.

Payment Code
Each field or column to be imported must have a connecting payment code. This assigns all values or units in this column to the selected payment code. A special payment code of X00 will be selectable, which prohibits the selected column’s data from being updated to the Payroll transaction table value or units. The Replace checkbox controls how the information is imported, and if ticked then the total value for this payment code will replace the current value or units in the payroll transaction file for the employee. The Special processing box is designed to call additional routines when processing. If the Replace checkbox is not ticked then all the units or values for this payment code for the employee will be added to the existing units or values currently in the payroll transactions file.

Length of Field
If a TXT file is selected in the set options screen, an additional field will be enabled which allows the user to enter the length of the field, so each field in the TXT format will have a starting character position and a length. A new mapping can be added, edited or removed using the standard Opera II or Opera 3 method of manipulating records.