The Data Exchange Starter Spreadsheet v1.4.6 contains a subset of data fields (columns) from the Data Exchange Specification for Accounts and Assets. It is provided in .zip format. To use it, download the file and double-click it to expand the ZIP file. Notice it is in comma-separated values (.csv) format for your convenience. Open the spreadsheet file using a text-editor such as Notepad++ of Sublime Text. Do not use Excel, which adds a near infinite number of blank rows and columns to the file. Using the guidelines in the table below, complete the spreadsheet, save it in comma-separated values (.csv) format and import it into BEACON.
Tip: Save the ZIP file. Any time you need a blank Starter Spreadsheet, just expand the Zip file again.
Use the Data Exchange Starter Spreadsheet to quickly associate endpoints with utility account information in BEACON. When using this workflow, some advanced BEACON features will not be enabled. This method is recommended for ORION Cellular 10-Pack Customers and utilities that wish to quickly provision a small number of endpoints.
Completing a Data Exchange Starter Spreadsheet
The table below describes each field in a Data Exchange Starter Spreadsheet. The data is a combination of information collected in the field, typically during endpoint installation, and data from your billing, accounting and meter management systems. Required data fields are color-coded in blue italic text. Recommended fields are color-coded in blue non-italic text. Complete a separate row of utility data for each endpoint/encoder/meter at a location. Compound meters require a separate row for each encoder register.
| Column Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Endpoint_SN* *Required for all meters with endpoints. For manually read meters, leave this field blank. |
Serial number of the endpoint paired with the specified meter. Max. length: 20 characters |
| Endpoint_Type* *Required for all meters with endpoints. For manually read meters, leave this field blank or enter the letter ‘C’. |
A letter indicating the type of endpoint used to read the meter. ORION Cellular (J or 4), ORION ME (M, N or 5), ORION SE (N or 5), ORION CE (Z or 6), GALAXY TR3 (G or 8), GALAXY TR2 (g or 7), Magnetic Barnacle (L or 3), Pulse Barnacle (K or 3) or Manually Read Meter (C). 1 letter: J, M, N, Z, G, g, L, K, C or 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Endpoint_Install_Date** **Recommended for all meters with endpoints. |
Date the endpoint was installed on the meter specified by Meter_ID. If this field is left blank, for ORION Cellular endpoints, the date defaults to the latest endpoint activation date. For all other endpoint types, the date defaults to midnight (23:59:59) on the date of the import in the service point timezone. Max. length: 10 characters |
| Account_ID | Identifier of the account used for billing purposes. Max. length: 64 characters |
| Account_Full_Name | Full name of the account holder. Max. length: 128 characters |
| SA_Start_Date** **Recommended. |
Date service began. The combination of Account_ID, Service_Point_ID, and SA_Start_Date is a distinct, unique Service Agreement. If this field is left blank, and the account is associated with a meter connected to an ORION Cellular endpoint, the date defaults to the latest activation date of the endpoint. For accounts associated with meters connected to any other endpoint types, the service agreement start date defaults to midnight (23:59:59) on the date of the import in the service point timezone. Max Length: 10 characters |
| Location_ID | Identifier assigned to the physical location of the meter. Max. length: 40 characters |
| Location_Name | This is typically the name of the property. Max. length: 64 characters |
| Service_Point_ID | Identifier used to distinguish between multiple service hookups at the same Location. The combination of Location_ID and Service_Point_ID represents a single point to which a meter is or will be attached. This value MUST be provided if multiple services are present at a single Location. If no Service Point ID is provided, the Service Point ID will be assigned a default value of 1. Max. length: 20 characters |
| Location_Address_Line1 | The street address where the meter is located. Max. length: 64 characters |
| Location_Address_Line2 | Second line for entering the street address where the meter is located. Max. length: 64 characters |
| Location_City | The city where the meter is located. Max. length: 64 characters |
| Location_State | The State or Province where the meter is located. If the service is located in a country other than the United States or Canada, leave this field blank. Max. length: 2 letters |
| Location_ZIP | ZIP+4 or postal code where the meter is located. Max. length: 10 characters |
| Service_Point_Route | Route or book identifier the metered service belongs to. Max. length: 12 characters |
| Service_Point_Type | Enter W for water. |
| Service_Point_Class_Code |
Bill rate of meter defined by the billing system; residential, commercial, irrigation, etc. Max. length: 24 characters |
| Service_Point_Lattitude (SP_Latitude) |
Latitude position of the Service Point in decimal degrees; provided separately from Location Latitude in case a more specific location for the service’s meter hookup is available. Max. length: 15 characters |
| Service_Point_Longitude (SP_Longitude) |
Longitude position of the Service Point in decimal degrees; provided separately from Location Latitude in case a more specific location for the service’s meter hookup is available. Max. length: 15 characters |
| Meter_ID | User-defined identifier of the meter. It must be unique and is required. Max. length: 40 characters |
| Meter_Install_Date** **Recommended for all meters. |
Date the meter was installed. If this field is left blank, and the meter is connected to an ORION Cellular endpoint, the date defaults the latest endpoint activation date. If the meter is connected to any other endpoint type, the install date defaults to midnight (23:59:59) on the date of the import in the service point timezone. Max. length: 10 characters |
| Register_Number | For compound and composite meters only: identify the high (H) and low (L) register by entering 2 or H for the high side of the register and by entering a 0 or L for the low side of the register. Leave blank for single-register meters. NOTE: For compound and composite meters, the Location_ID, Service_Point_ID and Meter_ID are expected to be the same for all registers. Leave this field blank for single-register meters. 1 letter: H, 2, L, 0 or blank |
| Register_Unit_Of_Measure | Entries in this field must be in all caps and exactly match one of these terms: GAL, CUBIC_FEET, CUBIC_METER, IMP, LITER, AF, OIL_BARRELS, FLUID_BARRELS. Max. length: 12 characters |
| Register_Resolution | Factor of the rightmost movable digit (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000, etc.). Taken together with the Register_Unit_Of_Measure this represents the smallest unit of change the encoder can report. Max. length: 6 numbers |
| Meter_Manufacturer | Manufacturer of the meter. For example: Badger Meter, Sensus, Neptune, etc. Max. length: 32 characters |
| Meter_Model | Model of the meter. For example: M25, M55, T160, etc. Max. length: 64 characters |
| Meter_Size | Numeric size of the meter. For example: 5/8 = .625, 3/4 = .75, 1-1/2 = 1.5, etc. Max. length: 10 numbers |
| Meter_Size_Unit | NPS or DN. Specifies whether the meter size is in inches (NPS) or millimeters (DN). If left blank, unit defaults to inches. Max. length: 3 letters |
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