Input File Layout
You supply the name for the input file. The input file can be a fixed-format file, a comma-separated file, or an ADP-formatted file.
If the file is a fixed-format file, you must fill every position with either an appropriate character or a space. It is not necessary to zero-fill numbers; you can use spaces to maintain the proper format. If the input file is a comma-separated file, you do not need to fill every position. However, the file must contain the correct number of commas. Single character values in the file should be in uppercase.
You will need to provide the values in some fields regardless of the settings in Costpoint. For existing employees, the only unconditionally required fields are Record Code and Employee ID. For new employees, refer to fields that are marked as Required in the Required Optional for New Employees column.
You cannot use commas in the Notes field.
Pay Type field Expanded to 15 Characters
Starting in Costpoint 2026.2, Costpoint expanded the allowed length of Pay Type values from 3 characters to 15 characters. To support this enhancement, the fixed length file layout used by the Import Employee Data application was updated to accommodate the longer Pay Type field.
If your organization currently imports fixed length employee import files with a Pay Type field limited to 3 characters, you may encounter import errors when using Costpoint 2026.2. This can occur if your employee export product has not yet been updated to align with the revised file layout. To help minimize disruption, we are providing a transition period.
Beginning with Costpoint 2026.2.1, the Import Employee Data application will support the following file formats:
- Comma Separated
- Fixed Length (3-character Pay Type) - transitional support
- Fixed Length (15-character Pay Type)
- ADP (MFOUT.xxx)
- User-Defined
Support for the Fixed Length (3-character Pay Type) format will continue through Costpoint version 2026.4.
- Transition to a comma separated file format
- Update your fixed length file layout to support a 15-character Pay Type. Cloud users can find the updated file layouts in the application’s Help. On-premises users can find the file layouts in KB article 126266.
Taking action ahead of the 2027.1 release will help ensure uninterrupted employee imports.
Input File Excel Template
For Costpoint 2025.x and later releases, you can download the Excel template file specifically designed for this preprocessor from the Costpoint Preprocessor Guides page on the Deltek Learning Hub.
For Costpoint 8.1, the input file is available on the Developer Resources page in the Costpoint Information Center.
Excel templates for the other Costpoint preprocessors can be found in these same locations.
Related Topics:
Use this file layout if you are importing a Comma-Separated (CSV) file format input file on the Import Employee Data screen.
Fixed-Length File Layout (3-Character Pay Type)
Use this file layout if you are importing a Fixed-Length file format input file with a Pay Type field of up to 3 characters on the Import Employee Data screen.
Fixed-Length File Layout (15-Character Pay Type)
Use this file layout if you are importing a Fixed-Length format input file with a Pay Type field of up to 15 characters on the Import Employee Data screen.
Use this file layout if you are importing an ADP (MFOUT.xxx) file format input file on the Import Employee Data screen.