This dialog is called from the File menu:
Before this dialog is seen you will see a standard file open dialog; choose the text file you wish to import and click "OK" and the Import dialog then opens. This allows the import of data output from other databases, e.g. Access or FileMaker Pro, or the import of data exported from other Catalogues.
The data is expected as tab-delimited text, one Record per line, each line ended with a carriage return. The first line must list the names of the Fields being imported (tab-delimited) in the order they are presented in the data lines. Multi-value fields must have their values separated with ASCII value #29 - which show up in Notepad as squares (non printable characters). ASCII #11 should be used in Text Block field data as the hard line return symbol.
You must ensure that any custom Fields in the source data are created in the target Catalogue before import. Otherwise data for non-existent Fields is not imported - Portfolio will not add the Fields for you (it doesn't know what type they are!).
Entries in either list can be click-dragged to alter the list order. To set up for import, first choose the Field (usually 'Filename' on the Catalog side) to key on from each list, drag to place them opposite each other and click the middle column, selecting "Key (=)" from the drop down list. Only one Field pair can act as key. As long as the data matches the format supported by the target Catalogue Field the Field names need not match (possibly the case when bringing data from other databases). Line up all other import Field pairs and select the "Import (->)" option from the middle column.
Confusingly, although all built-in Fields are listed in this dialog, the only ones you can import data to are "Keywords" and "Description".
If you are using multi-value data in any Fields, the tick box at the bottom indicates whether the imported data should replace the existing data or be appended to it.
Clicking the 'Import' button actually executes the import of data according to the mappings set up in the listings on the dialog.
The 'Cancel' button closes the dialog if you do not carry out an import, for instance if you were checking a saved mapping.
If you regularly use this dialog, you can store Field mappings using the drop-down list at the bottom of the dialog. The mappings are stored internally to the Catalogue. Note that although you can open the list of stored import templates you can't export them for use elsewhere (sadly!).
Manual: page 132
Question: Import Field Values dialog (v7) [FAQ00035.htm]
Last Update:- 31 May 2006
Site and articles © Mark Anderson 2001-2007 - Visit my home page
