COMMONLY USED ACL COMMANDS
ACL Special Functions (to create a new field or data filter)
Function Description
Age (AGE) Returns the age, in days, of a specified
date compared to a specified cutoff
date.
AGE (date field/expression to age,
cutoff date)
Convert to Date Converts a character or number to a
(CTOD) valid date expression.
CTOD (character or numeric
field/expression to convert, existing
date format of character or number)
Date (DATE) Converts a date field or expression to
a character string.
DATE (date field/expression to
convert)
Find (FIND) Searches for a specified character
string.
FIND (character string to search for,
field in which to perform search)
Last (LAST) Returns a specified number of
characters from the end of a string.
LAST (character field/expression,
Example Application Example Execution
I have an A/R download as of Create a data filter:
12/31/2001 in ACL with a AGE (DISCHARGE_DATE,
DISCHARGE_DATE field. I want to `20011231`) > 180
isolate all of the accounts over 180
days.
My A/R download has an ADMIT Create a new field called
field that is a character in the format ADMIT_DATE:
“15Dec2001”. I want to convert this
CTOD (ADMIT,
field to 12/15/2001.
“DDMMMYYYY”)
ADMIT = “15Dec2001” 
ADMIT_DATE = 12/15/2001
My claims download has a Create a new field called
SERVICE_DATE field. I want to SERV_DT:
convert this date field into a character
DATE (SERVICE_DATE)
string so that I may perform character-
specific functions.
My accounts payable download has a Create a data filter:
VENDOR_NAME field. MRI FIND (“MRI”, VENDOR_NAME)
Technologies is a related party to my
client. I want to find all vendor names
that include the word “MRI” to
identify potential related party
transactions.
My trial balance download has a Create a data filter:
GL_ACCT field in the format “xx- LAST (GL_ACCT, 4) = “5610”
xxxxxx-xxxx” where the first two
characters are the company code,
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 COMMONLY USED ACL COMMANDS

Function Description Example Application Example Execution

number of characters from the end)
middle six are the department code,
and the last four are the object code.
The object code represents the account
type; for instance, 5610 is purchased
services expense. I want to isolate all
of the accounts with the object code
5610.

Substring Returns a specified portion of a
(SUBSTR) character string.
SUBSTR (character field/expression,
starting position within the
field/expression, length of desired
substring)
My claims download has a
SERVICE_DATE field in the format
“MM/DD/YYYY”. I have already
converted this date field into a
character string called SERV_DT. I
want to create a new field in the
format “YYYY-MM”.
Create a new date field called
SERV_MONTH:
SUBSTR (SERV_DT, 7, 4) + “-“ +
SUBSTR (SERV_DT, 1, 2)
SERV_DT = “10/05/2001” 
SERV_MONTH = “2001-10”

Value (VALUE) Converts a character to its numeric
equivalent.
VALUE (character field/expression,
number of decimal places)
My A/P download presents negative Create a new field called
invoice amounts as the amount INV_AMT:
followed by “CR” such as “56.25CR”.
VALUE (AMOUNT, 2)
I want to convert this AMOUNT
character field to a numeric field. AMOUNT = “56.25CR” 
INV_AMT = -56.25

Manipulate Data (“Data” pull-down menu)

Command Description Example Application Example Execution

Extract Extract selected fields or records to a My A/R download as of 12/31/2001 Create a data filter to isolate all
new input file. includes a DISCHARGE_DATE field. accounts over 180 days.
I want to extract all of the accounts Extract records to a new input file
over 180 days for further analysis. called OLD ACCTS.

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 COMMONLY USED ACL COMMANDS
Command Description
Export Export and convert selected fields or
records to a file outside of ACL in a
format such as Excel, dBase, Access,
delimited text, etc.
Summarize Summarize one or more numeric field
based on one or more key character
field to create a new input file.
Sort Create a new input file sorted by one
or more specified field.
Join Combine the fields from two different
input files based on one or more
common fields to create a new input
file. New input file may reflect all
records in which the common fields
match, do not match, or all input file
records.
Example Application
I have an A/R download with an
ADJUSTMENTS field and noted that
several records have adjustments that
add to the receivable rather than
reduce the receivable. I want to
export these records to Excel to
provide to the client for further
explanation.
My A/R download includes the
financial class (FC) and major service
type (SERV_TYPE) fields. I want to
summarize the CHARGES,
PAYMENTS, ADJUSTMENTS, and
BALANCE fields based on major
service type then financial class.
My A/P download is unsorted. I want
to sort the input file by VENDOR and
INV_DATE.
My A/R download called ATB
includes the financial class code (FC)
but does not include the financial class
description. The client has provided
me with another file called FIN
CLASS that reflects the financial class
code (FCC), financial class description
(FC_DESC), and major payor type
(PAYOR_CLASS).
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Example Execution
Create a data filter to isolate all
accounts with adjustments that add
to gross charges.
Export all fields as an Excel
document to an Excel file called
ADJUSTMENTS TO RESEARCH.
Summarize on: 1) SERV_TYPE,
2) FC
Accumulate fields: 1) CHARGES,
2) PAYMENTS, 3)
ADJUSTMENTS, 4) BALANCE
Output: Create a new ACL file
named SUMMARY
Sort on: 1) VENDOR, 2)
INV_DATE
To: Create a new ACL file named
VENDOR SORT
Primary file: ATB
Primary key: FC
Primary fields: Select all fields
Secondary file: FIN CLASS
Secondary key: FCC
Secondary fields: FC_DESC,
PAYOR_CLASS
To: Create a new ACL file named
 COMMONLY USED ACL COMMANDS

Command Description Example Application Example Execution

ATB WITH FC DESC

Merge Combine the records from two
different files with identical fields to
create a new input file.
I have a paid claims download for all
claims paid through my interim cutoff
of 9/30/2001 (CLAIMS_ INTERIM).
I also have a second paid claims
download for the remaining three
months of the year (CLAIMS_Q4). I
want to combine these two downloads
into one to reflect all claims paid
during the year.
Primary file: CLAIMS_INTERIM
Primary key: CLAIM_NO
Secondary file: CLAIMS_Q4
Secondary key: CLAIM_NO
To: Create a new ACL file named
CLAIMS_ALL

Analyze Data (“Analyze” pull-down menu)

Command Description Example Application Example Execution

Count Returns the number of records in the
current input file or filter.
I have an A/R download with an Create a data filter to isolate all
ADJUSTMENTS field and noted that accounts with adjustments that add
several records have adjustments that to gross charges.
add to the receivable rather than Execute the Count command.
reduce the receivable. I want to know
how many accounts have such
adjustments.

Total Returns the sum of a numeric field or
expression in the current input file or
filter.
My A/P download includes the Total fields: OPEN_AMT
outstanding invoice amount
(OPEN_AMT). I want to determine
the total outstanding invoice amount
so that I may reconcile the total to the
G/L A/P balance.

Statistics Returns the following for the current I want to run statistics on the Statistics on: BALANCE

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 COMMONLY USED ACL COMMANDS
Command Description
input file or filter:
• The count, field totals, and
average field value for
positive, zero, negative, and all
values.
• The absolute value.
• The range of values.
• The five highest and five
lowest values.
Stratify Counts the number of records and
sums the field value totals falling into
specified intervals of a numeric field
or expression value.
Classify Counts the number of records and
sums the field value totals relating to
each unique value of a character field.
This command also shows the
percentage of total for both the
number of records and field value sum
relating to each unique value of a
character field.
Age Counts the number of records and
sums the field value totals falling into
specified aging categories based on a
specified cutoff date.
Example Application Example Execution
BALANCE field of my A/R download
to determine:
• The number and amount of
credit balance accounts.
• The total balance of the
download to reconcile to the
G/L.
• The highest and lowest
balances.
I want to determine if there are Perform the “Statistics” command
significant outliers in my claims paid on the PAID_AMT first to
download based on the PAID_AMT determine the minimum and
field. maximum values.
Stratify on: PAID_AMT
Accumulate fields: CLAIM_AMT,
PAID_AMT
My A/R download includes the Classify on: FC
financial class (FC) field. I want to Accumulate fields: BALANCE
determine the payor mix of the
outstanding A/R balance.
My A/P download as of 12/31/2001 Age on: INV_DATE
includes the invoice date Cutoff date: December 31, 2001
(INV_DATE) and outstanding invoice
amount (OPEN_AMT) field. I want Accumulate fields: OPEN_AMT
to recalculate the aging of open
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 COMMONLY USED ACL COMMANDS

Command Description Example Application Example Execution

invoices based on the invoice date.

Gaps Returns the gaps in the sequence of a I obtained a download of the client’s Sequence on: CHECK_NO
key numeric field. check register for the months of
January and February 2002 in order to
perform subsequent disbursement
testing for 12/31/2001. I want to
make sure that the download is
complete and includes all checks. For
cash control considerations, I also
want to see if the check stock is
adequately monitored.

Duplicates Returns the duplicates in the sequence My A/R download includes the Sequence on: ACCOUNT_NO
of a key field. ACCOUNT_NO field. I want to
ensure that account numbers assigned
by the billing system are unique and
accounts for the same visit are not
double-counted.