Adding Fields or Field Types

Why add fields?

You can define a field based on one of the following simple data types:
  • boolean - true or false
  • string - text in the specified encoding
  • integer - whole numbers
  • numeric - decimal numbers

You create fields in the Schema Layout tab. Fields are displayed in the Schema Layout tab using the following icon:

Fields that are based on a field type are displayed in the Schema Layout tab using the following icon:

Use records to model flat File data fields that have complex structures, such as components or subcomponents.

Why add Field Types? 

You can define a field type with particular properties to be reused later. For example, if you wanted to create many fields that all use a double quotation mark as an encapsulation character, you could define a field type with the encapsulation character set to the double-quotes character and then create multiple fields based on this field type.

You create field types in the Type Library tab. Field types are displayed in the Type Library tab using the following icon:

Field types that are based on a field type are displayed in the Type Library tab using the following icon:

Adding Fields or Field Types

The procedure for adding fields and field types is identical except for the tab you initially select as described in the following procedure.

Procedure

  1. Open a Flat File Schema from the Project tab.
  2. Select the appropriate tab:
    • To add a field, select the Schema Layout tab.
    • To add a field type, select the Type Library tab.
  3. Select one of the following options from the list:
    • New Child > Field: To add a field as a child of the current node.
    • New Sibling > Field: To add a field as a sibling of the current node.
    • New Children: to add child fields and records in bulk.
  4. In the New Field dialog box, enter a valid node name in the Field Name field.
  5. If this field should be based on a field type, select the field type from the Based on Field list.
  6. Click OK. The field node () shows in the appropriate tree (Schema Layout or Type Library) and the field properties show in the properties pane to the right of the tree.
  7. Specify the properties for the field or field type.