Define Import Structure Specifications - the Fields (1) Tab

Fields are the only compulsory definitions in an import specification.

There are two different types of fields.

  • IBM® Cognos Controller fields
  • Temporary fields

Cognos Controller fields are fixed and correspond to Cognos Controller’s database identities. Each type of structure specification has different mandatory fields that must be defined before the import structure specification can be saved as a valid import structure specification. Fields are used to store values in the Cognos Controller database and the format is therefore pre-defined. The fields can be alphanumeric or numeric. Temporary fields are used to carry out various calculations or operations in multiple steps.

Before you begin

It is necessary to define the format and width of temporary fields manually. Otherwise the format and width of a temporary field is set automatically as Alpha format with a width of 1.

For both types of field you can define the source of the field’s initial value and the required operation, if the initial value has to be processed before being stored.

For temporary fields you can define the field’s format, length and number of decimal places. The identity of a temporary field must begin with the @ character and must be followed by the following character types only: _, 0-9, A-Z.

By clicking the check button you check the settings you have defined in the import specification. Any errors are shown in a separate window.

Procedure

  1. On the Transfer menu, click External Structure/Define Import Structure Specification. The Define Import Structure Specifications window opens.
  2. In the Specification list box, select the specification you want to change, or click the New button and enter a new name and press Enter.
  3. On the Fields (1) tab, click the New Temporary field button to create a new temporary field. In the dialog box that opens, enter the name of the new field and click OK. The new field starting with "@" is displayed in the list box.
  4. In the list box, select the field you want to define and enter a full name or description in the Description text box.
  5. From the Format option group, select the field format.
  6. Specify the field length and also the number of decimals if the field is numeric.
  7. From the Origin option group, select an option from where the initial field information should be retrieved:

    The origin is the source of the initial value of the field/temporary field.

    • None - no information
    • File - retrieves the value from the file, either from a specific field (item) or from a specific position (substring). Enter the relative row number. If there is one row per transaction in the import file, the relative row is 0.
    • Variable - retrieves the value from a variable. Enter the variable name in the text box.
    • Temporary Field - retrieves the value from a temporary field. Enter the field name.
  8. From the Operation option group, select the operation to use for refining the information.

    None - no operation

    Item - refers to an item field in the file. Enter the item number and the separator.

    Substring - refers to a specific position in the file. Enter the From position and the length.

    Operation Template - refers to an operation template. Select the relevant operation template.

  9. Select the Use last non-empty value option if the specified field is repeated on each row in the import file, but only the first row contains the actual data. Example: The date is shown in the first field on the first row in the file. The same field is empty on the remaining rows. The system will remember the value in the first field on the row and use it on all rows for which the same field is blank.
  10. Click Save.