Tidiful to Acomba: Seamless Accounting Integration Guide

Understanding Acomba Import Requirements

One of the best things about Acomba is its simplicity. Unlike modern cloud-based accounting systems that require complex API integrations or hidden metadata, Acomba uses straightforward CSV and text file imports. This makes integration with Tidiful remarkably simple and reliable.

What File Formats Does Acomba Accept?

Acomba supports several standard import formats:

• CSV Files: Comma-separated values (most common)
• Fixed-Width Text: Column-aligned text files
• Delimited Text: Tab or other delimiter-separated files
• ODBC: For advanced database connections (optional)

Acomba Import Modules

Acomba organizes imports by accounting module. Each module has its own specific CSV column layout that you need to match:

1. Payables Module

The Payables module handles accounts payable—invoices you receive from vendors. When exporting from Tidiful to Acomba Payables, you'll typically need columns like:

2. Receivables Module

The Receivables module manages invoices you send to customers. For this module, you'll need customer-focused data:

3. General Ledger Module

For direct general ledger entries, you may need additional account information:

Technical Requirements for Acomba Integration

File Encoding

Acomba works best with UTF-8 encoded files. This is especially important for Québec businesses that need to support accented characters (é, è, à, ç, etc.) in vendor names, addresses, and descriptions.

Decimal Separator

Most Québec accounting systems, including Acomba, use the period (.) as the decimal separator:

• Correct: 1234.56
• Incorrect: 1234,56

Tidiful automatically formats numeric values with the correct decimal separator for Acomba compatibility.

Date Format

Acomba typically expects dates in ISO format (yyyy-mm-dd):

• Format: 2025-11-18
• Alternative formats: Acomba can handle other date formats if configured in the import settings

The Tidiful to Acomba Workflow

The integration process is refreshingly straightforward:

Why This Integration is So Simple

Unlike modern cloud accounting platforms that require complex API integrations, OAuth authentication, and real-time synchronization, Acomba's desktop-based architecture uses simple file imports. This approach offers several advantages:

• No API Complexity: You don't need to handle authentication tokens, rate limits, or API versioning.
• No Hidden Metadata: There are no secret keys, proprietary flags, or internal system IDs to manage.
• Reliable and Predictable: CSV files are a universal standard that works consistently.
• User Control: You maintain full control over when and how data is imported.
• Offline Capable: Since Acomba is desktop software, you can work offline and import data when convenient.

Best Practices for Acomba Integration

1. Standardize Your Data

Before exporting to Acomba, ensure your data is consistent:

• Use consistent vendor name formatting
• Verify all amounts are properly formatted
• Ensure dates are in the correct format
• Check that tax calculations are accurate

2. Create Import Templates

Once you've mapped your columns in Acomba, save the mapping as a template. This allows you to reuse the same column mapping for future imports, saving time and reducing errors.

3. Validate Before Importing

Always review your CSV file before importing into Acomba:

• Open the CSV in Excel or a text editor
• Verify column headers match Acomba's expected format
• Check for any missing or incorrect data
• Ensure special characters display correctly

4. Start with Small Batches

When first setting up the integration, test with a small batch of invoices (5-10) to ensure everything works correctly. Once verified, you can process larger batches with confidence.

5. Maintain Audit Trails

Keep records of:

• Which invoices were exported from Tidiful
• When they were imported into Acomba
• Any errors or corrections made during import

Common Use Cases

Monthly Invoice Processing

Many businesses process invoices monthly. With Tidiful and Acomba integration, you can:

• Extract all monthly invoices in Tidiful
• Export them as a single CSV file
• Import the entire batch into Acomba at once
• Save hours of manual data entry

Vendor Invoice Management

For businesses with multiple vendors:

• Process invoices as they arrive
• Export vendor-specific batches
• Import directly into Acomba Payables
• Maintain accurate vendor records

Expense Tracking

Track business expenses efficiently:

• Extract expense receipts and invoices
• Export to Acomba General Ledger format
• Automatically categorize expenses
• Maintain detailed expense records

Comparing Acomba Integration to Other Systems

Acomba's simplicity stands in contrast to other accounting systems:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: Special Characters Not Displaying Correctly

Solution: Ensure your CSV file is exported with UTF-8 encoding. Tidiful automatically handles this, but if you're creating files manually, verify the encoding settings.

Issue: Dates Not Importing Correctly

Solution: Check that dates are in yyyy-mm-dd format. If Acomba is configured for a different format, adjust your export settings or Acomba's import configuration.

Issue: Decimal Values Showing as Text

Solution: Ensure numeric values use periods (.) as decimal separators, not commas. Tidiful automatically formats numbers correctly for Acomba.

Issue: Column Mapping Errors

Solution: Verify that your CSV column headers match Acomba's expected field names. You may need to adjust column names in your export or create a custom mapping in Acomba.

Future Enhancements

As Tidiful continues to evolve, we're exploring additional features to make Acomba integration even smoother:

• Pre-configured Acomba export templates for different modules
• Direct column mapping configuration in Tidiful
• Batch processing optimizations for large invoice volumes
• Automatic validation before export

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I integrate Tidiful with Acomba?

To integrate Tidiful with Acomba, export your invoice data from Tidiful as a CSV file, then import it into Acomba using the Payables, Receivables, or General Ledger module. Acomba uses simple CSV imports with no hidden metadata required—just match the columns that Acomba expects.

What file format does Acomba accept?

Acomba accepts CSV files, fixed-width text files, and delimited text files. CSV is the most common format. Files should be UTF-8 encoded to support French characters and special symbols commonly used in Québec businesses.

Does Acomba require special metadata or API keys?

No, Acomba does not require any hidden metadata, UUIDs, API keys, or complex authentication. You only need to provide the exact columns that Acomba expects in its import format. This makes the integration much simpler than cloud-based accounting systems like QuickBooks or Xero.

What date format does Acomba use?

Acomba typically expects dates in ISO format (yyyy-mm-dd), such as 2025-11-18. However, Acomba can handle other date formats if configured in the import settings. Tidiful automatically formats dates correctly for Acomba compatibility.

Can I import invoices into Acomba Payables?

Yes, you can import invoices into Acomba Payables. Export your invoice data from Tidiful with columns like Vendor Name, Invoice Date, Invoice Number, Subtotal, GST, QST, and Total Amount, then import the CSV file into Acomba's Payables module. The column mapping is typically a one-time setup.

What decimal separator should I use?

Acomba uses the period (.) as the decimal separator, so amounts should be formatted as 1234.56, not 1234,56. Tidiful automatically formats numeric values with the correct decimal separator for Acomba compatibility.

Conclusion

Integrating Tidiful with Acomba is refreshingly straightforward. Unlike complex API-based integrations, Acomba's simple CSV import system makes it easy to automate your invoice processing workflow. By extracting invoice data with Tidiful and exporting it in Acomba-compatible formats, you can eliminate hours of manual data entry while maintaining accuracy and control.

The key to success is understanding Acomba's requirements: UTF-8 encoding, period decimal separators, ISO date formats, and matching the expected column layouts for each module. With Tidiful handling the extraction and formatting, and Acomba handling the accounting, you have a powerful, reliable integration that just works.