DBASE.THD  --- Copyright 1987 by Phil Wheeler

An original compilation of Compuserve Model 100 Forum messages for use by
Forum members only.

The subject of thses messages is how to export a 102 (or 100, 200, etc.)
into dBase III.  Some of the issues are identified, a recommendation is
given and success is reported.  Alas -- this is not always the case!

Message range: 147772 to 148219
Dates: 5/11/87 to 5/18/87

Fm: PAUL HARLE 73107,406
To: all

I'd like to transfer ASCII files into a format readable by dBase III plus.  I"m
creating the files with a 102 and now I've found that dBase won't accept ASCII
files; looks like it will only import pfs files, SDF, SYSYLK files, and some
other format specific files. Please advise to this ID or to 74116,2670 via
EasyPlex. Is there any program that the 102 can use to transfer or modify the
ASCII files into a dBase readable format (or a program for MSDOS machines.


Fm: Will Linden 72737,2150
To: PAUL HARLE 73107,406

  What kind of files are you trying to tansfer? "SDF" (System Delimited Format)
is quite simple:items separated by commas, character data in quotes-- in other
words, quite similar to both Basic DATA statements, and the way in wich the
portables output data with PRINT#. As far as I know, a file created with PRINT#
statments should be accepted as "SDF".


Fm: Tom Morehouse 74116,2670
To: Will Linden 72737,2150

Thanks for the quick response!  I'm trying to import a database file created on
the 102 where fields are separated with commas, records separated with CR's.
Whenever I try to USE the ascii file I've created, dbase response "Not a dBase
file".  If I can't import the 102's ascii file into dbase, I guess I can't use
the 102 as a portable data accumulator...Help!


Fm: Eiji Miura 76703,4311
To: PAUL HARLE 73107,406

What format is your ASCCI data file?  If it has each field separated by commas
or the data is in columnar format, then you can use APPEND command. First,
create a database file (with dBIII) with the field you need; then, use APPEND
FROM (filename) DELIMITED command if the fields are separated by commas, use
APPEND FROM (filename) SDF if it's in columnar format. This works with dBase
III, but I haven't tried dBase III PLUS. Let me know how it works.

p.s.  If each field in the ASCII file is separated by some other characters,
use APPEND FROM (filename) DELIMITED WITH "n" where n is the character
separating fields.


Fm: Martin Schiff 74405,1076
To: Tom Morehouse 74116,2670

Here are the steps you need to solve your problem:

        1.  Create a database in dBASE with fields that match the field
            lengths of your data fields on the 102, and in the same
            order
        2.  Transfer the file to the pc that runs dBASE from the 102
        3.  USE <the file you created>
        4.  APPEND FROM <the model 102 file name with extension> DELIMITED

You cannot USE anything but a dBASE file, but you can APPEND it to a dBASE file
which you have previously created and used.


Fm: Tom Morehouse 74116,2670
To: Martin Schiff 74405,1076

Thanks for your help; appending from the ascii file delimited works perfectly.
You are a gentleman and a scholar.