General Tab

To convert data, specify the format of the converted file and other parameters.

parameters specified on Convert Request Editor

File Format Types

Select the file format for the converted file output:
Extract File
You can convert the file to the same name as the original or to a new file name, with the following limitation:
  • You can save converted data to the original Source File only when the Source File is on fixed media, and the default segment size value for fixed media (specified in Personal Options) is zero.
Business Objects (CSV)

Convert the Source File to a Business Objects (CSV) file, which can then be opened in a text editor or imported into a spreadsheet or database application. If you are converting to a Business Objects (CSV), the name of the Destination File cannot match the name of the Source File. When Business Objects (CSV) is selected, the request adds the suffix “.csv” to the Destination File if a suffix is not specified.

When you convert to this file format, you can select the columns from each joined table that are to be included in the file. The rows in file are not grouped by table name. Instead, the rows are presented as a joined view with all selected columns listed as a single ‘table'. Thus, a parent row is repeated for each child row.

Note:
  • Column Maps are not used to create a Business Objects (CSV) file. If a Column Map is specified and you are converting to a Business Objects (CSV) file, a warning message will be displayed during the Convert Process.
  • Data Privacy functions are not supported for this file type.
Comma Separated Value (CSV)

Select this value to convert the Source File to a Comma Separated Values (.csv) file, which can then be opened in a text editor or imported into a spreadsheet or database application. When Comma Separated Value (CSV) is selected, the request adds the suffix “.csv” to the Destination File if a suffix is not specified. If you are converting to a Comma Separated Value (CSV) file, the name of the Destination File cannot match the name of the Source File.

You can also create separate .csv files for each table or view.

XML
Use this option to produce an XML formatted file. When this format is selected, the request adds the suffix ".xml" to the Destination File if a suffix is not specified. Data Privacy functions can be applied. You can also create separate XML files for each table or view.
Business Objects (XML)
Select this file format to convert to an XML formatted file. The Business Objects (XML) file includes the same information as the Business Object (CSV) file, but in XML format.
Note: Data Privacy functions are not supported for this file type.
Enterprise Content Management (CSV)
This format is available only when converting an Archive File, and can include metadata options such as Archive File name, Archive File creation date, Archive GUID and Archive Request description. When this format is selected, the request adds the suffix ".ecm" to the Destination File if a suffix is not specified. You can also create separate Enterprise Content Management (CSV) files for each table or view.

Source File

The name of the Extract File or Archive File that contains the data to convert. You can convert an Archive File to any file format. Extract Files can be converted to any file format except Enterprise Content Management (CSV). If you enter an Extract File and select Enterprise Content Management (CSV) , an error is displayed, and you will not be able to save or run the Convert Request.

Note: When you choose to convert an Extract File as part of an Extract Process, Source File is automatically populated with the name of the Extract File from the Extract Request Editor, and cannot be modified.

Control File

Enter the name of a Control File. This file is used to track the success or failure of processing for each row in the Source File. Control Files are given a .cf extension by default.

If you specify the name of a Control File that already exists, a dialog prompts you to confirm that you want to overwrite the file when you run the Convert Request. To disable this confirmation feature, you can change a setting in Personal Options.

Destination File

Enter the name of the Destination File for the converted data. To save converted data to the original Source File, specify the path and name of the Source File, or leave blank.

A converted file does not include any object definitions present in the Extract File. Therefore, if the Destination File is also the Source Extract File, object definitions in the Source File are discarded. If you want to write the Extract File to removable media, specify the path to the desired device.

If you do not specify a path for file names, the request uses the drive and directory defined in Personal Options as the default Data Directory.

Notes:
  1. You can save converted data to the original Source File only when the Source File is on fixed media, and the default segment size value for fixed media (specified in Personal Options) is zero.
  2. To browse a converted Extract File, right-click the Destination File and select Browse from the shortcut menu. For details on the Browse Utility, see the Common Elements Manual.

If you are converting an Extract or Archive File to a Business Objects (CSV) or Comma Separated Value (CSV), the request adds the suffix .csv if one is not specified. Additionally, if you are converting to a Business Objects (CSV), Comma Separated Value (CSV), Business Object (XML), XML or Enterprise Content Management (CSM), the name of the Destination File cannot match the name of the Source File.

Table Map Options

Specify a Table Map to match tables in the Source File with destination tables or to exclude tables in the Source File from the request. You cannot save or process a Convert Request without a valid Table Map.

Within a Table Map, specify a Column Map for any pair of tables to:

Note: You cannot use a Column Map for a Business Objects (CSV) or Business Objects (XML) file format.

Click Tools > Edit Table Map from the Convert Request Editor to open the Table Map Editor. For details on how to create, edit, or merge Table Maps, see the Common Elements Manual.

Local
Select this option to create a Table Map to be used only with the active Convert Request. Local Table Maps are saved as part of the Convert Request.
Named
Select this option to create a new Table Map or select an existing Table Map to be used with the Convert Request. You must specify a name for the Table Map you want to create or the name of the existing Table Map you want to use.
Note: If changes are made to database tables since the last time a Table Map was used, the specifications may no longer be valid, and a warning message is displayed.
Table Map Name
Name of the new or existing Table Map to use with the Convert Request. A Table Map name has two parts: identifier.name.
identifier
Identifier (1 to 8 characters) to identify the Table Map.
name
Name of the Table Map (1 to 12 characters).
Always View Table Map
Select this check box to open the Table Map Editor any time you save or run a Convert Request. This option provides an opportunity to review the Table Map specifications before you convert the data. If you clear this check box, the Table Map Editor opens only when needed (for instance, when the specified Table Map does not include all the tables in the Extract File).

Process Options

The output file format determines which process options are available.

Discard Row Limit

Rows that cannot be processed are discarded. For example, in an insert process, a row is discarded if source data is not compatible with the data type of the destination column. Enter 0 or leave blank to impose no limit or enter a number from 1 to 99999999 to stop processing after the specified number of rows are discarded and all rows in the array processed. You can Restart or Retry a process that stops because the limit is reached.

Compress Destination Extract File

This check box is available only when you select Extract File for File Format Type. Select this check box to automatically compress the destination Extract File for storage.

Include File Attachments

Select this check box to include file attachments in the destination file. File attachments are not converted.