4. File Header Field Description
Clearing file have only one file header at the beginning of the file. Example: 1644^601^O^00000004567^20240402^1^O^T
Header field contains fixed value for MTI (1644) and function code (601) but the other field values may vary.
Description for each field of the file header is as follows,
4.1 MTI (Message Type Identifier)
MTI specifies the type of transaction/record such as header/trailer, financial, non-financial, dispute etc. MTI is placed at the beginning of the transaction i.e. each transaction/record in the file should start with the MTI.
| Position | 1 |
| Max Length | 4 |
| Data Type | Numeric |
| MTI | Transaction Type |
|---|---|
| 1644 | File Header |
| Settlement Summary Header | |
| File Reject Header |
Table 6:MTI Matrix
4.2 Function Code
Function code specifies the type of functionality used for a transaction/record. MTI can have multiple function codes.
| Position: | 2 | Max Length: | 3 |
| Data Type | Numeric |
| MTI | Function Code | Transaction Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1644 | 601 | File Header |
| 1644 | 605 | Settlement Summary Header |
| 1644 | 699 | File Reject Header |
Table 7: Function Code Matrix
4.3 Reversal Indicator
Reversal indicator specifies whether the file is reversal or original. By default, Reversal indicator value will be O. If each record of file is to be reversed, then such files are marked as reversal by putting the reversal indicator field value to R.
| Position | 3 |
| Max Length | 1 |
| Data Type | Numeric |
| Original File | O |
| Reversal File | R |
4.4 Member ID
Each member bank has unique id assigned while adding the member bank in the system. Member ID specifies the unique Id of that member bank to which file is being sent.
| Position | 4 |
| Max Length | 11 |
| Data Type | Numeric |
4.5 File Generation Date
File generation date specifies the date on which this file is generated by NCHL. Example: 02-March-2024 will be represented as 20240302 Date Format: YYYYMMDD
| Position | 5 |
| Max Length | 8 |
| Data Type | Numeric |
4.6 Processing Cycle
Processing cycle specifies cycle number in which this file is generated by NCHL. If configured number of cycles are 2 then system will generate clearing files into 2 cycles and cycle number will be specified in the file header
| Position | 6 |
| Max Length | 2 |
| Data Type | Numeric |
4.7 File Type Identifier
File type identifier specifies whether file is incoming or outgoing. File type identifier will always be “I” because clearing file will be incoming for the member banks since member banks are the receiver.
| Position | 7 |
| Max Length | 1 |
| Data Type | String |
| Incoming | I |
| Outgoing | O |
4.8 Processing Mode
Processing mode specifies whether file is test or production. If files are generated for testing purpose then value of processing mode will be T and if files are generated in production then value of processing mode will be C.
| Position: | 8 |
| Max Length: | 1 |
| Data Type: | String |
| Test | T |
| Production | P |