User's Manual

Importing & Exporting

Importing Tag ID Data

8-11

In order to be imported properly, the INST_IN.ASC ASCII file must meet the

following criteria:

• Data is arranged in columns and rows, similar to a spreadsheet. An entry in a

given column and row corresponds to a specific field for a particular Tag ID

record. The order of the columns does not matter.

• The first row contains the headers that identify the data listed within each

column.

• The data within a given row defines a single Tag ID record (except for the first

row).

• Each row ends with a carriage return and line feed. (Rows are separated with

an Enter key.)

• Columns are separated by tabs.

• You may insert spaces before and after data for readability, but don’t use tabs

for this purpose as they will be read as column breaks.

Furthermore, the ASCII file must be titled INST_IN.ASC and be located in the

directory containing your database files. (The directory containing your database

files is specified with the LccPath variable in your DPCTRACK.INI file.)

DPC/TRACK includes an INST_IN.ASC file containing some sample data so that

you may work through the following example. For future imports, you may

modify this file as needed or create your own using Windows Notepad (or some

other method).

When data is imported, DPC/TRACK checks to see whether or not a

corresponding record already exists within the Tag ID database. If a Tag ID value

is specified within the INST_IN.ASC file, and it matches the Tag ID field value of

an existing Tag ID record, then whatever fields are being imported will overwrite

the current data for that record. If no corresponding Tag ID record is found, then a

new record will be created with the imported data. Similarly, you may create new,

or overwrite data within Tag ID records.

Note

Before importing tag ID data, make sure that there is adequate disk

space to store the imported records (approximately 3 kB per record).

If there’s insufficient space while importing (normally a “error

creating file xxx” message appears), simply make the disk space

available and restart the import.