Wizards and Filters
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.
-
Select the Create TM from ASCII tool.
The Create Text Import Wizard dialog appears.
-
With Wizard Name set to < New >, specify the appropriate Data Type and the name of the file you want to import.
-
Click OK.
The Text Import Wizard - Step 1 dialog appears.
-
Set the Lines within Range to specify which lines in your file contain the actual data.
-
Click Next.
The Text Import Wizard - Step 2 dialog appears.
-
Define how to apply filters, define original data type, and review defined filters.
-
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.
-
Provide require information for the defined data type.
The Text Import Wizard - Step 4 dialog appears.
-
Define the contents of each column of data in the file that you are importing.
-
Click Finish.