Frequently Asked Questions

This section contains a list of frequently asked questions and answers for the Travel and Expense Management area.

How many different types of expenses (for example, meals, hotels, airfare, taxi, and so forth) can be set up?How many different types of expenses (for example, meals, hotels, airfare, taxi, and so forth) can be set up?

You can define an unlimited number of expenses on the Expense Type (EXPT) table.

Can an employee submit an expense report without submitting a travel authorization?Can an employee submit an expense report without submitting a travel authorization?

Yes. A Travel Expense Report (TRER) transaction can be submitted without having a previously submitted Travel Authorization (TRAUTH) transaction. However, a Travel Advance (TRADV) transaction cannot be submitted without referencing a TRAUTH.

Is it possible to have multiple travelers on the same travel authorization or expense report?Is it possible to have multiple travelers on the same travel authorization or expense report?

The Travel transactions allow you to specify multiple travelers as long as it is for the same trip. This is because the trip information is stored in the Header tab of the Travel transaction and only one Trip ID (the unique identifier for a trip) is allowed per transaction. Specifying multiple travelers for the same trip is accomplished by adding multiple lines in the Traveler topic of the Travel transaction.

Is it possible to have multiple destinations on a single expense report (for example, an employee is on a two week trip that involves travel to different cities within the state)?Is it possible to have multiple destinations on a single expense report (for example, an employee is on a two week trip that involves travel to different cities within the state)?

In that case, you will want to check the Multi-Segment Trip flag on the Header of the Travel transaction. This will allow you to leave the destination fields on the Header blank so that you can specify different destinations on the Trip Details lines.

Can you specify a free-form destination instead of using the reference data defined in the Destination (DSTN) table?Can you specify a free-form destination instead of using the reference data defined in the Destination (DSTN) table?

Yes. Since not every destination may be coded in the DSTN table, the Travel transaction allows for flexibility in specifying the travel location. If the Destination field is specified, the address fields (for example, Address, City, State, and so forth) are automatically populated by inferring the information from the DSTN table. If the Destination field is not specified, then the user can populate the address fields instead. This is true of the destination fields in the Travel transaction’s Header and Trip Details tabs.

How is the travel policy determined for a particular traveler?How is the travel policy determined for a particular traveler?

Please refer to the "Determining the Applicable Travel Policy" topic for information on how the system determines the travel policy that is effective for a particular traveler.

How do department policies differ from state-wide policies?How do department policies differ from state-wide policies?

The department policy defined in the Department Travel Policy by Expense Type (TRPETD) table will override the state-wide policy defined in the Travel Policy by Expense Type (TRPET) table. The department policy represents exceptions that are only applicable to a particular department. These exceptions should be regularly reviewed to ensure that they are still valid.

What happens after a Travel transaction submits to Final?What happens after a Travel transaction submits to Final?

Please refer to the "Travel Transaction Updates" topic for information on the updates that take place once the Travel transaction is successfully submitted.

Are there travel-related notifications?Are there travel-related notifications?

Since a Travel transaction may be routed to other parties before it can be submitted to Final (for example, routed to the accounts payable team to enter accounting-related details or routed to the traveler’s supervisor for approval), it may be necessary to notify the transaction submitter or the traveler (if the transaction was submitted via a proxy). If the Send Email Notification flag is checked on certain transactions, a notification can be sent to the specified email address. Notifications can be triggered for the approval/modification/cancellation of travel authorizations, travel advances, and travel expense reports as well as for the actual disbursement of travel advances or reimbursements.

How do I cancel a trip?How do I cancel a trip?

Please refer to the "Trip Cancellations" topic for information on the two different ways that trips can be cancelled in Advantage.

Can an advance liquidation exceed the amount of the expense report?Can an advance liquidation exceed the amount of the expense report?

Yes. If the advance is $100 and actual expenses reported is $80, the outstanding unused advance amount is $20. The system could apply the $20 to a future expense report or the traveler could be billed. It is a manual process to bill the traveler using a Receivable (RE) transaction. After that, it would go through the normal Accounts Receivable process of billing and collections. If subsequently deemed uncollectible, the outstanding unused advance could be written off.

When uncollectible advances are written off, will it create a taxable event?When uncollectible advances are written off, will it create a taxable event?

The Taxable Expense Trigger (TAXET) table is only updated automatically by the Travel Expense Report (TRER) transaction when the Taxable Expense flag is selected on the TRER’s Trip Details line. In the case of unused advances that are deemed to be taxable, a user can also manually add entries to the TAXET table.

How do I use Configure Page (DESIGNER) for travel related pages that are not searchable to tailor these pages?How do I use Configure Page (DESIGNER) for travel related pages that are not searchable to tailor these pages?

There are pages that are not searchable as listed below. Using these page codes, users can utilize the DEISGNER configuration capabilities.

Page Code

Description

VSRHTRV

Search Traveler – Looks to Vendor / Customer for travelers when the implementation method is Financial Only.

XX394

Search Traveler – Looks to Employee Profile Management for travelers when the implementation method is Dual Site.

XX395

Manage Authorization – Looks to Travel Authorizations widget home page on Travel and Expense Landing pages (TRVLLP – FTRVLLP).

XX396

Manage Expense Report – Looks to Expense Reports widget home page on Travel and Expense Landing pages (TRVLLP – FTRVLLP).

XX397

Pending Payment – Looks to Pending Payments widget home page on Travel and Expense Landing pages (TRVLLP – FTRVLLP).

XX398

Upcoming Trips – Looks to Upcoming Trips widget home page on Travel and Expense Landing pages (TRVLLP – FTRVLLP).

XX399

Authorization Wizard Modals – Looks to secondary windows like Per Diem (Meals / Lodging), Mileage Records and Accounting Details on Travel Authorizations wizard transaction.

XX400

View Transaction Comments – Looks to the Travel Transaction Comments page.

XX401

Travel Employee Title Bar – Looks to the Travel Employee Title details shown on the Travel wizard transactions.

XX402

Expense Wizard Modals – Looks to Modal windows like Per Diem (Meals / Lodging), Mileage Records, Accounting Details and Expense Amount Info on Expense Reports wizard transaction.

XX440

Expense Payment Details Modal – Looks to the Payment Details associated with the Traveler shown on the Trip Information tab on Expense Reports wizard transaction. 

XX441

Authorization Payment Details Modal – Looks to the Payment Details associated with the Traveler shown on the Trip Information tab on Travel Authorizations wizard transaction.