ASCII .DAT, .TXT Data File Import Automation Options

Since the Import Options dialog is not displayed when the program is driven from an automation script, an options string can be specified in the script. The string consists of comma-separated parameters, which specify the behavior of the various import options. A typical example would be:

 "Delimiter=comma; TextQualifier=singlequote;SkipExtraDelimiters=0"

This would set the delimiter character to a comma and the text qualifier character to the single-quote mark ( ‘ ).

Option

Action

Default

Description

ColumnBreaks

N,N,N...

no option string

ColumnBreaks is used when UsedFixedWidth is set to 1. The field separators are a series separated by commas or spaces, for example: 6 12 20 25.

DecimalSymbol

period = use .

comma = use ,

period

Sets the decimal symbol to period or comma

Delimiter

tab = tab

comma = comma

semicolon = semicolon

space = space

equals = equals

other = enter the delimiter character

 

The Delimiter is the character that separates data cell values. You can use more than one delimiter in the string.

 For example, "Delimiter=comma,%,tab

EatWhiteSpace

0 = Do not skip extra space and tab in the data

1= Skip extra space and tab in the data

0

EatWhiteSpace removes extra space and tab characters preceding and following data. A 0 means not to skip the extra space.

For example, " 1 2" would leave the column A blank and import data into the columns B and C.

A 1 means to skip the extra space.

For example, " 1 2" would  import data into the columns A and B.

FilterID

String

""

FilterId specifies the file format extension if the extension entered for FileName is unknown.  If the command calling the import options string has a FilterIDproperty, you do not need to use thisFilterID.

ImportCodePage

String

""

The name of the ANSI code page to use when importing Unicode data

Sheet

String, sheet name

 

Sheet opens the specified sheet in an Excel workbook.

SkipExtraDelimiters

0 = Do not skip extra delimiters in the data

1= Skip extra delimiters in the data

1

SkipExtraDelimiters specifies whether multiple delimiters are treated as one delimiter.

 "SkipExtraDelimiters=0" means "don't skip the extra delimiters"

For example, 1,,2,,,3 would import into columns A,C, and F.

"SkipExtraDelimiters=1" means "do skip extra delimiters".

For example, 1,,2,,,3 would import into columns A, B and C.

SQLSTR

SQL string

No

Structured Query Language access string.

StartRow

N

1

StartRow is the row number at which to begin importing.

Table

table or query name

 

Table opens the specified sheet in an Excel workbook.

TextQualifier

doublequote = doublequote(")

singlequote = singlequote(')

none = none

other = enter the text qualifier

 

The TextQualifier specifies the character that surrounds cells containing text. You can use more than one text qualifier in the string.

For example, "TextQualifier=doublequote,%

UseFixedWidth

0 = No

1 = Yes

0

UseFixedWidth uses a fixed width for columns during import.

Locale

String

System Locale

Locale is the locale ID in decimal values. The default locale is determined by the locale setting in the Windows Control Panel.

DateOrder

0 = Auto

1 = MDY (Month, Day, Year)

2 = DMY

3 = YMD

4 = MYD

5 = DYM

6 = YDM

0

The DateOrder specifies the order in which dates are written in the data file. When DateOrder is set to 0, the standard date order from the Locale is used.

Remarks

When specifying a delimiter and text-qualifier a semicolon is placed between the option pair, for example:

"Delimiter=semicolon,tab,comma ; TextQualifier=singlequote,doublequote"

See Also

ASCII Data Import Options Dialog

ASCII Data Export Options Dialog

ASCII Data Export Automation Options

ASCII TXT, DAT, and CSV Data Files

Data File Formats