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Export a Flat File

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    Export a Flat File

    The Operations tab in Control Panel allows me to design a procedure for exporting a table as a flat file.

    I'm trying to do the same for a Form button where the user/operator makes a menu selection then the procedure is executed and the flat file created.

    Is this possible? I can't find an Action Scrip to attach to the button on the form and don't know enough Xbasic to code the routine.

    Thank you,

    #2
    RE: Export a Flat File

    You probably want to design your export to "use current selection of records" and then have the button run the export operation. (Action Scripting, Operations, Run Saved Operation)
    There can be only one.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Export a Flat File

      That works.

      Thank you,

      Comment


        #4
        strip characters from field during export?

        This answer was just what I was looking for --- almost exactly. (I was happy just to learn how to export at all!)

        One additional Q: about the export... Is it possible to do the export and strip the 1st 3 characters from the text string in one of the fields?

        The way the database is designed there is an ORDER_NUMBER field where all order numbers are entered in exactly the format "AAANNNNNNNN". The first 3 characters are unimportant to this discussion and the Ns are the date as YYYYMMDD.

        I need the exported data cleansed of the AAA so I can sort on sale date!!

        Thanks all,
        Rich

        Comment


          #5
          Rich,

          Once you have the data in the new file, you could simply do a global update with something like right(trim(field name),8) . This will trim all extraneous spaces following field name and take the rightmost eight characters of whatever remains.

          Dave
          Dave Jampole
          www.customalpha.com

          Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

          Comment


            #6
            Though I am quite the novice, with help I've managed to make a good start at a decent sales record database and data entry form.

            This thread's been useful in finally getting data OUT of the database! (Next, I have to search for a way to do pull-down option field entries that will populate other fields based on the item selected in the pull-down, but that's another thread!)

            Now, back to this thread and ... Not wishing to impose (too much)...

            As I said, I am a novice. Your answer sounds great, but I have no idea how to execute the instructions.

            Please let me quote you and ask the appropriate question...

            <QUOTE>Once you have the data in the new file</QUOTE>

            I do not think you mean the .XLS file by "new file" so I must ask what new file to work the next steps with.

            <QUOTE>do a global update with something like right(trim(ORDER_NUMBER),8) to trim all extraneous spaces following ORDER_NUMBER and take the rightmost eight characters of whatever remains.</QUOTE>

            Once I have the proper file open (in the proper application) there's this expression to run as something called a "Global Update". How is this done? (Or is this question non-trivial?)

            Thanks much,
            Rich

            Comment


              #7
              Rich,

              Originally posted by mudshark
              Once you have the data in the new file. I do not think you mean the .XLS file by "new file" so I must ask what new file to work the next steps with.
              I assumed you were talking about Alpha 5V6, since this is the forum we're in. What I am referring to is a Global Update from the Alpha Control Panel.

              Originally posted by mudshark
              do a global update with something like right(trim(ORDER_NUMBER),8) to trim all extraneous spaces following ORDER_NUMBER and take the rightmost eight characters of whatever remains.

              Once I have the proper file open (in the proper application) there's this expression to run as something called a "Global Update". How is this done? (Or is this question non-trivial?)
              From the Control Panel (CP), click on the Tables/Sets tab, right click on the table name and select Create Operation... , Update records, and there are two ways to get where we are going. Since you are kinda' new to this, let's use the genie, so click the Create Using Genie button. On the next dialog, click the General tab and select the last item (Assign a Calculated Value to a Field) and then click Next. On the next dialog, in the top item (Which field would you like to update?) click the downward pointing arrow and select the field in question from the list that is displayed. In the second item (Enter the expression for the calculated value), click the small x-y and we'll use the expression builder to build the update expression. Just enter right(trim(field name),8) and substitute the correct field name for 'field name'. Below the large dialog area and above the Help button, you'll see the result of what you typed on the first record in the table. You can click the small blue right pointing arrow to see the field being changed on each record.

              Once you are okay with the results of what you entered, click OK and Next until you are at the screen that asked What would you like to do? Click the top radio button and Finish and then you will see a small dialog indicating how many records will be updated. Click OK and you will see how many records have been updated. Click View and you'll see a browse with the updated field, or click OK and you're done!!!

              Hope this helps. BTW, don't worry about 'trival' questions. The only way to get an answer to a question is to ask the question.

              Dave
              Dave Jampole
              www.customalpha.com

              Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

              Comment


                #8
                That works well enough!

                OK, so it overwrites all the order numbers but that's OK. Now I can export data as needed!

                Next mission... Getting the data entry form a bit more automated. Gotta go start a new thread now!

                Thank you.
                RG

                Comment


                  #9
                  Rich,

                  What we did replaces the longer order number with a shorter version that simply strips the three leftmost characters. I guess that if you knew what the leading three characters are, you could reconstitute the older (longer) field, if it was needed.

                  Regarding 'automating' the data entry form, there are any number of techniques you could incorporate, deepending on what the table consists of and what you want to do and what you want the outcome to be. Take a look at the sample Alphsports database that comes with Alpha Five and you can get a feel for some of the things you can do. I'd suggest you start with calculated fields and lookups and then progress to more complex operations. One step at a time is best.

                  Dave
                  Dave Jampole
                  www.customalpha.com

                  Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

                  Comment

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