To import a database in text format, choose File > Import from menubar and choose the text file to import.


It will appear the Import Database window.





Here, choose from the available options, your preferred choices.







Specify the format of the importing file

The setting of this section are defined automatically after you chose a file to import. You have to modify the default choices only if the values displayed in the preview table are not displayed as you expected to see them. In this case, try different combinations of choices to get the right result. If the file is from an old program, test the choices "ASCII", "Mac OS Roman" or "ISO Latin 1", otherwise try "UTF-8" or "UTF-16".







Enter new database name

Just choice you favorite name for the new database that will be created for the importation of the file. You can change this name also later in the Databases window.







Define fields

  • Main Field: every database in iDatabase have a Main Field, typically this field is used as record name. For example in a record of Movies the main field is the Movie's name. In a database only one field can be the main field. Choose carefully what field to choice as main field because you can’t modify your choice later.
  • Field Type: for each row associate a kind of field by look what value is present. You can see the kind of value by seeing the “Record Value” column of the table. Please keep in mind that you can't change the fields type later so make your choices carefully. Also keep in mind that, in doubt, it’s better to use the field kind “Small Text”, instead the field kind “Number”, for number values that don’t require any calculation (for example the number of inches of a computer display fits better in a "Small Text" field than in a “Number” field). The Small Text field don’t let you make calculations but are more flexible and let you enter also text and punctation marks along numbers.
  • Record Value: this is just a preview of the value present. Each row represents a different field of a record.








Preview of record 1 of 3

Use the navigation arrows to see a preview of records present in the text field. This is a very useful feature to allow you to understand exactly what the contents of the file you're importing.







The first line of the importing file contains the fields label

Usually, in CSV files, along the record data, there is also a “dummy” record containing the labels of the record's fields. Whether you should be unsure about this info, try to temporary uncheck this option and see the "Record Value" column of the preview table to know if it contains record value as for example “iMac”, or labels as for example “Computer Name”. Whether the value is a thing like “Computer Name”, this should mean that the first line of the importing file contains the field labels. In this case, check this option.