Separating Fields

The data from your import file displays in the lower part of the window. Some information is required to properly break the lines of text into useable pieces of information.

Both delimited and fixed width files may or may not have header rows and field names. Examine your data to identify the first row of data and the row with box names, if there is a row with box names.

Note: Setting up the handling of the import file is generally a one-time operation. The information in the parameter set is applied to future imports of the same file.

Delimited Files

Your data displays with a delimiter character (usually a comma) separating the line into meaningful pieces of information called boxes, such as Client ID, staff, and amount. There are usually no extra spaces in the information. It is likely that some lines will be longer or shorter than others. If there is any resemblance to the information forming columns, this is only incidental. There may be a series of the delimiter character indicating boxes with no data.

The delimiter may be a character other than a comma. Any character can be a delimiter, but delimiters are generally characters seldom found in data entries.

Any text entries that contain the delimiter are enclosed in a text qualifier.

Example: If your data contains the name Fred Flynn, Jr. and the delimiter is a comma, that name will be surrounded by a text qualifier, typically a single-quote (') or a double-quote ("). If your text qualifier is a double-quote ("), then "Fred Flynn, Jr." is how the data is represented in the file.

Fixed-Width Files

In fixed width files, all the boxes are in columns. Each column has a specified width and spaces are used to make entries in that column the same width. Any special characters are part of text entries. Data in the boxes could be right-justified or left-justified.

The system will attempt to break the data into meaningful entries, but empty boxes in the first several rows or differences in right or left justification compromise the accuracy of this process.

Tip: Scroll through the displayed entries in fixed width files. Look for meaningful information such as Client IDs, service codes, or hours. If you find differences in justification, you can adjust column widths that may be inaccurate. You may find additional boxes that are not in the first several rows. Add any columns you need.

Other File Types

If you are trying to import a file that is an unknown or unsupported type, Time Capture will attempt to read the file. If the attempt appears to be successful, the data format used displays, and the data displays in the lower portion of the window.

Examine the data to ensure that it was read accurately and is consistent throughout. Use the scroll bar to examine the last records and ensure they are interpreted properly.