import issues - csv

[Guest]

Hi,
I am trying to import a csv but i am encountering big problems. The text in
the file has the following ="account name", the numbers are separated by (")
"12312.23312".
Halfway through import text wizard the columns are correctly separated with
all text having an equal sign (=) at the front. The numbers look fine. If i
am to finish with the wizard i am getting import error msgs called Unparsable
Record throughout the table. The table looks bad with equal signs as the only
data being imported.- very strange.
Is there some import spec i can do to fix this? I am guessing the eqaul
signs infront of all the text is part of the prob. Any help with this is
appreciated.
Thanks
George

 

[HS Hartkamp]

I don't know about equal signs, perhaps that could be a problem.
What I generally do with importing data is to link the file as a table
setting all fields to text, regardless of content. Next, I make an 'insert
query' or a 'make table query' using the linked data to transfer the data to
a table of my choice, and my choice of definition.

In this way, you'll have a much bigger control over what's happening. E.g.
if you need need to leave off the first character, then transfer the data by
using RIGHT([ImportField],LEN([ImportField]-1) or MID([ImportField],2).

This is much more flexible than using the wizard, and if you don't get it
quite right, there is no need to start from the beginning, just empty your
table and run the (modified) query again.

Perhaps this would help in your case too.

Bas Hartkamp.

Note, In cases where the transfer is really complex, I use a little routine
to first translate the csv file. This sometimes happens when text strings
contain the same character that is used for the field delimeter. This little
routine opens the source file, and opens an destination file. Read it while
not EOF(sourcefile), use VBA.Replace( .... ) to change a row and write it to
the output. Then, link the output file as the the new import table.