This file is a simple tutorial to help you get started with DataConverter.
The File:
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The Sample Data file is simply a fictitious listing of restaurants, phone numbers and number of employees.
Terminology:
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DATA AREA - the area in the window where data from the currently opened file is displayed.
DELIMITER - a special character which a program uses to separate fields and records in a data file. Adding these to a file is the whole reason for using DataConverter.
CHARACTER POSITION - the numerical position of a character in a record.
BETWEEN POSITION - the position between two character positions.
MARK - a graphical representation of where a field or record delimiter will be placed (or where a character will be deleted) in each record when a data file is converted.
NUMBER BAR - the area in the window which displays the positions and is used to set the marks. The numbers refer to character positions and the squares refer to between positions. Selecting the proper tool and clicking on a position will set/clear a mark at that position.
Setting the Record Length:
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To make the file easier to work with, you should first set the record length mark. Until you have done this, all of the data will appear on the first line in the data area. Setting the record length will put one record on each line making it far easier to eyeball where the field breaks should be inserted. Because this file has returns after each record (as signified by the arrow looping back on itself), you should set the record marker at the character position in the number bar which corresponds to the position of the first return character in the data. Whenever you set a mark at a character position, DataConverter will replace the character in that position in the record with the appropriate delimiter. Thus, if your record delimiter has been set to the semicolon (using the Preferences Command) all of the returns in the data file will be replaced by semicolons.
Deleting Unnecessary Characters:
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Each restaurant name is surrounded by quotation marks, which will not be needed once you convert the file. Because of this, you need to tell DataConverter to delete them. To do this, select the delete character tool and then click on the proper positions in the number bar.
Setting the Field Lengths:
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Since there are no field delimiters in your data file, you will need to set your field marks in the between positions in the number bar. When a mark is in a between position, DataConverter will insert the proper delimiter between the two character positions in the converted file. However, it is not quite that easy. You will notice that when you set a field mark in the between position after the restaurant name, the delete mark on the preceding character position disappears. The reason for this is that DataConverter will not allow you to place marks both in a character position and in the immediately following between position. To tell DataConverter that you still wish to delete the second quotation mark, simply place your field mark on its character position. This will have exactly the same effect as deleting the character and then inserting a field delimiter after it.
Checking How You've Done:
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To see what the proper settings should be, simply open the Sample Settings file using the Load Settings Command.
