Separator File Connector

A file connector can in principle read and write, but can also be defined so that it only reads or only writes.
If a file connector can write, this must be entered here so that it also appears in the selection list of possible target connectors for the definition of "linked connectors". The Separator File connector reads and writes text files (comma-separated or fixed-length).

Example of the configuration of a Separator File connector

File used / Reading

• Select file
  File currently used by the connector for reading. If this field is filled, the file has already been saved in the database.
• Select file path on the server
  The file can be selected on the server with "Browse".
• File upload and extraction of the columns
  The file is uploaded to the server and analyzed. In the process, an attempt is made to read the column names from the first line, or the column names are generated automatically.

File used / Writing

• Select file on the server
  Saves the file with the specified name in the database. The following placeholders are available: $d (=day), $M (=month), $y (=year), $h (=hour), $m (=minute) and $s (=second)
• Save as document / specify formatting pattern
  Writes the file under the specified path on the server. The following placeholders are available: $d (=day), $M (=month), $y (=year), $h (=hour), $m (=minute) and $s (=second)

File structure

• A separator is used to mark the columns
  The data in the file is structured so that a separator marks the end of a column. Usually a ; is used for this (e.g. in CSV files)

• Columns have a fixed length
  Columns are not marked by a separator but always have a certain length, e.g. 15 characters.

• Settings for file structure with separators
• First line defines names
  If selected, the first line of the file should contain the names of the columns. This option is only relevant when separators are used!
• Comment marker
  Defines the pattern used to mark a line as a comment.
• Separator
  The separator is used by the connector to mark columns in the file.
• String marker
  The string marker must appear before and after the character string and is used to mark it. This can be quite useful, e.g. if a separator occurs within the character string.

Definition of the columns

• Column name
  Name of the table column
• Offset
  Defines at which position in a line the column begins.
• Length
  Length of the preceding column
• Alignment
  This field is only taken into account when writing and defines the arrangement of the column when writing.
• Pad with
  Defines the character sequence used to pad the column content.
• Default
  The default value. Used if no value is given.
• Prefix
  The returned value is enriched with the prefix.
• Postfix
  The returned value is enriched with the postfix.
• Add row / Remove selected row
  By selecting the column and clicking the button, new rows are added or removed. Save.
• Show created files
  Only files for which the connector served as target are displayed.