Exporting Data

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MainBoss can export data from a report in a format that lets you use the data with another computer program. For example, you could export data for use with Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access; you could then use Excel or Access to create a customized report based on that data.

MainBoss can export data in two formats:

• The dBase-format creates a .DBF file suitable for use with programs that accept FoxPro dBase data. (This includes Microsoft Excel and Access.)
• The text format creates a .CSV (text) file consisting of ASCII character data. Each line consists of a series of fields, separated by commas. You can choose whether the text file begins with a line giving the name of each field or just starts immediately with the data.

To export data in either format, you click the Export button in the window for printing a report. MainBoss opens a standard Windows "Save as" dialog where you can specify the name of the file that should hold the exported data. The Save as type field gives the following choices:

• Database Files (*.DBF): MainBoss will save the data in dBase format.
• ASCII Comma Delimited (*.CSV): MainBoss will save the data in text format, with fields separated by commas.
• ASCII Comma Delimited with Field Names (*.CSV): MainBoss will save the data in text format, with fields separated by commas. The first line in the file will give names for each field.

As a simple example, here are a few lines of information from the Units report, exported using the last format listed above. (The lines have been truncated to fit on the page.)

UNTYPE,UNCODE,UNDESC,...
S,320 RBC        ,RICHMOND BAKERIES 320 TOWER   ,...
S,330 3RD        ,RICHMOND BAKERIES             ,...
S,AA             ,ALGARD AUDITS                 ,...

The first line gives field names: UNTYPE (Unit type), UNCODE (Unit code), UNDESC (Unit description) and so on. Subsequent lines give information about various units. In the UNTYPE field, the value is either S for Space or E for Equipment. The UNCODE is the identifier code from the Space or Equipment Table, and the UNDESC is the description from the same table. Subsequent fields on the line provide more information about the unit.

MainBoss 2.9 exports substantially more information than earlier versions of MainBoss. For example, when MainBoss exports data from a report pertaining to work orders, the data contains all the data from all the relevant work orders (even if data that would not be printed in the report itself).

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