Data Interchange Files (DIF)

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The Data Interchange File (DIF) format is a data interchange format supported by some spreadsheet products. When creating a DIF file from a spreadsheet, you can specify a column or row orientation. The orientation selected depends on whether related information for a single record (for example, account, customer, or item) appears in the same column or the same row. For more information, refer to the user manual provided with your spreadsheet program.

Each data field in a DIF file is identified by a column number. The term "column" is used, regardless of whether the original spreadsheet is saved in column or row orientation. The first field in a record is in column 1, the second field is in column 2, etc. This information is assigned to the Column field for each data item using the Import Field Properties feature (on the Import Job Maintenance Data tab). Because each field is stored in a separate column, you do not need to specify the length of each field when importing from DIF files.

Expand/Collapse item  Example 1 - DIF File Type

Assume that you have a spreadsheet with the first column containing the account number and the next 12 columns containing the monthly budgets. This spreadsheet must be saved in row orientation.

 

Expand/Collapse item  Example 2 - DIF File Type

Assume that you have a spreadsheet with the first line containing the customer number, the second line containing year-to-date sales, and the third line containing year-to-date profits. Each column contains information for a different customer. This spreadsheet must be saved in column orientation.

 

For more information, see Import File Types.