1.4

Adding data from a data file
1.
Click File, select Add Data and then click From file data source. Browse to the location
of the file and select it.
The Designer can open the following types of data files:
l CSV files (.csv)
l Microsoft Access Database (.mdb, .accddb)
l XML files (.XML)
l PDF/VT files
2. Review the options presented, to ensure that the data will be interpreted correctly. The
options available depend on the type of data file (see below).
CSV file options
o
Encoding: the Designer can not infer from a CSV file what encoding it is in. The default is
right in the large majority of cases, but when it isn't, it can be very difficult to figure out the
correct encoding. Ask your source what the encoding of the file is.
o
Field separator: choose the character that separates the fields in the file.
o
Comment delimiter: if there are comment lines in the file, type the character that starts a
comment line.
o
Text Delimiter: type the character that surrounds text fields in the file. Other delimiters will
not be interpreted within these text delimiters.
o
Ignore unparsable lines: when checked, any line that does not correspond to the above
settings will be ignored.
o
First row contains field names: check this option to use the first line of the CSV as
headers. This option automatically names all extracted fields.
MDB file options
o
File: Include the full path to the file.
o
Password: If the file isn't password protected, you can click Next without filling out this
field.
o
Table name: Use the drop-down to select the appropriate table or stored query to retrieve
the appropriate data set.
o
Encoding: Use the drop-down to select the encoding with which to read the data in the
table.
XML File options
Select what level of XML elements defines a record.
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