Via Systems Technical Support

Via Systems

Technical Bulletin

Summary: How to convert a "hold" file to a "data" file for ViaDuct imports.

ViaDuct All

Symptom:

Often, it would be nice to take reports that have been sent to a Pick spooler hold file and Import them to the PC.

Problem:

It is possible to do this using the Via Duct "Capture" function, but this is not always convenient, nor does it give you the possibility of Importing to different DOS file extensions such as .DBF, .WK1, etc. The following method shows you what steps to take in order to convert a spooler hold file into a Pick data file, ready to be Imported using Via Duct.

Solution:

First you should create a Pick file to hold the spool file data. Then you will print the report to the spooler hold file. Finally, you will convert the hold file, placing it into the Pick data file you created. Use the example below to master the process.

>CREATE-FILE SPOOLER.HOLD.FILE 1 3
Creates a file to hold the spooler entry.

>SP-ASSIGN HS
Directs spooler output to hold file(s) and suppresses printing on the system printer.

>LIST INV DESC QTY COST EXT.COST (P
HOLD ENTRY #5

Example of sending an Access report to the spooler. A hold entry number will be displayed on the screen. In this example, the number is 5. Take note of the number that is generated.

>SP-EDIT 5
ENTRY #5

The hold entry will be displayed.

DISPLAY (Y/N/S/D/X/(CR))?-Y
Respond by typing "Y". A portion of the file will be displayed.

STRNG:-<CR>
Press Return at this prompt.

SPOOL (Y/N=CR/T/TN/F)?-F
Respond to this prompt by typing F

FILE NAME?-SPOOLER.HOLD.FILE
This is the name of the file you created earlier to hold the converted spooler entry.

INITIAL ITEM NAME?-1
This example uses the number 1. You can use any item name you want.

DELETE (Y/N=CR)? -Y
Since we have finished converting the hold file, we now delete the hold entry.

Unless the report is very large, it should all fit into one item. If the Pick system is not able to place the entire report into one item it will place it into several items in the same file. LIST the file to see what items have been created, if any, in addition to the item you specified when converting the hold entry.

Now using Via Duct, import the SPOOLER.HOLD.FILE using the following recommended import settings:

Pick File: SPOOLER.HOLD.FILE
Itemids: SSELECT SPOOLER.HOLD.FILE
Fields: *
PC File: Name of the PC file with any extension (.txt extensions work best in most situations)
Options: I O F13,10 R13,10