SQL/MX 2.x Reference Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+)

SQL/MX Utilities
HP NonStop SQL/MX Reference Manual—523725-004
5-27
Considerations for import
Format File Considerations––import
Format File for a DELIM Input File
If the input file type is DELIM and you want to use a format file, you must include the
[COLUMN FORMAT] section. The other sections are optional. See [COLUMN
FORMAT] on page 5-26.
Format File for a FIXED Input File
If the input file type is FIXED, you must specify a format file that includes the
[COLUMN FORMAT] and [FIXED WIDTH FORMAT] sections. The columns listed in
the [COLUMN FORMAT] section must match the columns listed in the [FIXED WIDTH
FORMAT] section. The other sections are optional. See [FIXED WIDTH FORMAT] on
page 5-26
Input File Considerations––import
Delimited Input File
A delimited input file, specified by using the -W DELIM option or by default, uses field
and row delimiters and field qualifiers if needed. If you specify a format file, import
uses the delimiters in the file.
If you do not specify a format file, import uses these default delimiters.
This example shows a row from a delimited file with default coding and field qualifiers:
"135","Jane Jackson","100 East St.","Cupertino","CA","95014"
You are not required to use field qualifiers. In this record, the fields are correctly
delimited by a comma(,), and field qualifiers are not needed:
135,Jane Jackson,100 East St.,Cupertino,CA,95014
Using a Field Qualifier
Use a field qualifier to include field or row delimiters as part of the field data. For
example, suppose that your input file uses a comma (,) to delimit the fields in a record.
Suppose further that a record contains a field consisting of these characters:
Jackson,Jane
Field delimiter One or more characters used to separate fields in a row or
record. The default is a comma (,).
Row or record
delimiter
One or more characters used to separate rows or records. The
default is the new line character (\n).
Field qualifier A character used to enclose a field of a row (or record). The
default is a double quotation mark(").