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Error: "Header record invalid Column 1 must contain Company Column 2 must contain Employee"

Created on  | Last modified on 

Summary

This article is a guide on the error "Header record invalid Column 1 must contain Company Column 2 must contain Employee" on Sage VIP Classic, Sage VIP Premier, and Sage Business Cloud Payroll Professional.

Description

You attempt to to import a CSV file using the Flexi Fixed, Flexi Financial or Combined Flexi Imports, you receive the following error message:

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Resolution

Possible solution:

Regional settings incorrect

​The payroll system only recognises comma-delimited CSV files.  There is a possibility that the regional settings are set to have a delimiter rather than a comma.

Click here for information on how to change the settings accordingly.

If you require assistance on a specific Windows version please select from one of the following:

After the Regional Settings have been adjusted, you are required to re-create the CSV file to import into the payroll system

How do I adjust the Excel settings using a comma as the default setting?

 

If the regional settings are correct according to the Regional settings document, it might indicate that the semicolon is a backup delimiter that Excel uses if it can't use the comma for some reason.

That reason could be that Excel is already using the comma as the decimal symbol as per Excel settings. Apparently it is not allowed to use the same character for the decimal symbol and the list separator.

  • Open Microsoft Excel
  • Go to  File > Options > Advanced
  • In the section Use system separators, tick the box and make sure the Decimal separator is a fullstops, not a comma (as below)

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Read more: How do I enter my Site Code when calling Sage Customer Support