Import/Export Options

[Kevin G. Timberlake]

What this script does is over-write my database and removes current data. I need to have it add not delete or over-write. I am playing with the script, and cannot get it to add.

[Al Buchholz]

Kevin

Then go back to the operation and have it import into an existing table. Then look at the difference in the code that is generated. Convert this to xbasic and modify that script.

[[email protected]]

Kevin,
I see your problem and it certainly does seem like something Alpha should look at. You can export to any file type EXCEPT .dbf and the only file type you can append is the .dbf file. This doesn't seem right to me. Heck, we can export to a .dbf file from Filemaker. Since .dbf is so IMPORTant to Alpha, you woud think it would be the favored/default export file type as well.

Can your people send you the entire table (the .dbf file) ? I belive after appending the entire table a routine could go through and clean out the duplicates.

How about if you script it so that any "new records" are written to a new table that would contain only new entries without duplicates. That table (.dbf) could be shared among users and imported by all with the runtime append from any drive.

You can "copy records" to a new table, selecting only "new" records.

Even the print to file won't allow a .dbf file type. Frustrating...

Bill Belanger

[AaronBBrown]

I still don't understand what the issue is.

yes or no, does this file import when created with an import operation? If you checked "no", please let me know what the error or problem is.

Kevin,
I see your problem and it certainly does seem like something Alpha should look at. You can export to any file type EXCEPT .dbf and the only file type you can append is the .dbf file. This doesn't seem right to me. Heck, we can export to a .dbf file from Filemaker. Since .dbf is so IMPORTant to Alpha, you woud think it would be the favored/default export file type as well.

Why would we provide an EXPORT operation from DBF to DBF? If you want to create a dbf, you are, by definition IMPORTING data.

[Tim Kiebert]

Bill,

Checkout the other branches of this thread. I believe the solution has been found thanks to Al. Along the same line as Aaron's suggestion of defining an import operation.

[Al Buchholz]

Another option,

which is what I usually do. Import into one table, overwriting the data in it, and then append to the actual table that you want the data in.

This requires 2 steps, but separates the import process from a data cleansing or additional processing step(s) that may be needed.

[[email protected]]

I still don't understand what the issue is.

yes or no, does this file import when created with an import operation? If you checked "no", please let me know what the error or problem is.



Why would we provide an EXPORT operation from DBF to DBF? If you want to create a dbf, you are, by definition IMPORTING data.

The import operation will work if the filepath is always the same.

You might want to export only a selected set of records to a .dbf file to be appended.

Bill Belanger

[AaronBBrown]

The import operation will work if the filepath is always the same.

You might want to export only a selected set of records to a .dbf file to be appended.

Bill Belanger

You can do that with an append operation by only appending a records matching a filter. It's in the append genie and on the card.

[Kevin G. Timberlake]

Ok it is this simple.
if you have 100 records in your database and want to share them with me, you need to "export" your records to a file, records only, then send me the file. Usually a .asc in Alpha. Then I will need to "import" the file into my .dbf. If I have to have it "create" a new table everytime I receive the files, it will clutter up my .dbf. In Filemaker all I have to do is a simple import and it is placed into my current table. I am including a screenshot of the filemaker style to show you what I need to do.

[[email protected]]

You can only append .dbf files. How do you get a .dbf file out of Alpha?

Bill Belanger

[Stan Mathews]

Export to a .dbf

You can only append .dbf files. How do you get a .dbf file out of Alpha?

Bill Belanger

It is called a copy operation.

[AaronBBrown]

Why do you need to export to ascii? Why can't you do an copy operation, only copying the records you want, then do an append operation on the other side?

Or, you just do an Import + an append.

This is not a complicated problem, which is why I am so confused.

Ok it is this simple.
if you have 100 records in your database and want to share them with me, you need to "export" your records to a file, records only, then send me the file. Usually a .asc in Alpha. Then I will need to "import" the file into my .dbf. If I have to have it "create" a new table everytime I receive the files, it will clutter up my .dbf. In Filemaker all I have to do is a simple import and it is placed into my current table. I am including a screenshot of the filemaker style to show you what I need to do.

[[email protected]]

And I blieve the "copy opeation" is exactly what Kevin is looking for. That way he ends up with a .dbf file that can be appended.

Bill Belanger

[AaronBBrown]

I've moved this to the A5v6 forum, since it is not a feature request.

[Kevin G. Timberlake]

Because you CANNOT import using the runtime, only the full version of Alpha. As for "append" you must have it done from a .dbf which is the issue. By appending a .dbf all fields are over written and you cannot export a .dbf.

I don't see why this is so complicated. "How do I import an .asc file into an "existing" form or .dbf without writing over existing fields? I just want to import the records not fields.