Import Options String

Since the Import Options dialog is not displayed when the program is driven from an automation script, an options string can be specified in the script. The string consists of a series of semicolon-separated keywords that specify the behavior of the import. See the Worksheet Import Options topic for links to file-type specific import options.

The options string can only be specified for the file types that display import options int he program. For example, a CSV file will not accept the import options string in automation, since it has no import options in the user interface(UI).

Examples:

Text file:

"Delimiter=comma;TextQualifier=singlequote;SkipExtraDelimiters=0"

This would set the delimiter character to a comma and the text qualifier character to the single-quote mark ( ‘ ).

"FilterID=txt;DecimalSymbol=comma;Delimiter=semicolon"

This would set the file type to .TXT file with comma decimal symbols and semicolon delimiters:

Database:

“SQLSTR=;Table=table1”

This uses Table1 from the database.

Excel File:

"Sheet=Sheet1"

This uses Sheet1 from the XLS, XLSX, or XLSM file.

Option Action Default Description
ColumnBreaks N,N,N... no option string ColumnBreaks is used when UsedFixedWidth is set to 1. The field separators are a series separated by commas or spaces, for example: 6 12 20 25.
DecimalSymbol period = use .
comma = use ,
period Sets the decimal symbol to period or comma
Delimiter tab = tab
comma = comma
semicolon = semicolon
space = space
equals = equals
other = enter the delimiter character
comma The Delimeter is the character that separates data cell values. You can use more than one delimiter in the string.

For example, " Delimiter=comma,%,tab"

EatWhiteSpace 0 = Do not skip extra space and tab in the data
1= Skip extra space and tab in the data
0 EatWhiteSpace removes extra space and tab characters preceding and following data. A 0 means not to skip the extra space.

For example, " 1 2" would leave the column A blank and import data into the columns B and C.

A 1 means to skip the extra space.

For example, " 1 2" would import data into the columns A and B.

ImportCodePage String "" The name of the ANSI code page to use when importing Unicode data
Sheet sheet name

 

Opens the specified sheet in an Excel workbook
SkipExtraDelimiters 0 = Do not skip extra delimiters in the data
1= Skip extra delimiters in the data
1 SkipExtraDelimiters specifies whether multiple delimiters are treated as one delimiter. SkipExtraDelimiters=0" means "don't skip the extra delimiters"

For example, 1,,2,,,3 would import into columns A,C, and F.

"SkipExtraDelimiters=1" means "do skip extra delimiters".

For example, 1,,2,,,3 would import into columns A, B and C.

SQLSTR SQL string No Structured Query Language access string.
StartRow N 1 StartRow is the row number at which to begin importing.
Table table or query name

 

Table opens the specified table in an Access database.
TextQualifier doublequote = doublequote(")
singlequote = singlequote(')
none = none
other = enter the text qualifier
doublequote TextQualifier specifies the character that surrounds cells containing text. You can use more than one text qualifier in the string.

For example, " TextQualifier=doublequote,%"

UseFixedWidth 0 = No
1 = Yes
0 UseFixedWidth uses a fixed width for columns during import.
Locale String System Locale Locale is the locale ID in decimal values. The default locale is determined by the locale setting in the Windows Control Panel.
DateOrder 0 = Auto
1 = MDY (Month, Day, Year)
2 = DMY
3 = YMD
4 = MYD
5 = DYM
6 = YDM
0 The DateOrder specifies the order in which dates are written in the data file. When DateOrder is set to 0, the standard date order from the Locale is used.

See Also

Export Options String