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Options for Export

This wizard page shows a list of check boxes for options you may want to select for your output. They are described below, and you may check or uncheck them as desired. Some options will only be available for appropriate types of export. This page will be shown only when the selection method is NOT XML.

Use Selection Criteria

This option differs slightly from the other options on this page, as it enables or skips the selection criteria wizard page. If you forget to click this option, you can always go back to this wizard page and select it afterwards. It will not influence other choices on this page.

Export Text Fields in HEX Format

Text fields usually consist of multiple lines of text, each line ending in a CR/LF. When you export this data, you will find that these special characters can corrupt the output. A CR/LF, for example, will break the line into two, which makes all import routines almost worthless.

The DataFlex commands called WRITE_HEX and READ_HEX make it possible to output each character in a two-byte hexadecimal value. The capital "A" would be "41" when using this command. A CR/LF will be "0D0A."

Export Binary Fields in HEX Format

For binary fields, DataFlex does not have a visual control available. This is usually a field for printer codes and other raw data. The size is limited to the record size and therefore not usable for bitmaps and other graphics, but the field type should be able to cover it. When you export this data, you often find that there are special characters present which can corrupt the output. A CR/LF, for example, will break the line into two, which makes all import routines almost worthless.

The DataFlex commands called WRITE_HEX and READ_HEX make it possible to output each character in a two-byte hexadecimal value. The capital "A" would be "41" when using this command. A form feed will be "0C."

Export Field Names in First Row

This option will add the name of each field in the first row. When "comma delimited" output is selected, the data will be between double quotes. When "fixed position" output is chosen, the name will start at the beginning of the column.

Use Double Quotes Around String Data

This option will put double quotes around string data, a choice often used when creating comma-separated data. For fixed-position output, this is often not desired. Be careful using this option when the data in a field contains double quotes, as you might have trouble reading in the data.

Some import routines require you to specify the leading zeros in numeric data. This option enables that. A value of 12.34 in a 4,2 field definition width will be output as 0012.34.

Trim String Output

This option will trim string fields, which is very useful when exporting in comma-delimited format and when you want to limit the size of the output file.

Pad Text Fields

Text fields are not padded with spaces in the database. When you want a fixed number of characters (some importing software requires this for length measurement), you can use this option. The text fields are printed with the rest of the length in spaces.

Encoding

Select UTF-8, ANSI, or OEM character encoding.