Creating Format Files

To create or modify a format file, click $image\winm0307_wmf.gif$ Field Mapping. MPM displays the Field Mapping dialog box.

The format file is the content of the right list box labeled Output Fields. When you first access this dialog, the format file is empty, waiting for you to tell MPM which fields you want to export. The fields shown in the left list box labeled Available Fields are all the fields from the data you want to export.

To add a field to the export, click the desired field and click the Add button, or double-click the field, scrolling the left list box if necessary. MPM moves the field to the right list and deletes it from the left. Add additional fields as desired in the order desired.
To take a field out of the export, click the field in the right box and click the Remove button.
To change the order of the fields in the format file, click once on the field in the right list and click Move Up or Move Down as many times as desired, until the field is in the desired position.

Saving the Format File

If desired, you can save the format file for later or repeated use by clicking the Save button. MPM displays the Save Formatting dialog box. Saving the file is not necessary to run the import; it is only necessary if you plan to reuse the format file at a later date.

To save the format file, complete the following steps:

Enter the desired the file name and click Save. You don't need to add the .FMT extension to the name.
Click OK on the Field Mapping dialog box. The Export Conditioning window now contains the name of the saved format file you created.

If you had chose not to save the format file, MPM fills in <Unnamed> as its name.