That's it Jonathan. Fixed field length is evidently used very rarely, hence not not a lot of effort in supporting it.
Each row of the import file is 884 characters, comprising 82 columns. Bringing it into Calc consists of setting each of the 82 column dividers manually. On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 15:32:26 +1100, Jonathon Coombes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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 > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
