Create a Variable-Length-Delimited Layout from a Delimited File

About this task

When you create a new map, you can either manually create a variable-length-delimited layout or you can use a wizard that creates a layout for you based on the delimited file you select.

The wizard distinguishes among the following data types: real, integer, and strings. The wizard determines the longest field for each field position and sets each field length to the nearest 50, rounding up. For example, if the longest field number two in all of the records in the file is 52 characters long, then the wizard makes the field length for field number two 100.

The wizard can map only one record type at a time. If you want to map a variable-length-delimited file that contains more than one record type, you must map it manually.

To create a variable-length-delimited layout based on a delimited file:

Procedure

From the File menu, select New.
In the New Map Wizard, complete the questions on the first screen.
For more information about creating a new map, see Create a Map in the Sterling B2B Integrator Map Editor.
If you are translating from variable-length-delimited format, on the Input screen, select Variable Delimited and click Customize. If you are translating from another format, select that format and continue to the next screen.
If you are translating to variable-length-delimited format, on the Output screen, select Variable Delimited and click Customize. If you are translating from another format, select that format and continue to the next screen.
In the New Variable Length Delimited Data Wizard, type the name or browse to the location of the delimited file.
Specify the field delimiter and quote character, as necessary.
If you want the first record to act as a header, select Include column (field) names from first record and click Next.
On the output side, select the type of quote handling and click Finish:

Type

Description

Quote fields containing delimiter (default)

Only fields that contain the delimiter are quoted.

Quote text fields and fields containing delimiter

All string fields and all fields that contain the delimiter are quoted.

Quote all fields

All fields are quoted.
Note: By default, the translator does not quote empty output fields. To enable the translator quote empty output fields, add the line varDelim.quoteEmptyFields=Yes to the customer_overrides.properties file in the Properties directory.
Continue with the New Map Wizard as directed. When you click Finish, the Sterling B2B Integrator Map Editor displays the new map in the Sterling B2B Integrator Map Editor window.
If necessary, modify the map so the record has the exact amount of fields that are in the data.