SF Employee and SF City Partner Support

 

 

Initial Setup: Troubleshooting General Ledger Spreadsheet Uploader

 

 

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to assist users with initial setup of the General Ledger Spreadsheet Uploader. This article goes through the common issues and how to troubleshoot them.

 

Table of Contents

1. Delete Old Uploader Files and Download New Files 
2. System Security Limitations 
3. Two Macro Issues
   1. Additional Macro Security Unblock
   2. Visual Basic Jrnlmcro Reference
4. Username/Password Credentials Frequently Changed
5. Journal Lines Must Be Created Using the GL Uploader Buttons (Add / Delete)
6. Other Import Issues
7. Create User Support Ticket, if all troubleshooting steps addressed

 

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A. Delete Old Uploader Files and Download New Files

Common Issues: The following list are common issues if new files are not downloaded. 

Issue 1: When you import the journal, you may see “Import 0 Journals” on the message log (Jrnllog.xlsx). However, the journal has successfully imported to PeopleSoft and there exists a journal entry in PeopleSoft. For this, double check directly in PeopleSoft for your journal entries.

Fix:

1. If the journal entry is not in PeopleSoft and the Journal ID is not referenced on the Uploader, then you may have invalid inputs on your entry.
2. If the journal entry is in PeopleSoft and the Journal ID is not referenced on the Uploader, you need to follow the steps below “Delete Old Uploader Files and Download New Files.”
    
    

Issue 2: You could have a variety of macro error messages upon usage of the template (JRNL1_WS.xlsm) that prevents usage of the template. If it is, refer to steps in “Section C: Two Macro Issues.” 

 

Steps to Delete Old Uploader Files and Download New Files

Step 1. Delete all and any prior versions of uploader files from your computer.

Step 2. Download all four files from the job aid “Journal Spreadsheet Entry and Uploader – September 2025” and all four files must be in the same folder, in a local drive, not in OneDrive.

Step 3. Make sure all four files have the correct filename and file extension type.
 
 Journal Spreadsheet Entry and Uploader – September 2025 

(Topic 1, Step 1)

1.     JRNL1_WS.xlsm

2.     JRNLMCRO_WS.xlam

3.     GLLOG.xlt

4.     JrnlLog.xlsx

Screenshot of Correct Files (with filename, file extensions, file type)

 

Step 4. If there are any additional issues, refer to additional troubleshooting steps below.

 

B. System Security Limitations

Common Issue: Refer to the example screenshots below. Due to this system security limitations, such as firewall scrubbing the file or unable to download the macro enabled files, this prevents you from using the main template (JRNL1_WS.xlsm) since it’s not able to read the macros.

Example Screenshot 1: Here the file extension has been overwritten to xlsx when it should be JRNL1_WS.xlsm and JRNLMCRO_WS.xlam

Example Screenshot 2: Here the JRNLMCRO_WS file extension and the filename has been updated. It has the word “cleaned” in the filename and the macros are scrubbed and converted the file to .xlsx. 

 

Fix: If there are system security limitations when downloading the files (i.e. virus scanner renames file and/or file extension), please review with your Department’s IT on any workarounds that will enable you to download the file as-is without updating filename, file extensions, and/or file types.

If there are any additional issues, refer to additional troubleshooting steps below.

 

 

 

C. Two Macro Issues

If you open the GL Uploader and are unable to press the buttons to create a journal entry, try following the two sets of macro issue steps below. 

C.1) Additional Macro Security Unblock

Step 1. Additional Macro Unblock as described in Microsoft Support

(https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/a-potentially-dangerous-macro-has-been-blocked-0952faa0-37e7-4316-b61d-5b5ed6024216)

Solution

This will need to be repeated for all the 4 files in the following order.

 

Step 2. Right click on JRNL1_WS.xlsm, go to Properties, checkbox Unblock in security under the General tab. Press Apply and OK.

Step 3. Right click on JrnlLog.xlsx, go to Properties, checkbox Unblock in security under the General tab. Press Apply and OK.

Step 4. Right click on JRNLMCRO_WS.xlam, go to Properties, checkbox Unblock in security under the General tab. Press Apply and OK.

Step 5. Right click on GLLOG.xlt, go to Properties, checkbox Unblock in security under the General tab. Press Apply and OK.

Step 6. Open JRNL1_WS.xlsm. When prompted, click the button “Enable Macro.”

Step 6a. If it doesn’t work, refer to Macro Issue C.2) below.

Step 6b. If Macro Issue C.2) is not the issue, download a new copy of the GL Uploader. Refer to ‘Section A. Delete Old Uploader Files and Download New Files’

Step 6c. If it still does not work, assign FreshService ticket to SF Financials: APEX, GLAM, R2C for Tier 2 Support and attach the four template files.

 

C.2) Visual Basic Jrnlmcro Reference

* Note: We do not recommend users tampering with the macros in the GL Spreadsheet Uploader, however this is one exception to troubleshoot initial setup of the Uploader. If you require assistance with these steps, please open a User Support ticket.
 
Step 1. Ensure that the JRNL1_WS.xlsm is pointing to the correct macro file. The following steps describe how to verify the location of the JRNLMCRO_WS.xlam being used by JRNL1_WS.xlsm.

Step 2. Open JRNL1_WS template

Step 3. On the keyboard, press keys Alt + F11 to open Visual Basic. 
 If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can follow the Microsoft provided steps Show the Developer tab to enable view of the Developer tab so you can click on Visual Basic.

Step 4. Highlight ‘JournalBook (JRNL1_WS.xlsm) from left panel and then go to the menu bar to navigate to Tools > References…

Step 5. The References – Journal Book window will pop up. Find and highlight ‘Jrnlmcro’ and verify Location. 

If the file location is long, hover the mouse cursor on it to see the full navigation. Note, you may need to take a screenshot to refer back to the navigation, if there’s many folder paths.

Step 6. The next set of steps are describing how to change the Journal Macro location. 

Step 6a. Following the navigation in Step 5 above, delete the file. The idea is for the system not to find the old file. 

Step 6b. Fully close the JRNL1_WS.xlsm template. 

Step 6c. Reopen JRNL1_WS.xlsm and follow steps C.2) Step 3 – 4 to verify the JRNLMCRO location.

Step 6d. When you highlight ‘Jrnlmcro’, verify the file location is now showing in the correct directory (the same place as where the JRNL1_WS template is open from)

Step 6e. If you see ‘MISSING jrnlmcro’, use the Browse button and find the correct location, click OK, and Save.

Step 6f. Retest uploading a journal.

Step 7. If the steps for C.2) does not work, refer to Macro Issue C.1)

Step 8. If Macro Issue C.1) above does not work, download a new copy of the GL Uploader. Refer to ‘Section A. Delete Old Uploader Files and Download New Files’  

Step 9. If it still does not work, assign FreshService ticket to SF Financials: APEX, GLAM, R2C for Tier 2 Support and attach the four template files.

 

D. Username/Password Credentials Frequently Changed

Common issue that occurs with changing passwords frequently is that the template says login credentials are not valid, but the same credentials can be used when logging into PeopleSoft.

a. If you have recently changed your password, your password may not be in sync with the Active Directory. The Active Directory Password needs to be in sync with the IAM password. Users, please reach out to your internal IT staff that supports Active Directory and request advice on username/password changes. Inform them you have changed your desktop login. Once confirmed your user password is in sync, try re-importing your GL Journal Entry. You can also refer to this solution article if there are further issues: How to Access Features that Require an Additional Password.

 

E. Journal Lines Must Be Created Using the GL Uploader Buttons (Add / Delete)

When navigating through the GL Spreadsheet Uploader, make sure you are using the button icons to add and/or delete lines in the journal sheet. If this isn’t done, then it can causes journal import issues.

1. To add Journal Lines, click on the  to add one line or  to add multiple lines. The preferred way to enter journal line information is to enter each field manually. If you’re going to paste information in, it has to have the right columns and use ‘Paste Values As’ so the data doesn’t override the format of the template. 

Incorrect Input of Values: Below screenshot has a white background that indicates you may have directly pasted the format. Also, the Sys ID, Journal ID, and Line# are not pre-populated.

Correct Input of Values: The background is gray and the Sys ID, Journal ID, and Line# are pre-populated. You can paste value as onto columns with Unit, Ledger, Account, etc.

Note: If you are attempting to force input values to the uploader, you should see this warning message: “The cell or chart you’re trying to change is on a protected sheet. To make a change, unprotect the sheet. You might be requested to enter a password.”

Step 2a. Although it says to unprotect sheet, users should never tamper with the settings of the template.

Step 2b. If the sheet is unprotected, download a new copy. Refer to Section A. Delete Old Uploader Files and Download New Files

 

F. Other Import Issues 

Step 1. Server may be down. Internet connection issue or VPN issue. Check with IT Support

Step 2. Message Log errors associated with ChartField issues. Refer user to information about Chartfields. Verify CF are valid or open.

 

G. Create User Support Ticket, if all troubleshooting steps addressed

If after going through the scenarios documented above and you still have setup issues with the GL Spreadsheet Uploader, please User Support ticket and also attach the four template files.

Users should have the following roles to use the GL Spreadsheet Uploader:

•      FSP_GL_CITY_JOURNAL_PROCESSOR

•      FSP_GL_CITY_UPLOAD_PROCESSOR

Version: Version 3