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1994-01-18
|
11KB
|
279 lines
+--------------+
| |
| |
| C.C.D.F. |
| |
| |
+--------------+
A DOS Utility to
Columnify Comma Delimited Files
Copyright (C) 1994
by
Pinnacle Software
CP386 Mount Royal
QC Canada H3P 3C6
Phone (514) 345-9578
BBS (514) 345-8654
CompuServe 70154,1577
CCDF is distributed as Shareware: you may use CCDF free of charge, or
distribute copies to others, with the proviso that CCDF may be used or
distributed ONLY in its complete and unaltered form.
========================
WHY C.C.D.F. WAS WRITTEN
========================
A few days ago, I was astonished to discover that a well-known
spreadsheet program was incapable of reading the familiar "comma-
delimited" format. That is to say, it couldn't read an ordinary text
file with the data fields broken up like this:
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| "CARRIER","ZIP",23809,"01-10-94" |
| "DASI","ZIP",21083,"01-10-94" |
| "FORAGE","ZIP",36867,"01-10-94" |
| "FREE","ZIP",109669,"01-10-94" |
| |
| |
| Fig. 1 -- Sample of comma-delimited data |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
In a comma-delimited file, character fields are enclosed in double
quotation marks, while numeric data is presented as-is. Each field is
delimited (i.e. separated) by a comma. The sample above (Fig. 1)
represents the following four fields:
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| CARRIER ZIP 23809 01-10-94 |
| DASI ZIP 21083 01-10-94 |
| FORAGE ZIP 36867 01-10-94 |
| FREE ZIP 109669 01-10-94 |
| |
| Fig. 2 -- Sample of columnar data |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
... which just happens to be one of my directories. The content of the
data is not the point, here; it's the FORMAT that concerns us.
Many people exchange data in comma-delimited format, but some programs
don't read it. Fortunately, some programs that will not read comma-
delimited data WILL read columnar data (i.e. data arranged in columns,
as in Fig. 2). That's where CCDF comes in...
================
INTRODUCING CCDF
================
CCDF ("Columnify Comma-Delimited Files") will read a comma-delimited
text file and output the fields in columns. The format of the command
is as follows:
CCDF input-file output-file
For example, to process the comma-delimited file MYFILE.TXT and send
the result to a text file named OUTPUT.TXT, you would enter this
command at the DOS prompt:
CCDF MYFILE.TXT OUTPUT.TXT
This simple command will do the following:
-- Read each line from MYFILE.TXT
-- Remove commas
-- Remove leading and trailing double-quotes for each field
-- Format the data into columns 20 characters wide
-- Write each new line to OUTPUT.TXT.
You can select a different column width by specifying a third parameter
on the command line, as in this example:
CCDF C:\ZAPHOD\MARVIN.TXT ARTHUR.TXT 30
This would read the comma-delimited file MARVIN.TXT (in the ZAPHOD
directory of drive C:) and output the result into 30-character wide
columns in the file ARTHUR.TXT.
If an input field is longer than the specified column width, it is
truncated (i.e. chopped off) to fit.
===========
LIMITATIONS
===========
Alas, CCDF can not read input lines longer than 255 characters. If you
want more than that, you can either break up the lines manually, using a
macro editor, or pay me to write Version 2.00 of this product.
============
RETURN CODES
============
If you are using CCDF in a batch (.BAT) file, you can check it for
successful operation by using the IF ERRORLEVEL function. CCDF returns
an errorlevel of 0 (zero) if it worked, or 255 if it didn't.
IMPORTANT: Remember that the IF ERRORLEVEL statement checks the
indicated level AND HIGHER, so don't use IF ERRORLEVEL 0,
because it will always be true. Check the highest
errorlevel first.
Here is an example of how to use CCDF in a batch file, along with some
explanatory comments:
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| @ECHO OFF <-- Turn off batch file echoing |
| CCDF INPUT.TXT OUTPUT.TXT 50 <-- Run the CCDF command |
| IF ERRORLEVEL 255 GOTO OOPS <-- Jump ahead if there was an error |
| SEE OUTPUT.TXT <-- Use SEE to view output (Note 1) |
| GOTO QUIT <-- Jump ahead to the end |
| :OOPS <-- A batch file label |
| ECHO Something didn't work! <-- Report the error |
| :QUIT <-- A batch file label |
| ECHO Finished! <-- Report the end of the file |
| |
| Fig. 3 -- Sample batch file using CCDF |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
NOTE 1: The SEE file viewer/printer can be downloaded from
Pinnacle Software's free files BBS at 514-345-8654.
It is a freeware program, so you can use it for this
and other projects without paying a license fee.
===================
GOING THE OTHER WAY
===================
CCDF can convert comma-delimited data to columnar, but what if you have
a columnar report (dumped to a text file) that you want converted to
comma-delimited format? Fret not. There's a convenient shareware
program named Parse-O-Matic (also by Pinnacle Software), which you can
download from our free files BBS at 514-345-8654.
A lot of people have saved a LOT of money by using Parse-O-Matic,
because it lets them transfer data from one program to another without
retyping.
Incidentally, the Parse-O-Matic package includes the SEE utility
mentioned in Fig. 3.
====================
WATCH CCDF IN ACTION
====================
The CCDF package contains a batch file, named CCDFDEMO.BAT, which
processes the file CCDFDEMO.DTA -- also included in the package. To
run the demo, enter this at the DOS prompt:
CCDFDEMO
This will display the input, run CCDF, then show the output.
=========
THANK-YOU
=========
Thank-you for taking the time to try out CCDF. It's yours to use, free
of charge. If you wish, you can pass along a copy to a friend or
associate. However, bear in mind the following legal notice:
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| YOU ARE ENTITLED TO USE CCDF v1.00 WITHOUT CHARGE PROVIDED YOU |
| INSTALL THE PRODUCT ON YOUR SYSTEM IN ITS ENTIRETY, WHICH IS TO |
| SAY THE FOLLOWING FILES: |
| |
| READ.ME CCDF.DOC CCDF.EXE CCDFDEMO.BAT CCDFDEMO.DTA |
| AMAZE.DOC ORDER.FRM FILE_ID.DIZ VENDOR.DOC |
| |
| YOU MAY ALSO GIVE COMPLETE AND UNALTERED COPIES WITH OTHERS AND |
| MAY CHARGE A SMALL FEE (NOT TO EXCEED U.S. $9) TO COVER YOUR |
| DUPLICATION AND/OR TRANSMISSION COSTS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES |
| MAY YOU DISTRIBUTE ALTERED OR INCOMPLETE COPIES OF THIS PRODUCT. |
| |
| |
| Fig. 4 -- Surly yet important legal notice about CCDF |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Whew. If you are interested in some of Pinnacle Software's other
products, we have a special offer, which is explained in the text file
AMAZE.DOC. To print it out, enter this command at the DOS prompt:
TYPE AMAZE.DOC >PRN
If you like what you see there, you can print out the order form with
this command:
TYPE ORDER.FRM >PRN
If you have any comments about CCDF, please let me know. My name is
Tim, and you can reach me at 514-345-9578, or at CompuServe 70154,1577.