Preparing Files for Import

To be loaded into Vantagepoint using an import in the desktop application, a file must be either a text (.txt) file, a comma-separated values (.csv) file, or an ODBC DSN file (Access table or another SQL Server database).

Contents of Rows of Data

Data entry tables contain rows of data.

• Each row contains a single line item.
• The rows are composed of data fields.
• Each data field has a specific length.
• Data fields are in a specific order.

You create files using fields that are less than or equal to the required length, separated from each other by delimiters (for example, by tabs).

Guidelines for Preparing Text Files

You must follow these rules when you prepare a file to be imported:

• The file must contain rows.
• Each row must represent a record to be imported. (For imports in the browser application, you also include a header row with field names as the first row. Do not do that for these desktop application imports.)
• Field order must match the order of selected fields on the Import Utility form.
• Text fields can begin and end with valid text qualifiers.
• Fields must be separated by one of the following valid delimiters:

  TAB

  @

  #

  $

  ^

  |

  ;

  ,