This deprecated node imports data from a specified fixed-width file, typically a text file that does not have a header row.
- Configure either the FilenameExpr or the File property:
- If the node does not have an input, use the File property to determine the file to process. You can use either absolute or relative file paths, but note that if the file path is relative, then the temporary directory of the data flow for the current run is used as the base to which the file path is relative.
- If the node has an input, use the FilenameExpr property to determine the names of the files to process. The list of files is constructed using the current row of the input file, and applying the specified expression. When the node has an input pin, all of the files must conform to the same specification, that is, they must have the same number of fields in the same order and format.
Tip: If the files that you want to import have different fields, or if the fields are in a different order, one solution would be to import the files individually and then use the Cat node to combine the individual data sets. - In the FieldPositions property, specify the field positions within the file, as follows:
- Decide what to name the fields.
- Count the starting location for the first row of text. When counting, always start at zero.
- Count the size of the field by counting until you reach the next row of text, including any blank spaces.
- In the FieldPositions property, enter the field position information in the following format:
<fieldname>,<starting location>,<field size(character length)>,<type>Type is optional, and defaults to string if not specified.
For example:
PaymentCode,0,8 - Repeat the above steps for each field that you want to identify. Use either of the following formats when listing multiple fields:
- Use a colon-separated list, for example:
field1,0,4,int:field2,4,7,string:field3,11,7:field4,18,7:field5,25,7- or -
- Type each new field definition on a new line, for example:
field1,0,4,intfield2,4,7,stringfield3,11,7field4,18,7field5,25,7
- Use a colon-separated list, for example:
- You can add an additional output to the node. If there are two outputs, the second output is an error output.
Properties
File
Optionally click the folder icon and browse to the file that you want to import.
If you use this property, do not also use the FilenameExpr property.
FilenameExpr
Optionally specify which data to use for the filename, if filenames are processed from an added input. The result of the expression specified in the FilenameExpr property must identify the input field containing the filenames. For example, if the Fixed Format File node is connected to the output of a Directory List node, the FilenameExpr property would be set to FileName. Alternatively, an expression could be used to dynamically select the field containing the filenames, for example by using a boolean run-time property:
evalIf({{^UseFileName^}}, Field_A, Field_B)
If you use this property, do not also use the File property.
FieldPositions
Specify the field positions within the file.
Count the starting location for the first row of text. When counting, always start at zero. Count the size of the field by counting until you reach the next row of text, including any blank spaces. Enter the field position information in the following format:
<fieldname>,<starting location>,<field size(character length)>,<type>.
Type is optional, and defaults to string if not specified.
To specify multiple fields, use a colon-separated list of field definitions, or specify each field definition on a new line.
For example: field1,10,5,string:field2,15,3
A value is required for this property.
StartLine
Optionally specify the line in the file to start importing.
This is useful if the file contains header lines that should be ignored.
FilenameOutputField
Optionally specify the name of a field to add to the output containing the input filename.
If left blank, no filename field is added to the output.
RecordWidth
Optionally specify the size of each record in bytes.
If unspecified, each record is terminated by a newline.
BlankRowBehavior
Optionally choose what the output should be if there is a blank line encountered during processing. Choose from:
- Output as Null - Output NULL values where the blank line is present.
- Skip - Skip the blank line and continue processing.
Inputs and outputs
Inputs: 1 optional (filenames).
Outputs: Parsed Data, 1 optional (errors).