This is a list of frequently asked questions concerning the use of DataImport. If you have any appropriate questions (and/or solutions, we appreciate the help), email us.

I have purchased and installed DataImport, why does the software act like a test drive copy limiting my output to 100 lines?
From the DataImport Menu Panel you must click the Register Now button and enter your Serial Number and License Key to unlock DataImport.

How do I get the column names into the first row of an Excel Spreadsheet?
From the Options > Global menu check the Output Column names to Spreadsheet and Delimited Types. Note: the column names are defined on the column settings dialog box.

I'm translating into a database and I've changed the column type in the mask from numeric to character (text). I open the file in my database management software and the field type has not changed! What's wrong?
You have already translated the file, the database exists. Database files contain both the records and a structure that defines the layout of the fields in the records. This structure includes field names, types, and widths. As a safety precaution, DataImport never changes this structure. Therefore even if DataImport created the structure, changing column types and widths in the mask will not change the structure, even if the replace option is selected. Replace will only replace the records, not the structure. To solve this problem, either change the output file name to a new name, or delete the existing database file.

I've translated my data and nothing came out. Why?
There are several possible reasons. You must have at least one column or Line Tag defined. You must also be in Global Ouput Line Mode, or have at least one line whose type is either Output or Include.

Why is DataImport removing leading 0's from numbers like social security numbers?
You have selected numeric as the column's type. Leading 0's (zeros) are stripped when translating to a number. To keep the leading 0's in numbers like zip codes and social security numbers, select text as the column type.

How big of a file can DataImport translate?
DataImport can translate unlimited length files. Files loaded into DataImport can be up to 16,384 characters wide.

When I try to run the Mask program, I get the message "Not a valid Win32 application". The Utilities, Translate, and Task Commander all work normally? What's going on?
Your mask program is probably corrupt. Reinstall the software or contact Spalding Software for replacement files.

Why don't I see all of my file in the Mask window. What will happen when I translate?
DataImport by default loads 1000 lines of the file. This can be changed under the Options Preferences menu. The Mask screen can load up to 65,536 lines to be displayed. Regardless of how many lines are loaded into the mask screen, DataImport will translate the entire file.

Why do I get an error message when I translate my 70,000 line file to Excel?
The Excel format is limited to 64,536 lines. If your files are larger than this, you should probably be using a database. You could also use the DataImport Utilities Program to split the file by length.

I have Line Tags defined. They are coming out repeatedly on multiple lines when I translate. I only want them to come out one time for each set of data.
You are probably in Global Output Line Mode. Try including just one line for each set of data in your file.

I'm trying to unstack sets of 3 lines to make one line that contains all of the information from these lines. Some times one or two of these lines appear at the bottom of a page and the remaining lines appear at the top of the next page under the page heading. The headings are getting in the way.
This will require two masks and two translations. First, define a mask that selects all of the columns of information that you need. You can use Column Auto Define All to do this very quickly. In this mask, use the Exclude Lines feature to exclude the page headings. Select the Output file type as print image (.PRN) and translate. Start a new mask and load the print image file that you just created as the Input file. This new Input file will not include the interrupting page headings. Now you are ready to apply the unstack feature and select the columns of information that you want.

When translating to an existing Excel file, I get the message 'CANNOT OPEN FILE xxxxxxx.XLS'.
The existing file you are translating into is probably still open in Excel. Switch to Excel and close the file.

When I try to append or file combine to an Excel file I get the message 'CANNOT FILE COMBINE OR APPEND TO A NONEXISTANT SHEET'.
DataImport cannot append or file combine new data into a sheet in Excel that does not already exist. DataImport cannot create new sheets in an existing Excel file. To solve this problem, use Excel to setup these sheets in advance. DataImport can append or combine to any existing sheet in an Excel file. DataImport can also create a sheet of any valid name when creating a new Excel file or replacing a file of the same name.

When using the utilities on my file (LENNY.PRN) to create a new file in a different format, the dialog box indicates it is outputting the file to LENNY.AXX. After running the utility I can't find any file called LENNY.AXX.
The letters XX refer to the numeric sequence of the files the Utility is creating. Therefore if the utility you are running is creating one file, it would be named Lenny.a1. If there were multiple files they would be named .a2, a3, etc...

When I select that the column type is a Text Block, I don't see the data from the second line etc. in the cell of the output file. What gives?
Your output width (in your text block column define dialog box) defaults to the size of the column you create. This would be fine for any other type of column, but you are unstacking multiple lines of text here! You need to change the output width to accommodate the additional line(s) of text. This number is limited to a maximum of 255 characters.