WRDB has a very flexible importing tool that is backwards compatible with several legacy text file formats. The tool removes the requirement that import files be formatted in a specific manner. However, for completeness, the four legacy formats are:
Tabular format–this is a general-purpose format for importing multi-parameter data as space, tab, and/or comma delimited text in a user-defined table. It is the most useful of the four formats.
Hour-day format–this is a special-purpose format for importing hourly data, for one parameter for one month, where the hours are in rows and days of the month are in columns.
Date-hour format – this is a special-purpose format for importing hourly data, for one parameter for an arbitrary amount of time, where the dates are in rows and hours of the day are in columns.
Day-month format–this is a special-purpose format for importing daily data, for one parameter for one year, where the days are in rows and months of the year are in columns.
Columnar format –this allows you to easily import data in a database format where each column is a field and each row is a record.
WRDB converts data in one of the input formats listed above into a import-compatible format. Data conversions are performed behind the scenes and are transparent to the user. The user can carefully prepare the import file "outside" of WRDB (called a "transfer" file) so WRDB can properly interpret the data for WRDB import. The foregoing links describe how transfer files must be formatted.
After you create or open a Working table and it’s browser is highlighted, you can select Edit | Import File or Table and then select from the four supported formats. You are then prompted to specify the name of the text file to be imported with a dialog box.
After you have made changes or confirmed the correctness of your transfer file, the import operation begins.
Processing messages are shown in the text window and conversion progress is shown in the progress bar below. At any time, you can press Cancel to abort the conversion process. If an error occurs, you will have the option of viewing the first 20 lines of the input file. If no errors occurred, you can select Continue and DBCONV will return to WRDB. After you confirm the operation, WRDB will append the records to the currently selected Working table. DBCONV is also helpful because it warns you if any data are outside the minimum and maximum limits specified in the PCODES database.
Sometimes WRDB may detect invalid Station IDs in the transfer file (that is, Station IDs were found in the transfer file that were not in the Stations Support table). When done, WRDB will optionally create new entries in the Stations table with these IDs. You can later edit the Stations table and add station names and other characteristics.
After WRDB completes its processing, you have the ability to enter information into the Tracking database.
The ability to log import operations can significantly improve your ability to track activities on large projects. See Support Table Browsers for information on reviewing and printing the Import File Log.
Also see Data Conversion Overview.