Topal TAF Introduction
Today's world is getting more complex from day to day. Delivering an end to end applications is only left to companies, which can provide the required resources. Therefore
individual business areas tend to focus in their specialized areas. Even though the requirement to provide an end to end solution remains.
individual business areas tend to focus in their specialized areas. Even though the requirement to provide an end to end solution remains.
Topal Solutions AG is a software provider, which specializes in the area of financial accounting systems. We consider the possibility of connecting 3rd party applications with Topal
as a major goal. Therefore we take in account to enable "3rd party applications" to interact with the Topal financial accounting system to integrate Topal in their
automated workflows.
as a major goal. Therefore we take in account to enable "3rd party applications" to interact with the Topal financial accounting system to integrate Topal in their
automated workflows.
Topal financial accounting system provides various interfaces to establish a data exchange with "3rd party applications" via file based data exchange, but also via
TAF File Format
The TAF File Format is one of the file based interfaces, which is supported by the Topal Financial Accounting System.
Any database applications should have a means to export and import their data in one or other ASCII format. This makes it possible to import data from other systems and
platforms, as well as exporting / importing data to and from third party applications that cannot, or do not want to use a realtime Interface.
platforms, as well as exporting / importing data to and from third party applications that cannot, or do not want to use a realtime Interface.
TAF is a proprietary file format created by Sage. The CSV (comma separated) format used by the accounting System of Sage 50 and many
third party vendors up to this point has some serious limitations and is not easily extendable. This import format should make it possible to extend the database of the
accounting system, adding new fields, yet still being able to import the older import files. Since there’s no suitable ASCII format for databases, Sage designed their
own proprierty format.
accounting system, adding new fields, yet still being able to import the older import files. Since there’s no suitable ASCII format for databases, Sage designed their
own proprierty format.
The TAF files have a very simple format. They basically consist of object (or data set) blocks which are identified by a block tag. The blocks contain one or more property tags
with a value. The blocks are separated by enclosing them in curly parenthesis ‘{…}’. The tags and values are separated by an equal sign ‘=’.
TAF Specification and Examples
The TAF Specification and various examples can be found on the download page.
with a value. The blocks are separated by enclosing them in curly parenthesis ‘{…}’. The tags and values are separated by an equal sign ‘=’.
TAF Specification and Examples
The TAF Specification and various examples can be found on the download page.