.20 — Xerox Standard Chart of Accounts
Xerox · 1970s
A plain text file used for organizing financial accounts and transactions, commonly associated with the Xerox Standard Chart of Accounts.
Key Features
- Hierarchical organization of financial accounts.
- Standardized structure for revenue, expenses, and assets.
- Plain text format for broad compatibility.
- Facilitates consistent financial reporting.
Best For
- Companies using the Xerox Standard Chart of Accounts.
- Maintaining a consistent accounting structure over time.
- Interoperability between different accounting modules.
- Simple, text-based representation of financial accounts.
Less Ideal For
- Storing complex financial data with extensive metadata.
- Real-time transaction processing without a dedicated system.
- Proprietary database formats requiring specific software.
- Graphical financial dashboards or visualizations.
Common Use Cases
- Defining a company's general ledger structure.
- Recording financial transactions according to a standardized system.
- Generating financial statements and reports.
- Facilitating accounting audits and analysis.
How to Open It
- Open with any text editor (Notepad, TextEdit, VS Code, Sublime Text).
- Import into accounting software that supports the Xerox Standard Chart of Accounts.
- Use spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets) after saving as a .csv or properly importing the text data.
- Consult specific accounting software documentation for .20 file import procedures.
What is a .20 file?
The .20 file extension is associated with the Xerox Standard Chart of Accounts (XSO). This is a hierarchical system designed for classifying financial transactions within a business organization, particularly common in accounting and financial management. It provides a standardized structure for recording revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities, making it easier to generate consistent financial reports and analyze performance across different departments or entities. The format itself is typically plain text, allowing for broad compatibility with various accounting software and systems. It's primarily used by businesses that adopted Xerox accounting systems or adhere to their established chart of accounts structure.
Programs That Open .20 Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Notepad | Free | Official |
| Microsoft Excel | Paid | Official | |
| macOS | TextEdit | Free | Official |
| Apple Numbers | Free | Official | |
| Linux | Gedit | Free | Official |
| LibreOffice Calc | Free | ||
| Android | Google Sheets | Free | |
| WPS Office | Free | ||
| iOS | Numbers | Free | Official |
| Pages | Free | Official | |
| Web Browser | Google Sheets | Free |
How to Convert .20 Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .CSV | Export from accounting software, Save As in text editor with CSV delimiter |
| .JSON | Manual conversion, Custom script |
Common Problems with .20 Files
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a standardized system developed by Xerox for classifying financial accounts and transactions, enabling consistent reporting and analysis within businesses.
Yes, you can open it with any plain text editor. However, to interpret it meaningfully as accounting data, you'll likely need specialized accounting software or to import it into a spreadsheet.
While originating from Xerox, the concept of a structured chart of accounts is universal in accounting. Businesses may adopt or adapt this format for their own internal systems.
Technical Details
Files with the .20 extension typically contain structured data in a plain text format. The content adheres to the Xerox Standard Chart of Accounts, meaning it lists account codes and descriptions in a hierarchical manner. This structure allows accounting software to parse and interpret financial data for reporting and analysis purposes. The simplicity of the format ensures compatibility across different systems, though specific software may have unique parsing requirements.