The Import function allows data to be "copied" into the SIMS database from other programs using ASCII formatted source files. The Export function allows data from SIMS to be "copied" to ASCII formatted files for use with other programs. The Import/Export Screen shown below.
Import and Export
SIMS uses a folder named "Import/Export" (Mac) or "Import" (Windows). ASCII files that are generated during an Export are created in this folder. Import will read ASCII files from the same folder. Click on "PATH" to changed the source or destination folder.
The ASCII file formatted file consists of one file for each datafile (see list of files in the Import/Export screen), with fields separated by a field delimiter and records separated by a record delimiter. The field and record delimiter default values are set in the System Customization Utility. The default values are ASCII 13 (record) and ASCII 9 (field) but can be changed my clicking on the Modify Delimiters button. File names are defined in the "Import Data Formats for SIMS 6.6" document and have a ".TXT" file extension.
The list displays the files and the number of records currently selected for export in each file. A "X" in the leftmost column indicates the database will be Imported to or Exported from.
Import Export Options
Export SIMS 6.0 Data
Export selected data in an ASCII format that can be imported into another SIMS 6.0 Database. This is the default format which is described in the document "Import Data Formats for SIMS Version 6.6".
Import SIMS 6.0 Data
Import data that was exported using the "Export SIMS 6.0 Data" option.
New Only
When importing records, only allow records whose unique ID field does not already exist. This will prevent existing records from being overwritten.
Overwrite Existing Only
When importing records, only allow records whose unique ID field already exists. This will prevent new records from being added. Records whose unique ID field exists in the database will be overwritten with the data being imported.
New and Overwrite
Import all records regardless of whether they have a matching unique ID in the database. New records are added and existing ones are overwritten.
Select all files
Selects all files in the list for Import or Export operations. To select individual files, select the file in the list and click the "X" button.
Deselect all files
Deselects all files in the list for Import or Export operations. To deselect a selected file, select the file in the list and click the "X" button.
Show all records for all files
Select all records for each file. When you first select Import/Export, the file list shows the number of currently selected records in each file. If you want to export all records in the selected datafiles, click on "Show All Records for All Files" first.
To export a selection of records, you can query the data file by first clicking on the file in the list and then using the 2 buttons below the list. The first button lets you use the Search Editor to query the records you want to export. The second button lets you use the Sort Editor to specify a sort order for the records you want to export.