Excel XLS (Version 4) Files

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The Visual Integrator module can directly import Excel Version 4 files. The spreadsheets must be saved as an .XLS file type (Excel, Version 4). Because most spreadsheet products are capable of saving data in an Excel compatible format, this feature allows you to import information from virtually any spreadsheet product.

Information stored in the spreadsheet must be organized in a row format; all related information for a single record (for example, account, customer, or item) must appear on the same row. If the information is organized in a column format (related data items appear in the same column), you must use the Transpose feature in your spreadsheet to change the orientation. For more information, refer to the user manual provided with your spreadsheet program.

Each data field in an Excel file is identified by a column number. 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 an Excel file. Each line of the spreadsheet is considered to be a separate record.

Expand/Collapse item  Example 1 - Excel XLS (Version 4) 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 is already in a row orientation and can be imported without modification.

 

Expand/Collapse item  Example 2 - Excel XLS (Version 4) 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 is in a column orientation and must be "transposed" to a row orientation and saved before proceeding with the import process.

 

For more information, see Import File Types.