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Flat file profiles

Flat file profiles represent structured data sets that contain rows of data, typically with one record per row and each row containing a series of fields known as elements.

The most common example of a flat file data set is a basic comma-separated-value (CSV) file.

The structure of the elements in a flat file data set is defined as one of two types:

  • Delimited — Each element is separated by some specific character (the delimiter), such as a comma, asterisk, or pipe. Elements can be variable in length. For example:

    C,Customer ABC,Premier Support,534 Main St,$123.54
    C,Customer XYZ,Premier Support,33 3rd Ave,$0.00
    V,Vendor 123,Warehouse,Express Shipping
    V,Vendor 456,Distributor,Standard Shipping
    V,Vendor 789,Warehouse,Overnight Shipping
    ...

  • Data Positioned — Each element begins at a specific column position and has a specific length. For example:

    Order573*20*376f972*Ntwk Adpt*29.99*Company A
    UniqueOrder675*40*Wireless Card*801 Cassatt Road*Berwyn*PA*19312*Call Tech Support Immediately*97G45E*sku4513
    Order574*10*5247rt*Headphones*15.75*Company B
    UniqueOrder676*25*Wireless Card*Address Unknown*NA*NA*NA*Call Tech Support Immediately*97G45E*sku4513
    ...

In general, configure the flat file options to match the basic structure of your data set and then use the Import Wizard to import a sample file and quickly create the individual elements for each record format.

note

Flat file profiles were updated in May 2016 to support additional parsing functions for delimited flat file data. When you open a profile that was created prior to May 2016, you are prompted to upgrade the profile to the new format. Support continues for both formats; the appropriate parser is used for a given profile.