Run Import Silent

[johngtatp]

I need to import a user defined CSV file. I first used a stored operation but you had to specify the exact file. I then used the xbasic code and used a variable to specify the file. However when the xbasic was created it used the import() as the final command to do the import. I cannot find documentation on this command and I wish to know if there is a way to do this silently. A dialog box comes up that tells the user how many records were imported and if they want to view the resulting table and I would like them not to see this or have the option.


So...

Is there a way to use the built in action to import a file that the user chooses (if this is the case then you can choose to run this silently)

if not...

Is there a way in xbasic to run the import silently. Thanks.

[MikeC]

Re: Run Import Sillent

John,

How about import.run_silent() function ?

from the help file:


http://support.alphasoftware.com/alp...help/index.htm

As far as having the user pick a file---you could have the variable set to whatever the user chooses and then run the import I would think.

Mike

[johngtatp]

Re: Run Import Sillent

That function would be fine if I could get the import stored operation to accept a variable. It only accepts a hard file. If I could and someone could show me how to save the operation and have it use a variable then that would work. The import silent function is only for saved operations.

I still have the dilemma. Thanks though

[MikeC]

Re: Run Import Sillent

John,

Create the Import as a saved operation. Then right click on the import operation's name and choose "View Xbasic". Choose the tab to see the code without the confirmation dialog and copy that to clipboard.

On your form in design mode create a character variable (say vImport) .

Now place this variable on your form--drag it from the drag/drop list.
Go into properties to make sure it is formatted to enough characters for long file structures--say 100.

On the setup tab choose "File Select" from the drop down list (instead of the default "type-in Field).


Place a button on the form and on it's OnPush event paste the Saved Operation you copied into either xbasic or inline xbasic (for action scripting).

Change this line to include your variable (in this case I used vImport as the variable):

import_filename = filename_decode (vImport.value)

Mike

[johngtatp]

Re: Run Import Sillent

Mike,

Thanks for the response. I have done essentially exactly what you had mentioned, however, this will not run silently.

The code works fine:import.type = 0
import.names = "none"
import.file = import_filename
import.db = import_destination_table
import.skip_lines = 3
import.skip_bytes = 0
import.field_sep = ","
import.record_sep = "<CR><LF>"
import.text_qualifier = ""
import.record_len = 124
import.rem_blanks = .F.
import.escape_newlines = .F.
import.fields = 4
import.field1 = "region,c,0,60,0"
import.field2 = "dealer,c,1,60,0"
import.field3 = "town,c,2,35,0"
import.field4 = "zip,c,3,10,0"
import()

I have tried the other import comands instead of the import() but to no avail and I cannot get it into the silent mode.

[MikeC]

Re: Run Import Sillent

John,

I just created a completely silent import operation using what I described previously....well almost! I did leave out that you have to change the actual "import()" function to import.run_silent(your named import operation here). Click on the the import.run_silent() function in the editor and then right click to bring a list of operations and choose the one you want. Mine looks like this---import.run_silent("Import_Test")

It should work as easy as it sounds.

You could also use:

import.run("your import operation name", .t., .f.)

where the .t. is for running silent.



Mike

[johngtatp]

Re: Run Import Sillent

Mike,

Thanks for sticking with me on this, however. if you use the import_run_silent then don't you have to use a saved operation. The saved operation does not let you put in a variable.

Oh wait, do you mean create an xbasic operation and run that silently? Oh let me try that...

[MikeC]

Re: Run Import Sillent

:-) yep! From my prior post---convert a saved import operation into xbasic and make the changes I mentioned.


Heading off shortly here--think you should have it now though!

Mike

[johngtatp]

Re: Run Import Sillent

Well, I tried this, however...

When I tried the run_import_silent it still required a name of an operation and just ran the operation. The operation still had a hard coded file name in it so it ran that instead of the variable that i had planned. I tried just creating saved code instead and trying to run the code silently but there was no option. Sorry for the problem, but anything you can help me with would be great.

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Run Import Sillent

John,
Follow Mike's instructions from earlier. I have removed the bits concerning the variable (all though there is nothing wrong with doing it that way) and use ui_get_file() directly in the code

John,

Create the Import as a saved operation. Then right click on the import operation's name and choose "View Xbasic". Choose the tab to see the code without the confirmation dialog and copy that to clipboard.


Place a button on the form and on it's OnPush event paste the Saved Operation you copied into either xbasic or inline xbasic (for action scripting).
Mike

Once you have the code pasted in
replace

import_filename = filename_decode("yourhardcodedfile.csv")

with

import_filename = ui_get_file("File to Import","Text(*.csv)")
If import_filename = "" then
    end
end if

I have tested this and I get no confirmation dialogs. I also tested Mike's version with the select variable on a form and that also worked.

Nothing in the code that you posted earlier determines the confirmation dialog. The code that does that is

a5_imp_append_op_result(a_records_processed,a_records_total,"0",import_destination_table)

When you view the xbasic for the operation and choose the tab 'Without Confirmation Dialogs' this line should not be there.

[MikeC]

Re: Run Import Sillent

Thanks Tim for joining in...the more ways that something can be explained is always beneficial as people interpret other's ideas so differently that many times it is just a case of not completely seeing what someone is actually saying.

Question--doesn't the ui_get_file() make it so that it has to be a predetermined file? Seems that way to me but have never used it before...nice to be exposed to new useful functions though!


Mike

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Run Import Sillent

....
Question--doesn't the ui_get_file() make it so that it has to be a predetermined file? Seems that way to me but have never used it before...nice to be exposed to new useful functions though!

Mike

Using ui_get_file() is really no different to using the file select style under object properties of a form variable. they both open a dialog to choose a file. Obviously if one is importing a file it has to be there in order to import it :) but I guess that is not what you meant. You could also store the file name in a table field, so your import would look for a file specific to the record you were currrently working with. Or the file name could be made up of the customer name or Id. Again just another way to supply the file name to the operation. I used ui_get_file() so that the code could be run independant of a form for testing purposes since the main problem was running silent as opposed to how to supply the file name.

The only thing that is predetermined in my use of ui_get_file() is that I told it to only look for csv file types. (since that is what John said he is importing.) This is done with the second argument. Setting this to "" will include any file type but you might as well restrict the file type to that which matches the import operation.

[MikeC]

Re: Run Import Silent

Thanks Tim. Just a matter of preferences then I guess. The added benefit to your method is to limit the user to just the file type the import operation was designed to use...something to definitely consider if and when I actually do an import myself (have never even looked at the import operation until John posted his question!). :-)


Mike

[johngtatp]

Re: Run Import Silent

Thanks guys, it works now. I was copying the wrong xbasic. I was not using the correct without dialog tabs. I really appreciate all the help and I learned a bunch in the process.

[SMARTII]

Re: Run Import Sillent

This Illustrates in a Fun way what Mike has said below!"more ways that something can be explained is always beneficial" ain't always so...and it ain't always your fault when they cannot understand. It may be in the genes.

Thanks Tim for joining in...the more ways that something can be explained is always beneficial as people interpret other's ideas so differently that many times it is just a case of not completely seeing what someone is actually saying.

Mike