Advanced Import/Export

Use the Advanced tab to perform an import/export under the following conditions:

If you are importing/exporting delimited fields, see Delimited Data. If you are importing or exporting fixed-width fields, see Fixed-Width Data.

Delimited Data

Use the Advanced tab to import/export delimited or fixed width data, data with explicit column definitions, or data with custom field and record separators. You can also choose whether to replace a table's existing data on import.

  1. Choose the Advanced tab.
  2. Choose Delimited in the Type field.

You can specify the following values:

  1. Field Separator

    Used between fields

  2. Field Start

    Indicates that the next character is the first character in the field

  3. Field End

    Indicates that the preceding character is the last character in the field

  4. Record Separator

    Used between records

  5. Column Definition

    Indicates whether the name of the column is included in the data file

  6. Delimiter at the End

    Indicates whether or not records terminate with a delimiter

All these settings (except Column Definition and End Delimiter, which are either true or false) can be either single characters or strings. You can indicate a tab with "\t" and a backslash with "\\".

For example, the following settings:

Field Separator: Semicolon
Field Start: `
Field End: '
Record Separator: Empty line
Column Definition: true
Delimiter at End: false

might export the following data into the data file:

`TOY' `PRICE' `QUANTITY'

`barbie';`9.50';`0'

`beanie baby elephant';`6.50';`0'

Fixed-Width Data

To create or read from a data file that uses fixed-width columns instead of field separators:

  1. Choose the Advanced tab in the Import/Export window.
  2. Choose Fixed Width in the Type field.
  3. Set the record separator in the Record Separator field, and enter in the Null field the string that represents null values.

    The grid displays the column names in the table or view and (for export) default column widths.

  4. If the default widths are acceptable, click OK. To change the defaults, do one of the following: