XDB Server Table Information

Restriction: This topic applies to Windows environments only.

This section of the Import window is where you specify the name of the XDB Server Table that is to receive your imported data. You can import data into an existing XDB Server table, or create a new table and define its table definition structure right on the Import window.

Table
Enter the name of the XDB Server table that will receive your data.

To import data to an existing XDB Server table, use the Browse button to select a table. Check the Replace Data checkbox if you want the imported data to replace existing data in the table. To append the imported data to the existing data in the table, be sure the Replace Data checkbox is unchecked.

To use the imported data to create a new XDB Server table, check the Create Table checkbox and specify the items in the Table Definition Grid at the bottom of the window.

Create Table
Check this box when you want to use the imported data to create a new XDB Server table.
Replace Data
Check this box when importing data to an existing XDB Server table and you want to replace the existing data. When this option is checked, all data in the existing table is deleted and is replaced in its entirety with the new data coming from the file you are importing.
Table Definition Grid
When importing to an existing XDB Server table, this area of the screen shows the table structure.

When creating a new XDB Server table to hold your imported data, SQLWizard provides a suggested table definition. You can make changes as desired.

Name (Column Name)
If you do not specify column names when importing to a new table, Import attempts to read the field names from the source file (if the Heading checkbox is marked or the format indicates that field names are in the first record). Otherwise, the import program provides default names (Field1, Field2, ... Fieldn).
Type (Field Type)
When importing data to a new XDB Server table, you must specify field types. You do not necessarily need to use the same data types as in the source file. For example, you can redefine a NUMERIC field to be a CHARACTER field, but you should not redefine a CHARACTER field that contains non-numeric data as SMALLINT, INTEGER, OR FLOAT.
Length (Field Length)
If you choose to specify field lengths, you can specify the lengths of CHARACTER, VARCHAR, GRAPHIC, VARGRAPHIC, CHAR FOR BIT DATA, and VARCHAR FOR BIT DATA fields. You must also specify the precision and scale for DECIMAL fields (default is 5,0). Other field lengths refer to storage length and are provided automatically.
Null (Null Values)
Specify the null permission of the field. Indicate Yes if nulls are allowed, No if nulls are not allowed, and DEF if nulls should be converted to the default value for the field. The DEF option is the same as NOT NULL WITH DEFAULT.
Pic
Indicate if you want to use the mask specified on the Format tab in Options when importing MONEY, DECIMAL, DATE, and TIME fields:
  • Yes: Use the Options mask.
  • No: Do not use the Options mask. Instead, use the following default format masks:
    Type Default Picture
    Time hh:mm:ss
    Date mm/dd/yyyy
    Decimal <sign><digits>[.<digits>][E[+-]<digits>]
    Money <sign><digits>[.<digits>][E[+-]<digits>]
      where:

    <sign> includes any combination of + - $ >=

      <digits> are 0 through 9; also comma (,) if to the left of the decimal place.
Src Off (Source Offset)
For importing fixed-format ASCII files. Should indicate the starting column number for each field in the source file. The system suggests offsets based on the white space found in the heading row of the source file.
Src Len (Source Length)
For importing fixed-format ASCII files. Should indicate the length of each data field. You might have to edit the Src Len column to correctly describe the source file.

When importing a fixed-format ASCII file to a new table, you must specify field lengths or use the HEADING= and SPACES= statements in your batch file. If the import program finds HEADING=Y and SPACES=1 or more, it will be able to determine the field lengths.