Before you import a file using the Text Import Wizard, you define a general format, called a wizard, that can be used repeatedly to import any number of files of the same type. A wizard describes 1) the contents of each column of data, 2) whether the columns are fixed-width or are separated by delimiters, and 3) which rows to import.

A wizard is made up of one or more filters. Filters are sets of parameters that describe different groups of lines within the file to import. In many cases, a wizard will consist of a single filter. This is the case with uniform data files. In a uniform data file, all the data lines to be read are of the same format. Because of the consistency of format, a wizard needs only one filter to describe a uniform data file. When you define a wizard for importing a uniform data file, the wizard and the filter are one and the same.

Non-uniform data files, on the other hand, contain rows of various formats (different rows exhibit different formats) in a single data file. To accommodate multiple row-formats, a wizard must contain more than one filter. Specifically, a wizard needs one filter for each type of row-format to be accommodated. In the process of defining a wizard for importing a non-uniform data file, you define multiple filters that, taken together, constitute the wizard.

1. Select the Create TM from ASCII tool.

   The Create Text Import Wizard dialog appears.

2. With Wizard Name set to < New >, specify the appropriate Data Type and the name of the file you want to import.

3. Click OK.

   The Text Import Wizard - Step 1 dialog appears.

4. Set the Lines within Range to specify which lines in your file contain the actual data.

5. Click Next.

   The Text Import Wizard - Step 2 dialog appears.

6. Define how to apply filters, define original data type, and review defined filters.

7. Click Next.

   The Text Import Wizard - Step 3 (Fixed Width) dialog appears.

   OR

   The Text Import Wizard - Step 3 (Delimited) dialog appears.

   Which dialog appears depends on the original data type you defined on the Text import Wizard - Step 2 dialog.

8. Provide require information for the defined data type.

   The Text Import Wizard - Step 4 dialog appears.

9. Define the contents of each column of data in the file that you are importing.

10. Click Finish.