Exporting (fixed-width) to text file 2

[zyrag]

Hi,

I been trying to export records to a text file. I have tried the techniques presented in the MSDN "Using Random Access File" - Using the combination user-defined type with fixed size fields, the Open statement for random access and the Put command to write the contents of the user-defined type variable. My problem with this approach is that i dont get how to write the next record to the next line on the file. I tried to insert chr(13)+chr(10) after each Put statement

Type DTR
Period as String * 10
Emp_ID as String * 6
:
:
end Type

Open Filename For Random As #FileHandle Len=Len(My_DTR)

Put #FileHandle,,My_DTR
Put #FileHandle,,chr(13)+chr(10)

but could not work it out.

I resorted to trying the Export feature of the DataReport but my problem is i don't know how much twips is equivalent to 1 character. Does anyone knows how much twips? Do you have some tips for this method of exporting fixed-width record to a text file?

OR,

Can anyone share code snippets to for this purpose?

I would highly appreciate if you could share some tips and techniques.

TIA

 

[johnwm]

1. With fixed length strings there are no delimiters required so you don't need the chr(13) etc.

2. Make sure your Type declaration is in a code module (Project|Add Module)

3. Use the Freefile function to get a new file handle

4. I just tested this snippet to make sure it works. This goes in a new module:

Type DTR
Period As String * 10
Emp_ID As String * 6
End Type

This goes in a form with two command buttons and a textbox with its Multiline set to True:

Private Sub Command2_Click()
Dim my_dtr As DTR
Dim FileHandle As Long
FileHandle = FreeFile
Dim intA As Integer
Open "c:\test\myfile.x" For Random As #FileHandle Len = Len(my_dtr)


For intA = 1 To 5
my_dtr.Period = String(10, Chr(65 + intA))
my_dtr.Emp_ID = String(6, Chr(48 + intA))
Put #FileHandle, , my_dtr
Next intA
Close #FileHandle
End Sub

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim FileHandle As Long
FileHandle = FreeFile
Dim strAdd As String
Dim my_dtr As DTR
Dim intA As Integer
Open "c:\test\myfile.x" For Random As #FileHandle Len = Len(my_dtr)
For intA = 1 To 5
Get #FileHandle, , my_dtr
strAdd = strAdd & my_dtr.Period & vbTab & my_dtr.Emp_ID & vbCrLf
Next
txtmyType.Text = strAdd
Close #FileHandle

End Sub

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[dilettante]

You can always add a 2-char "filler" field at the end of your Type declaration. Then set this field to vbNewLine wherever you DIMension an instance of the UDT.

 

[DrSimon]

zyrag - 2 questions:
a) Had you considered the TransferTextmethod?
b) What have twips got to do with things?

 

[zyrag]

The combination of johnwm's and dilettante's techniques seems to me could be the working solution to my problem. I shall continue experimenting with.

DrSimon, TransferText is a method of what object?
Twips is the unit of measure used with DataReport. 1 inch=1440 twips and I need to know how much twips is equivalent to a character, see a space char, so I could calculate how much should be the width (plus a space char, being the delimiter, after each RptTextBox control) of the RptTextBox in a report.

Thanks to you guys, I really appreciate your help.