Import Data option

Choose this option to import data with different file formats to the working database. The following table describes the menu that appears when you choose this option.

Table 1. Import Data menu
Menu option Description
DIF ... Imports files with DIF format
SYLK ... Imports files with SYLK format
Delimited Text ... Imports files with text format
Fixed-Length ... Imports files in fixed-length file format
dBASE Definitions ... Imports dBASE II, III, III+, and IV file structures
dBASE File Contents ... Imports files with dBASE format

Choose Import Data. Then choose the DIF, SYLK, Delimited Text, or dBASE File Contents option to import data in the specified format. When you choose the desired format, the Data Dictionary alphabetically lists all the tables defined for your database. When you select a table, a dialog box similar to the one shown in the following figure appears.

Figure 1. Import DIF dialog box


The Import DIF dialog box contains the following fields:

  • Effective Tenant — For databases enabled for multi-tenancy, the tenant of the data being imported (not shown in the following figure).
  • Import File — Specifies the load file.
  • Import — Specifies the fields you want to import. The default value is Some. Each field corresponds to a worksheet column. Each row in the worksheet becomes a record in the table. For each row, the Data Dictionary loads worksheet values column by column into the specified record fields.

    If you specify Selected Fields, the Data Dictionary lists all the fields in the specified file. To select a field, press SPACEBAR to highlight the field, than press RETURN. Select the fields in the order you want to import them into your file. To skip a column in the worksheet, do not press RETURN while the field is highlighted. Press GO to import the fields.

  • Disable Triggers During Import — Specifies whether to disable triggers during the import.
Note: To import a file in delimited text format, you must also specify the field separation character. To import dBASE file contents, you must also specify if the file originated on an IBM PC or compatible.