File Export Utility
The File Export Utility is a powerful tool within the FLEX system designed to facilitate the extraction of system data from share, loan, or certificate files. This utility exports results into a spreadsheet format, enabling users to manipulate data for reporting and data mining purposes.
Accessing the File Export Utility
The File Export Utility can be found within the FLEX main menu:
- Operations
- File Export Utility
File Export Utility Screen Overview
The File Export Utility screen provides various options for querying and exporting data.
Top Menu Options
- Export Name: Drop-down menu to select previously saved queries.
- Start New Query: Initiates a new query session.
- Save: Saves the current query definition.
- Save As: Saves the current query definition under a new name.
- Delete: Deletes a saved query.
- New: Clears the current query settings to start fresh.
- Run: Executes the defined query to generate results.
Query File Selection
- Use the main drop-down menu (e.g., “Share Export Utility”) to select the file type for your query:
- Current Information:
- Share
- Certificate
- Loan
- End-of-Month (EOM) Information (from the last end of month):
- Share last EOM
- Certificate last EOM
- Loan last EOM
- Current Information:
Note: Only one file type can be queried at a time. All fields relevant to the selected file type are available for querying.
Filters Section
The Filters section allows users to define specific criteria for their data extraction.
- Query For:
- Select the field to be queried from the drop-down list (e.g., Account Dormancy Date, Account Number, Account Type).
- Low/High:
- For fields with known values (e.g., Account Type), use the drop-down to select specific values.
- For fields requiring user input (e.g., dollar amounts, dates), enter the desired values.
- To query a range, enter a “Low” and “High” value.
- To query a single specific value, enter the same value in both “Low” and “High” fields.
- Sort Order:
- Allows sorting of results based on the criteria added to the query.
- Ascending:
- If checked, the criteria being added will appear in ascending order in the results.
- Add:
- Click this button to add the defined filter criteria to the query.
- Important: Members must fit ALL criteria listed. Adding multiple fields will narrow the results.
Global Options
The Global Options section provides settings that affect the overall query execution and output.
- Maximum Results (Any Number, Blank = No Max):
- Displays the maximum number of results to be returned.
- Defaults to 1000.
- Adjust this number if more results are expected to match the criteria. Leaving it blank will return all matching results.
- Random # to Skip:
- Allows users to randomly select accounts from the results by specifying a number of records to skip.
- Output Type:
- FLEX defaults to Standard output.
- Available options include:
- Standard Output: Includes columns for account, suffix, type, last name, first name, business name, account type, social security number, date of birth, pledge, open date, last transaction date, dividend YTD, and balance.
- Receipt, Statement and Tax Output: Includes information from selected receipt, statement or tax address, account, first name, last name, business name, address line 1, address line 2, city, state, and zip.
- Legacy Output: Includes columns for account, suffix, type, last name, first name, business name, account type, social security number, date of birth, pledge, open date, last transaction date, dividend YTD, and balance.
- Include Criteria in Export:
- If checked, the search criteria used for the query will be displayed at the bottom of the exported results.
- One Result Per Member:
- If selected, the results will show only one entry per member, even if multiple suffixes meet the defined criteria.
- Append Available Queried Columns:
- If checked, data from the criteria added to the query will be exported as additional columns in the results spreadsheet.
Saving Queries
To save a query definition for future use:
- Define your desired query criteria and global options.
- Click the Save or Save As button.
- In the “Save Export As” dialog:
- Enter a unique Export Name for your query.
- Select visibility:
- Visible To Everyone: The saved query will be accessible to all users.
- Just Me: The saved query will only be visible to your user account.
- All saved queries will be available in the Export Name drop-down menu on the main File Export Utility screen.
Query Example
Scenario: A credit union wants to identify all draft accounts opened last month with a balance greater than $500.
Steps to Configure the Query:
- Query For (Field):
- Select Open Date.
- Low: 1/1/2016 (example for last month’s start date)
- High: 1/31/2016 (example for last month’s end date)
- Click Add.
- Query For (Field):
- Select Type.
- Low: EC (for draft accounts)
- High: EC
- Click Add.
- Query For (Field):
- Select Current Balance.
- Low: 500.00
- High: 999,999.99
- Click Add.
- Global Options (Recommended for this example):
- Check Include Criteria in Export.
- Check Append Available Queried Columns.
- Click Run to execute the query and generate the results.
Expected Output Characteristics for the Example:
- Standard information will be included in the results (due to Standard Output Type).
- Additional columns for “Type,” “Current Balance,” and “Open Date” will be present.
- The search criteria will be displayed at the bottom of the results.