The following are some rules relating to the file format.

• Amount fields, such as the Employee Contributions, must be zero-filled, right-justified using two decimal positions and include the decimal point. Example: if the employee contribution is $143.75 then 000000143.75 is the required placement in the Employee Contribution field. In addition, if the employee contribution is $174 even, then a decimal placement must be used 000000174.00 must be placed in the Employee Contribution field (see column 435 to 446)
   
• Alphanumeric Text fields, such as First Name, Last Name, Primary Address, etc., must be left justified, and right-filled with spaces. (see columns 035 through 184)
   
• Do not include the “+/- “sign in an amount field. There is a separate corresponding sign field for every amount field in the detail record format (See columns 434 through 447)
   
• Reported “Optional” fields require filled with spaces if no data is used.