
     Import (& Append an Import File) and Export

DataBox can read any text file produced from most Industry standard applications including, but not restricted to MS Access, MS Excel, Oracle, Informix, Sybase, DBBase, FoxPro, Solid, MS Works and most other familiar database applications.

Import

To import a database into DataBox, you must first export the database from its host application as a 'Text delimited' file. In most database applications you can select the menu option "File" and "Save As" to export your database. You need to save the file as type "Ascii", "Text", "Text delimited" or "Tab delimited". You may also use any other field delimiter instead of "Tab", such as comma, vertical bar separator, space, etc.

Each line is then separated with a Return/LineFeed.

DataBox only expects to load DataBox files (.db extension) or ascii files (any extension).
 
DataBox will recognise an export file and present the Import Wizard screen. The Import Wizard will determine the type of field delimiter used by your exporting application and prompt for confirmation of this delimiter.

The Import Wizard screen will also allow you to select a mode for 'appending' an export file to an existing DataBox database. To append records on an import you must ensure that DataBox already has your existing database loaded. When the Import Wizard screen is presented, modify the import mode to 'Append'.

The 'Append' option allows you to continually export only those 'New' records not currently loaded in your DataBox database from your third party application - and add them to your existing DataBox database.

In addition to confirming [or modifying] the delimiter, you may specify a single field of your data that can be used to "Categorise" each record. For example, If field 7 of each record in your database represented a geographical region such as a "State" or "County", and this was to be used to "Group" your data into published categories, specify field "7" as the Category field number.

If however, you would like to group all imported records into a single user defined Category (e.g. "Products", "Directory", etc.), then enter the Category name in the box provided. DataBox will use this to categorise all records and not one of the fields from your imported database.

The import wizard also allows you to identify which import fields should map to which DataBox fields, which fields are Images and which fields should 'overflow' into the Scroll box for each record.

Once loaded, clicking the 'Save' button will rewrite the loaded database in DataBox format, allowing you the option of selecting a new DataBox style filename or to rewrite the DataBox file over the original one. Saving will also record your Import settings, so if you open an import file you will be presented with the same Import settings used when the last Import was made for the database.

When Saving, DataBox will also create a new ".cfg" file which will hold the details of any preferences you may now specify for this database, e.g. Label names, fonts, colours, sort order, default Image directories, Import settings, etc.


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For further help, please view the appropriate sections.
If there are any areas not covered sufficiently, or you have comments, please e-mail to documentation@simplewebfx.com.

