Contents - Index

Import

Before attempting to import your existing data files you must what to expect.  Being successful will depend on your understanding of the terms not only of a library but also a database.  We have a word of caution to share.  We do not want any church to be disappointed because they had unrealistic expectations.

Database Preparation

Importing Authors and Publishers

Importing Subjects

Introduction
These add-on modules allow you to import data from a comma-delimited ASCII file (CSV) into the Members database, Publishers database or Phones database.  The field assignments are decided by you at run-time and you can also specify the formatting picture.

You can preview import records to determine which import fields are to be matched to the target fields. Furthermore, you can also strip the first record in case it contains field names. 

Help for the Basic Import/Export Program Follows Below: (The other Import/Export menu choices are documented individually on their respective screens and are used when specialized import control is required.)

Import Controls
The types of file import file formats are ASCII delimited, flat ASCII, Dbase 3, Dbase 4, and MS Excel.  Each requires the source file name be selected.  Once the file has been selected the import parameters are slightly different and must be selected.  The following steps will guide you.

Step One
Locate the import file you wish to use with Comma-Separated File to Import
Click View File to see if there are quotes or other formatting characters
If there are quotes around each field, check Double Quotation Marks
Select the proper Date Format
Click the checkbox Skip First Record if there is a header record
Leave Maximum Records to Import at zero
Click the Next Step button
Select the proper Field Separator
Click the Next Step button



Step Two
On the lower left of the screen, click the First button; you will see data in the left box in the Source File Field column
On the left of the screen, drag the field "Lap" (it most likely will have a "1" next to it in the Source File Field column) to the right side of the screen next to "Lap Number"; you should see the word "1" appear in the column to the right of "Lap Number".  If not, repeat the action.
On the left of the screen, drag the field "Time"  (it will have a lap time that looks something like 1'16"07 in the Source File Field column) to the right side of the screen next to "Lap Time"; you should see a lap time appear in the column to the right of "Lap Time".  If not, repeat the action.
Ignore all the other fields and click on the Start button.



That's it!  The import will read through the file and add your records to the database.  Make sure you save your import files.

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