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DAT File Validation and Error Correction
DAT File Error Correction Guide
DAT File Validation and Error Correction
Header and Detail Matching
Description
Header/detail matching errors occur when values in the header record do not align with values in the associated detail records. These errors often affect Total Number of Garnishment or Orders, Tax Year, Total Judgement Amount or Header Length is incorrect.
Correction Requirements
- Header Total Number of Garnishment or Orders must match the total number of detailed records.
- Header Tax Year must match the garnishment filing tax year
- Header Total Judgement Amount must match equal the sum of Detailed Debt Amounts.
- Header length is incorrect or header appears in the wrong place in the file.
Correct Matching Example
|
Field |
Header Value |
Detail Value |
Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of Garnishments or Orders |
0273 |
0273 |
Total of 273 detail records |
|
Tax Year |
2025 |
2025 |
Tax year is the same |
|
Total Judgement Amount |
0125832766 |
0125832766 |
Sum of details equals $1,258,327.66 |
Incorrect Matching Examples
|
Field |
Header Value |
Detail Value |
Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total Judgement Amount |
00000500000 |
Detail sum equals 00000450000 |
Header does not equal detail total |
Number of Garnishment or Orders Error
Description
Number of Garnishment or Orders error occurs when the header record reports a detailed record count that does not match the actual number of detailed records in the file.
Correction Requirements
- Count only valid detail records
- Exclude header records from detail count
- Header count field must be recalculated after adding, deleting, or correcting detailed records.
- Count fields must be zero-filled to the required length.
Incorrect Examples
|
Header Record |
Detail Records |
Reason |
Corrected Header Count |
|---|---|---|---|
|
0005 |
4 |
Count too high |
0004 |
|
0003 |
5 |
Count too low |
0005 |
|
3 |
3 |
Incorrect length; 4 digits required |
0003 |
|
Blank |
3 |
Missing count |
0003 |
Total Judgement Amount Errors
Description
Total amount errors occur when the sum of detail monetary fields do not match the header total amount.
Correction Requirements
- Sum, all included detail judgment amounts
- Header total must reflect the sum of the unsatisfied judgment of each detail record.
- Header total must be recalculated after amount corrections.
Example
|
Sum of all Detail Debt Amounts |
Header Total |
Error Reason |
Corrected Header Total |
|---|---|---|---|
|
0000040000 |
0000035000 |
Header total too low |
0000040000 |
Invalid Character Errors
Description
Invalid character errors occur when fields contain symbols, punctuation, tabs, line breaks, or characters outside the accepted EDP Layout specifications.
Correction Requirements
- Use only approved characters for each field.
- Numeric fields must contain digits only.
- Alphabetic fields must contain letters only unless spaces are allowed.
- Alphanumeric fields must contain approved letters and numbers.
- Remove tabs, and hidden characters.
- Replace “And” with approved “&” symbol when appropriate.
Common Invalid Characters
|
Character |
Issue |
Common Correction |
|---|---|---|
|
AND |
When 2 defendants do not spell “AND” |
Use & |
|
@ |
Symbol not allowed |
Remove |
|
/ |
Punctuation not allowed in many fields |
Remove or convert date format |
|
- |
Hyphen prohibited |
Remove |
|
. |
Period prohibited |
Remove |
|
, |
Comma prohibited |
Remove |
|
' |
Apostrophe prohibited |
Remove |
Character Examples
|
Incorrect Example |
Reason |
Corrected Example |
|
SMITH ROBERT J AND JANE G |
Use & instead of AND |
SMITH ROBERT J & JANE G |
|
O'NEIL |
Apostrophe prohibited |
ONEIL |
|
SMITH-JONES |
Hyphen prohibited |
SMITH JONES or SMITHJONES |
|
123 MAIN ST. |
Period prohibited |
123 MAIN ST |
|
2026/CV/001234 |
Slashes prohibited |
2026CV001234 |
|
MARÍA |
Accent unsupported |
MARIA |
Required Field and Blank Field Errors
Description
Required field errors occur when mandatory data elements are missing or contain only spaces. Blank field rules vary by field type and EDP file layout specification.
Correction Requirements
- Required fields must contain valid values.
- Optional fields may be blank only when allowed.
- Fixed-width blank fields must be space-filled, not zero-filled, unless specified.
- Blank values must not shift subsequent fields out of position.
- Placeholder values must not be used unless stated on the EDP file layout specification.
Correct Examples
|
Field Type |
Correct Example |
|---|---|
|
Required name field |
SMITH ROBERT |
|
Required date field |
20260811 |
|
Required amount field |
00000010000 |
|
Optional address line 2 blank |
Space-filled field |
Field Length and Alignment Errors
Description
Field length and alignment errors occur when values are too long, too short, incorrectly padded, or shifted from required fixed-width positions.
Correction Requirements
- Each field must match the exact required length.
- Numeric fields are commonly right-justified and zero-filled.
- Text fields are commonly left-justified and space-filled.
Examples
|
Incorrect Example |
Reason |
Corrected Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Detail Record Identifier: 111223345 |
Missing Leading D |
D111223345 |
|
Debt Amount: 123456 in 10-character field |
Missing leading zeros |
0000123456 |
|
State: ILL |
Exceeds 2-character field |
IL |
Duplicate Record Errors
Description
Duplicate record errors occur when the DAT file contains repeated records that should be unique, such as duplicate case-party entries. If you suspect submitting duplicate .dat files, notify the Electronic File Processor immediately, via email Treas-Garnishment-FTS@michigan.gov
Correction Requirements
- Case-party combinations must not be duplicated
- Duplicate detailed records must be removed or corrected.
- Resubmitted records must follow approved amendment.