Importing a Fixed Width Text File

Perform the following steps to use the Text Import Wizard to import a fixed length text file:

1          From the Query menu, point to Import/Export, and then click Import From Text File. The following window displays:

Note: You can also invoke the Text Import Wizard by pointing opening Windows Explorer, navigating to and selecting the text file you wish to import, and then dragging it to the WinSQL Catalog window.

2          Click New.

3          Click Browse.

4          Navigate to the location containing the text file you wish to import, select the file, and then click Open.

5          Click Open.

6          Click Next.

7          Ensure the Fixed Width format is selected:

8          Click Next. The following window displays:

9          Click the green plug (+) icon to add fields from your import file, and then specify the starting position for each field added. Field lengths are automatically calculated.

10          Once all fields have been selected, click Next. The following window displays:

11          Select In a new table if you wish to import the data into a new table in your database. If this option is selected, you must type a name for the new table in the blank field.

          OR

          Select In an existing table if you wish to import the data into an existing table in your database. If this option is selected, you will be prompted to select the table in which you wish to import the data.

12          Click Next. A window similar to the following displayed:

13          If all field types and lengths are correct, click Next.

Note: You may make changes to the field types or lengths, but do not modify the table name.

The following window displays:

14          Click Finish.

Note: If you wish to save this import as a template, either browse to or select an existing template file, and then click Finish.

The data is imported, and a message similar to the following displays: