Adding data from a File Data Source

It is possible to add data directly from a File Data Source and display a record set in PlanetPress Connect Designer without the use of a Data Mapping Configuration.

To add data from a File Data Source:

• In the Menus, go to File, Add Data, From file Data Source...
• In the Open Data Sample File , browse to the location of the file. Only three data types are accepted: CSV, MDB and PDF/VT.
• Click Open on the data file.
• The following options depend on the type of data file.

CSV File Options:

1. • On the first screen, choose the proper settings::
   • • Browse to the CSV File you want to open.

     • Encoding: Choose the correct encoding to read the file.

     • Take a look at the preview to ensure that the file is the right one and the encoding correctly reads the data.

     • Click Next

   • On the second screen, choose the proper settings:
   • • Note that these settings are generally detected automatically.
     • Separator: Defines what character separates each fields in the file.

     • Comment Delimiter: Defines what character starts a comment line.

     • Text Delimiter: Defines what character surrounds text fields in the file, preventing the Field Delimiter from being interpreted within those text delimiters.

     • Ignore Unparsable Lines: Ignores any line that does not correspond to the settings above.

     • First row contains field names: Uses the first line of the CSV a headers, which automatically names all extracted fields.

   • Verify that the data is read properly and click Finish.

MDB File Options:

• Enter the appropriate information to connect to the database:
• • Filename: Browse to your Microsoft Access database file (.mdb)
  • Password: Enter a password if one is required.
• Click Next and enter the information for the source table.
• • Connection string: Displays the full path to the database.
  • Table: Use the drop-down to select the appropriate table or stored query to retrieve the appropriate data set.
  • Encoding: Use the drop-down to select the encoding with which to read the data in the table.
• Click Finish to save the configuration.

PDF/VT File Options:

• Browse to the PDF/VT File you want to open, then click Next.
• In the PDF/VT Metadata page, select the following options:
• • Metadata record levels: Use the drop-down to select what level in the metadata defines a Source Record.
  • Field List: This list displays all fields in all levels of the PDF/VT metadata.
  • • Checkmark: Check any field to add it to the extraction.
    • Record Level: Displays the level on which the field is located.
    • Property name: Displays the field names to extract.
• Click Finish to close the dialog and open the actual Data Mapping configuration (See Creating the Data Mapping Workflow).