The file will consist of one header row followed by one or more data rows. The header row explicitly states which fields will be updated (and, by inference, which tables). The header row will include fields from a set of tables. The header row does not need to list all the fields in a table, nor does it need to reference each available table; it should only list as many fields as will be imported. The order in which it lists these fields will dictate the order in which the data will be entered in the subsequent data rows.
Immediately following the header row there should be one or more data rows. Each data row shall contain a Cost Estimate Identifier (used to link multiple rows together for one compensation calculation/cost estimate), and data values needed to import one row of data into the database table(s). There must be one value column for each field-definition column declared in the header (though the columns can be left blank when appropriate).
If the file contains blank lines or lines with nothing but commas either between the data rows or at the end of the file, the import will skip those rows.
An import template can be generated for a given compensation calculation or cost estimate from the associated template screen. Simply click the Generate Import Template link from the Compensation Template or the Cost Estimate Template detail screen. The generated template will contain the most likely needed columns as well as associated row data for the given template. This is an easy way to get a base import template; field definition columns can be added or removed as appropriate.