Fixed Length input files

If you selected Fixed Length Records as the input file type when creating a Custom Filter, please read this chapter.

After opening the file that contains the fixed length data, you will see a window similar to the one below. Select the lines that make up one complete fixed length record from the file, and click on the OK button. Normally one line represents one record.

 

Next the contents of the first record are displayed above the window's horizontal scroll bar. The left half of the field list displays the field name, which can be changed by double clicking on it (see the chapter on Custom Filters).  The right half of the field list is the data from the record that makes up the field. The record is broken up into individual cells, each cell representing one character in the record. To define a field in the record, select a set of contiguous cells with the mouse.

Example:

CITY:  WASHINGTON 

Select the word “WASHINGTON” and click on “Add Field.”  Trailing space characters are automatically removed during processing.  Cells that appear as a box represent control characters, and should not be included in your selection or your data will have unpredictable results.  To display a fields' associated cells after the field has been defined, hold down the option key when clicking on the field in the field list. Hold down the shift key to select contiguous cells.

Add Field
Once a field is defined, it can be added by clicking the Add Field button. Adding a field actually appends the field to the field list.. The Add Field button becomes the Insert Field button when a field name is selected from the field list. To deselect a field name from the field list, hold down the shift key when clicking on the field name.

Insert Field
Once a field is defined, select the field from the field list (by clicking on it) where a defined field is to be inserted, and click the Insert Field button. The Insert Field button becomes the Add Field button when no field names are selected from the field list. To unselect a field name from the field list, hold down the shift key when clicking on the field name.

Replace Field
Once a field is defined from the record, select the field from the field list (by clicking on it) where the defined field is to be replaced, and click the Replace Field button.

Delete Field
Select the field from the field list (by clicking on it) where the defined field is to be deleted, and click the Delete Field button.  If no field is selected, TransData™ will beep.

Save
Saves any changes to the filter.

Save As
Creates a new filter and saves any changes to it.