1. Navigate to Purchase Orders
First, navigate to the Accounts Payable section to select where you'd like to create transactions. For this example, we will use the Purchase Orders section on the Home page on the left-hand navigation panel. You can also use this feature for other accounting modules, for example check requests, bills, and petty cash.
2. Create Purchase Order
Click Create Purchase Order to begin a new purchase order entry.
3. Generate Template
Then, click Generate Template in the Details section.
Note: Always use the template generated from your specific project's module to ensure compatibility and avoid errors
4. Access Blank Template
Now, select the downloaded Excel file to open the template.
5. Fill Out Blank Template
From Excel, you can fill out the template with the needed information.
Required: Account, Amount, Description
Optional: Tax credit code, FF1, etc.
Avoid copying non-importable fields like Date or Third Party Vendor. Do not rearrange, resize, or hide columns to maintain the template's structure.
6. Copy Template
When you're done updating the template, you will Select All and then right-click to press Copy.
Troubleshooting Tip: Remove trailing spaces, hidden characters, or stray tabs from your data using Excel functions like TRIM and CLEAN to prevent validation errors.
7. Paste Purchase Order Data
Head back to the GreenSlate application. In the Details section, click Paste to insert the data you have copied from Excel into the template.
8. Fill Out Required Fields
Now, you can fill out all required fields of the Summary area in the entry window. Select a Vendor, enter the Total Amount Due, the PO Date and the Default Effective Date.
9. Fill Out Additional Required Fields
Continue to fill out the additional required fields with a Description of your transaction and select the Division.
10. Review Details
Once the Summary section is complete, move downwards to the Details area. Here you can select your Episode Code and ensure all details lines are correct, if needed.
11. Add Notes or Files
You can also add Notes and upload Files as needed.
12. Finalize and Submit Order
When you're ready, click Save Draft if you'd like to work on this later or Submit to finalize and officially submit your transaction.
That's it. You have successfully use the entry window template feature in GreenSlate. If you have any questions or need more help, please visit our Help Center or reach out via email or chat.
Common Errors and Troubleshooting
Formatting Issues
Trailing or Hidden Spaces: Use Excel’s
CLEANandTRIMfunctions to remove non-printable characters and spaces:
=TRIM(CLEAN(SUBSTITUTE(A1,CHAR(160),"")))
Replace A1 with the cell reference, then copy the cleaned data back into the template.
Stray Tabs: Use the
CLEANfunction to strip these characters.
Incorrect Data Selection
Always include the header row and all populated rows when copying data. For example, select from column A to the last column (e.g., S) and down through all rows of data.
Using the Wrong Template
Ensure you are using the template generated from your specific project’s module. Templates from other projects or sources may not work.
Advanced Tips
Test Before Importing: Paste your data into a test JE to confirm it works as expected.
Prevent Future Errors: Regularly clean your source data using Excel functions to remove hidden characters and spaces.