Why Is My Budget Position Control Management Import Failing?

What Is the Problem?

You are trying to import data into Budget Position Control Management. The import fails or returns an error. The error message may disappear too quickly to read, or it may reference the Social Security Exempt field.

This is a file setup issue. It can be corrected before you reimport.

Why Is This Happening?

There are a few common causes. You may have one or more of these at the same time.

Cause 1: The File Was Built From an Export Instead of the Import Template

The export file and the import template are not the same. They look similar but have a different column order. If you built your import file from an export, the columns may be in the wrong positions. Even if the data looks correct, the system reads columns by position. A field in the wrong column will cause the import to fail.

Always use the PCM sample import template as your starting point. Do not use an export file as the base for your import.

Cause 2: The Social Security Exempt Field Is in the Wrong Column

The PCM import file requires a specific column layout. If any field is shifted out of place, the import will not work correctly.

The required column layout is:

If an extra blank column exists in your file, it can shift these fields out of place. Remove any extra columns and confirm the layout matches the table above before importing.

Cause 3: The Fiscal Year Is Incorrect

If the fiscal year in your file is not updated, the system may load your data into the wrong year. For example, if you are importing for FY2027 but the year column still shows 2026, the data will not appear where you expect it.

Always confirm the fiscal year before importing.

How to Fix the File

Follow these steps before reimporting:

1. Open the PCM sample import template
2. Open your import file side by side with the template
3. Compare the column headers in both files
4. Adjust your file so the headers match the sample template
5. Move Social Security Exempt into column L
6. Move Year into column M
7. Move Comment into column N
8. Remove any extra blank columns that shift the data out of place
9. Confirm the fiscal year is correct
10. Save the corrected file
11. Try the import again

What If Data Was Already Imported Incorrectly?

If you already imported data with the wrong file layout or fiscal year, duplicate or incorrect records may exist in the system. Contact your Client Support team for help reviewing and cleaning up those records before reimporting.

Do not reimport over existing records without first confirming with your Client Support team.

Quick Checklist Before Every PCM Import

Use this checklist each time you prepare a PCM import file:

• I am using the PCM sample import template, not an export file
• Social Security Exempt is in column L
• Year is in column M
• Comment is in column N
• There are no extra blank columns shifting the layout
• The fiscal year is correct for this import