Topic Outputting Long Fields into CSV Format

 Applies_To askSam for Windows

    Version 3.x, 2.x

Last_Update September 17, 1996

Question

When I export my file out to CSV format, the long fields don't go out with it.  How can I export the entire file?

Answer

Because of the way CSV (Comma Separated Value) is structured, only one line fields will be supported.  You can, however, create a report in askSam to include long fields in a CSV format.

Resolution

Use the following steps as an example:

1. Open the askSam file from which you wish to create a CSV file.

The following is an example of what your documents may look like:

NAME  Rock Robinson

ADDRESS  119 S. Washington Street

CITY  Perry  

STATE  FL  

ZIP  32347

NOTES  Very generous with his money and time. Would make a great chairperson or director for any project.

2. Choose Tools -> New Report.  Name the report CSV File.

3. Choose Define the Layout of Your Report.

4. Enter in your field names, quotes, and commas using the Relative Spacing command (^0). The following is an example.  Just substitute your field names for the ones here.  Be sure to include all quotes, commas, and ^0s.

^BODY

^#

" ^0 NAME  ^0","^0 ADDRESS  ^0","^0 CITY  ^0","^0 STATE  ^0",

"^0 ZIP  ^0","^0 NOTES L  ^0"

5. Choose Tools -> New Report and choose Yes to save changes

6. Choose Run to output the report to the screen

7. Choose File -> Save As and name the report csv.ask.  Choose OK

8. Choose File -> Export -> Entire File

9. Under File Type, choose Text Only (*.TXT)

10. Choose Set Options and make sure you have No Delimiter selected.  Choose OK.

11. Name the file data.csv and choose OK to export.

12. When the export is complete, your csv file is ready to be imported back into askSam or another application.