User`s guide

Special Considerations
Introduction to Data Export Data Export User’s Guide
1-4 Version 5.0rev1
Special Considerations
This section discusses special considerations involved in using Data Export.
For All Users
You should create new definition files each time you use a new SPECTRUM
database. This is necessary because SPECTRUM assigns new model handles
every time it starts with a new database. Data Export extracts statistical and
event information based on these model handles. Therefore, if you use old
versions of definition files with a newly created database, the extracted
information for a particular model handle may pertain to more than one
model. Reports generated from this type of data will be inaccurate.
At installation, Data Export writes an application resource file, named SDE, in
the .../Spectrum/app-defaults directory. The SDE file establishes the
default Data Export start-up parameters. To modify default parameters, you
must edit parameter values.
See Appendix D for more information.
General Error Handling
All error messages are written to a log file produced during an export. They
were designed to be as explicit as possible so as to identify the cause of a
problem. UNIX system error codes have been included in the error messages
wherever possible. Check your system’s errno.h file for if you want a
description of the error number found in such messages.
See Checking Export Output on Page 4-7 for information on log files and other
indicators pertaining to the success or failure of an export.
For SQL and SAS Users
Before using Data Export, verify that the SQL or SAS product is properly
installed and functioning. Failure to do so may produce unpredictable results.
Also, you must update the dtxscript file to set up SQL and/or SAS for the
export. See the following chapters for information on configuring the
dtxscript file for the data format you specify:
• Chapter 5 for SAS
• Chapter 6 for Ingres
• Chapter 7 for Sybase
• Chapter 8 for Oracle
• Chapter 9 for Microsoft SQL Server (NT only)