Import File Types

The Visual Integrator module allows you to import data from a variety of file types. Each file type represents a standard file format used by a large number of popular applications. The following file types are supported by the Visual Integrator module.

Regardless of the information contained in the import file, data fields will not be imported if you do not specifically select the corresponding data item on the Import Job Maintenance Data tab.

The information to be defined for each data item is based on the type of file being imported and the data type of the item. The Visual Integrator module will prompt you for the necessary information appropriate to the data item selected.

Importing data from file types other than ASCII text files or ODBC data sources requires that you specify the column position for each data field. You can also specify the position and length information for string-type fields to import a portion of a data field. The column designation is used to identify a data field from Delimited, Data Interchange File (DIF), Lotus 1-2-3, dBASE III PLUS, Excel, and ProvideX data files.

To import data from a file type that is not listed below, you must first create an intermediate file using one of the supported formats. Most applications using a proprietary file system provide a data exporting feature that supports one of the file types below.

ASCII Text Files

ODBC Data Sources

Delimited Files

Data Interchange Files (DIF)

Excel XLS (Version 4) Files

Lotus 1-2-3 (WKS, Release 1A) Files

Lotus WK4 (Release 4) Files

dBASE III PLUS Files

Direct and Indexed ProvideX (PVX) Files

For more information about the import process, see

Processing Data Files

Visual Integrator FAQs.