help with import concept

[Jeff Harrison]

--- Leefp1 at aol.com wrote:

> Though a longtime Filepro user, I have never used
> the import command.  Is 
> using it the best way to accomplish the following:
> 
> I want to export a file from a vertical market
> database application written 
> in Foxpro and bring the data into Filepro.  This is
> on a Windows XP system.  
> The Foxpro app will allow most any kind of export
> and can place the resulting 
> file anywhere I want.  Some questions:
> 
> 1.  What is the best format to use for the export? 
> ASCII, tab-delimited?
> 2.  Should the exported file be placed in any
> particular folder, e.g. a 
> subfolder in C:\fielpro?  or does it matter?
> 3.  Does one create a non-filepro file in advance in
> which to import the 
> data?
> 4.  Does one have to know the field properties
> (especially length) of the 
> data being imported?
> 5.  In the command syntax "Import ascii name etc" 
> Is "name" the name of the 
> ascii file being imported or the resulting name
> after the import?
> 6.  Can anyone point me to a step-by-step reference
> (preferably web 
> accessible) to help me learn this process?
> 
> TIA.
> 
> -Lee
> --------------------------- 
> Lee B. Walker

Hi Lee.  I have written an import utility called
JHImport that automates the import process into
filepro.  It gives you a visual interface that lets
you see the data as you are setting up the import. 
I'd be happy to send you a demo of this if you are
interested.  With that in mind here are some thoughts
on your questions:

#1  This is mostly personal preference.  I usually use
the CSV format for simplicity, but if there is any
risk of having quotes embedded in the data then I
usually go with tab delimited.

#2  You can place your data in any directory - it
doesn't matter.

#3  JHImport will automatically create the filepro
file for you if you wish.  If you do the import
manually without JHImport then you will need to create
the destination filepro file manually.

#4  Yes.  You should generally know how big each field
could get.  JHImport analyzes your data for you and
automatically calculates the maximum field size for
each field.  If you do the import manually, then you
will need to come up with the appropriate sizes for
your fields.  

#5  In the command syntax "Import ascii name etc" 
the "name" is the name of the file.  I generally use
an alias similar to defining a lookup alias.  For
example:  import ascii fil = C:\tmp\file.txt r=\n O="
C=" F=,  (this of course is handeled automatically by
JHImport.

#6  Not really, but I'm sure others on this list will
have some ideas here.  I know that Stewart Warner has
a complete filepro reference in a book type format.

Good luck.

Jeff Harrison
jeffaharrison at yahoo.com

Author of JHExport and JHImport.  The easiest and
fastest way to generate code for filePro exports and
imports.



		
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