Importing data
is the process of transferring data
that was taken (exported ) from one program / database and
transfer that data into another database or program for use into the current
database that it was transferred into. Importing and exporting data is a very
common procedure and has been used for years.
I.C.E. can accept CSV (comma delimited files) and XLS (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) file
formats.
It is recommended to use Excel whenever possible because of the
advantages of a spreadsheet as well as xls files can handle larger data fields
better than CSV files.
Please see
the appropriate topic to learn on how to import or export data. (you can
import and export to and from all files within the I.C.E. software) - Note that the Import and Export procedures all work
in the same manner.
Importing Outlook Contacts
Importing Outlook Express
Contacts
Importing
Contacts from other programs
Importing Items
Exporting Data (Contacts or Items)
Why import or export data? There are times when you may be using a program that asks for the same
data that you may of have stored in another program. Instead of
retyping all of that information it is much easier to extract the data
(called exporting) from that program and then transfer
(called importing)
into the
program you need it in.
There are many file formats in which data
is stored within a program. Many times the file format of one software program
can not be used by another. However most programs that have a import / export
option will allow the data to be imported or exported using a text file
format called CSV (common separated values) or the use of text file format
called TXT for importing or exporting purposes. These are filenames that end
with .csv as in mydata.csv or .txt as in
mydata.txt . These text file formats are basically
the same because they use either a comma, a tab and a semi colon to separate
the values in the file. Thus when importing into a program that allows imports
using these file types the standard is applied and the program knows how for the
most part how to place that data into its own database so it can be used. You may
have to correct the names of data fields or match them up to the new data
fields in order to be sure the data gets imported into the correct data
fields.
I.C.E. can
accept CSV (comma delimited files)
and XLS (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet) file
formats. All CSV and TXT file formats can be open and viewed with Excel as well
as any text editor such as Windows notepad. If viewed with Excel then you can
save the file in
Excel format (spreadsheet).
It is recommended to use
Excel whenever possible because of the advantages of a spreadsheet. Also xls files can handle
larger data fields better than CSV files.
