fwf

Load data with a fixed width from a text file.

Introduction

Use the fwf instruction to load data from a text file with a fixed width into a data extract.

Creating a custom script transformation using the fwf instruction

To create and configure a custom script using the fwf instruction, follow these steps:

1. Create a custom script transformation.

2. In the Instructions step, select the fwf instruction.

3. To configure the custom script instruction, fill in the following fields. Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

Fieldwidths

Enter the maximum width of the columns in the text file. The width is measured in characters. For example, to parse a text column with a maximum character length of 10, enter 10. Enter a fixed column width for every column to load from the text file.

Encoding*

Select the format in which the text file is encoded. Select one of the following:

• cp437

• iso-8859-1

• iso-8859-15

• iso-8859-9

• utf-16

• utf-16le

• utf-8

• utf-8-sig

Subtable

Enter the name for a subtable that you want to use within this custom script.

A subtable is a temporary table that only exists for this custom script. You can apply additional instructions within the same custom script to the subtable. However, the subtable cannot be used in any other custom scripts.

If a subtable does not exist for the current custom script, the transformation is applied to the data extract, and the enriched data is output into the subtable. If the subtable already exists for the custom script, the subtable is used as the input for the transformation and optionally as the output.