On Tue, 2005-01-18 at 21:45 -0500, G. Roderick Singleton wrote:
> On Wed, 2005-01-19 at 13:18 +1100, Jonathon Coombes wrote:
> > On Tue, 2005-01-18 at 21:07 -0500, G. Roderick Singleton wrote:
> > > On Tue, 2005-01-18 at 09:36 -0600, Kent Tenney wrote:
> > > > Howdy,
> > > > 
> > > > I have a fixed field length data file consisting
> > > > of about 70 columns and need to import it
> > > > to Calc. This is a process I need to do periodically.
> > > > 
> > > > It is a tedious process to define the column widths.
> > > > 
> > > > Is it possible to save the definition of column
> > > > widths so that I don't have to go through the
> > > > process the next time I need to do this import?
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > I have been thinking about your problem since I saw this question. I am
> > > puzzled by it. You should be able to import your datafile no problem.
> > > Check Calc Help > Contents > Index > Search term > importing; database
> > > tables as text and see if the method describes helps. If it doesn't try
> > > naming your file with an extension .csv and, as help says, select that
> > > file type from the open drop down menu.
> > 
> > I dont think the problem is that they cannot import the csv file.
> > The problem is, that because it is fixed width fields, they have
> > to click on the field seperator bar when importing to define fields.
> > This may be okay for a simple file, but imagine doing this for a
> > more complex file with 50+ fields in it. Then imagine doing it for
> > 100 files each time.
> > 
> > I think this will basically fall under a RFE. Request and enhancement
> > to be able to save the field delimiters or something similar. Any one
> > else offer something better?
> > 
>  Hmm,  most RDBMS use SQL and I believe most would be able to export
> data using some sort of delimiter such as '~' so that one could simply
> import the file. For example, in postgres you could say:
>     COPY '<table>' TO '<output_file>' USING DELIMITERS '~';
> Giving fixed fields that can be imported, say to calc.

No, this is a delimited file, hence the use of the DELIMITER keyword
here. If you look at the Calc import feature, there is an option
for fixed-width or delimited files. The fixed-width is more for
the older and/or larger software systems that output based on
column numbers and or field sizes. eg. fields start at character
positions 1, 8, 15, 17, 25, 40, 110 etc.

Regards
Jonathon


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