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How to Import EXCEL/CSV Files
What Files Are Imported? Comma-separated values (csv) files, including Microsoft Excel files saved as .csv, can be imported into GenRe Software. Files with up to 48 fields or columns are accepted. The Result The result is a corresponding GenRe file. In addition, a data entry program that is used to maintain the GenRe file is automatically created. Both program and file can be tweaked and modified quickly at anytime. Why Import Files Once files are imported, you can use GenRe to aggregate, slice and dice the data, generate all sorts of reports quickly, add more fields on-the-fly and without worrying about the impact on file structures and program logic, add programming instructions, reconfigure the screen, link and unlink files, etc. GenRe has simplified software development to a point that ordinary PC users themselves are able to complete tasks several times faster than traditional methods. GenRe is well-suited for applications that are dynamic and require changes at the speed of business (translation: it is needed today!). Although GenRe is limited to desktop applications, the step-wise procedure (of waiting for IT department to schedule time to look into the system change, explaining the detailed requirements to a systems analyst, a programmer to cut and test codes, a development machine aside from production machine, taking a user away from usual tasks to do acceptance testing, and waiting for technical staff to install systems) is no longer necessary. Do you hire technical experts to create your Word documents, or add up columns of your Excel files? Word processing and spreadsheets were introduced 30 years ago! Just about everyone knows how to use them. It is high time that software-making be simplified and speeded up so that computer users can do it too, bring down the cost of software and let more people benefit from information technology. Import Steps The following steps illustrate how files are imported. 1. Click the [Batch] command of the main menu:
2. Click the [Import...] button of batch menu:
3. The next screen shows the free slots where you can assign the file/program. Select the first slot (Menu 1, Item 1):
4. A confirmation window pops up. Click [Yes]:
5. The next screen shows the disk directory. The import program expects the file to be in C:\Program Files\GenReSoftware\MYOExternalFiles folder. You can go to another folder where your file is stored. In this example, the file is import1.csv.
6. Click import1.csv. The number of columns, column name row and start of data row are automatically filled in. This is because the file has been imported previously and the parameters are kept on the database. Click [Continue]:
(If importing a file for the first time, you would have clicked [Notepad] or [Excel] first to get the file details and entered the parameters.
The first row is the column number. The second row is column heading. Data starts from row 3. Notice the format of transaction date: mm/dd/yy.) 7. This pop up window applies to demo versions. Click [OK]:
8. The next screen shows the input columns and the corresponding output fields. The import program sets all input data types to texts or alphabet. You will need to use the [Map] button to fix the types and formats. Because the file was imported previously, the correct types and formats are retrieved from the database.
Click
[Continue]:
(If importing a file for the first time, you would have used the [Map] button to set the input data types:
You would have to do this for dates, times, amounts and numbers. Within GenRe, dates are stored internally as yyyymmdd, times as hhmmss, amounts without currency signs and commas, and numbers without commas. The import program needs to know the format of the input data so it can be properly converted into its internal format. In so far as displaying or printing data, you can select from a variety of formats.)
9. Next, select the column that will be used as record key. The key must be unique. In this case, transaction ID is selected:
10. Click [Yes] to confirm:
11. The import program looks for blanks and duplicate transaction IDs. If they are found, you can (a) continue and ignore the offending records, or (b) enter sequential numbers as keys, or (c) stop the process and fix the data first. In this example, no errors are detected. Click [Continue]:
12. Before the data entry program's screen is built, select the monitor:
13. The processing is summarized. Click [OK]:
14. Click [Yes].
15. The new program is displayed. Click [Erase] and [Retrieve] to get the imported records. While the date is stored as yyyymmdd, the default print format is mmm-dd-yyyy as shown, and the default print format for amounts include dollar signs and commas:
As your requirements grow, you may want to include tax rates, net amounts, customer names, postcodes, payment modes (cash, credit card), etc. Click the [hammer] at anytime to flip the program to design mode and apply the changes. For most data entry programs, you do not have to add custom instructions. Should you do, it is probably a few dozen instructions constructed simply by clicking or selecting screen options. (Each program accepts up to 8,000 instructions!) On completion, flip back to program execute mode. If you need to verify the instructions, use the debug mode of the [Special] button.
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