Index

Multi-column text conversion

32 bit release 3.0, CR 1996-2000 Pierre GEEVERS

Overview

Utility

How to proceed

Trial version limits

This program is a ShareWare: you can use and copy it (see the necessary files). But if you appreciate it and want to use it evenly, you can get your own registered release for a cheap sum from:

M Pierre GEEVERS

103, rue grande

77140 MONCOURT

Compuserve ID: 101705,2301

E-Mail pierregeevers@compuserve.com

Home page http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PierreGeevers

See also  the the registration form.

You can have an eye on:

Home page http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PierreGeevers/mcx.htm

By connecting on this page, you can register via Internet


Necessary files

McXtract works under WINDOWS 95, WINDOWS 98, WINDOWS 2000 and WINDOWS NT.

(A 16-bits release exists for WINDOWS 3.x)

The necessary files are following:

MCX32.EXE (program)

MCX32.HLP (this help file)

See also the examples and the file:

 README.TXT


How to process

Welcome to McXtract, the multi-columns text file extraction!

This program brings you a great help to take advantage from any text file for carrying out any of its data.

The goal of McXtract is simple: it is to divide the text file into appropriate columns to give it back its significant fields.

The result is given in a new text file: each field is separated by a character, in the shareware version, it is a semicolon (;), this character can be chosen in the registered version.

For example, you have:

SMITH      33New York

JONES      26London

MARTINS    37Seattle

You can get:

Name;Age;Location

SMITH     ;33;New York

JONES     ;26;London

MARTINS   ;37;Seattle

So this result file can be used by any database or worksheet manager:  any of those programs can import a text-delimited file and save it to its suitable type.

How to proceed

Open McXtract

Normally, it is set by default with the [General data window], if not, go to the menu Window/General data

Select the input file (i.e. the text data file you want to extract all of part of fields), by typing its name (path and file name) or by going to the menu FILE/INPUT (short key is Ctrl-F12).

Example: DATA.TXT

Then the fields separator can be changed (registered version only), for example to a <Tab>, which is very useful to export the result directly by copy/paste to a worksheet.

Then it is time to choose the fields definition:

- by opening a field definition file (example DATA.TAB) with the menu Fields definition/Recall

- or by making directly this definition with the menu Fields definition /Define (then the program goes to the [Fields definition] window

So the fields definition can be saved (menu Field definition / Save as): please notice that those files have the .TAB extension

For helping to define field, you can have a view on the input file (menu Window/Input file)

It is also possible to get automatically a view of both input file and delimiter (menu: Window /Both input and delimiter).

In the input file view window, a rule can be inserted or remove as wanted; this rule is displayed on each 24 lines in that window: it looks like this:

----------------------------------

 (rule)  1         2         3        -> col. number, by 10x

1234567890123456789012345678901234   -> col. number, by unit

----------------------------------

This rule is a great help to find precisely the positions of the fields to be extracted.

The rule display is made for help and no element of the rule appear in the output file.

Please notice that on the trial version, the rule length is limited to 60 characters.

Then you can return to the [General data] (menu Window/General data) if you wish to improve the extraction. Some additional features are proposed:

- extract only a sample with the number of desired lines, in order to make tests before preparing big extractions

- choose to display field names ahead

- sort the extraction

- obtain unique (not duplicates) records (registered version only).

- Give a rank number (registered version only)

- Give a lower and an upper (registered version only) limit to the extracted values, which is useful for files containing blank lines for example.

After that work, the extraction can be launched (menu File/Go). A message tells when extraction is finished, then the result is immediately displayed.

Please notice that the extraction file has the .XTR extension.

The zone in the result view can be selected and copied to be pasted, fore example into a worksheet.

You sure can make another process with a new input or output file as the fields definition is still in memory.

A previous job log can be displayed: it helps to follow precisely what jobs were run by McXtract, each new job is inserted at the first line of the log, so it is  reversed sorted by date/time. This log is saved into the MCX32.LOG file.

Each row contains:

 - input file name

 - delimiter file name

 - output file name

 - delimiter

 - sorted or not

 - unique or not

 - line number or not

 - Lower limit

 - Upper limit

 - Job date

 - Job time

To exit from McXtract, just choose on the menu FILE/.EXIT.

Thank you for using McXtract; if you have to use this program evenly, do not forget to register...


Utility

What is McXtract made for?

Imagine you have one or more text file in which you want to extract some fields for an analysis, or you want to extract just a column to make a copy/paste into another program...

McXtract makes that possible: this program can cut a text file into selected fields and is able to prepare the importation work into a database or a worksheet manager.

Then you will find it very useful, especially if you have to extract the same fields from multiple files.

So welcome to McXtract!


Registration form

Registration Form

Please send this form with a money order to the following address

Mr Pierre GEEVERS

103, rue grande

77140 MONCOURT-FROMONVILLE

E-Mail pierregeevers@compuserve.com

Home page http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PierreGeevers

Please choose your currency

[  ] US$

[  ] Euro

[  ] French Franc

MCXTRACT personal licence

                ____ x [  ]US$ 26.00     ______

                     x [  ]Euro 26.00    ______

                     x [  ]FRF 170.00    ______

Shipping

                       [  ]$ 1.00        ______

                       [  ]Euro 1.00     ______

                       [  ]FRF 6.50      ______

Total:

           [  ]$  [  ]Euro  [  ]FRF      ______

Disk size:	[   ] 3 1/2     [   ] 5 1/4     [   ] does not matter

[  ] Name	_________________________________________

[  ] Company	_________________________________________

Address (please mention it as clear as possible)

_________________________________________

                	_________________________________________

                	_________________________________________

                	_________________________________________

                	_________________________________________

Country	_________________________________________

EMail   __________________________________________

Which release do you own? _____

How did you get McXtract?

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Date ________	Signature _________________________________

You can of course mention all your comments...


Overview

The McXtract is composed with several windows:

- The [General data] is where are displayed the input/output/delimiter files, and where the field separator and other features are chosen, in order to improve the extraction

- The [Fields definition] is where the fields for extraction are defined

- The [View input file] (only active where an input file is chosen) is where the input file can be displayed, in order to help for choosing the fields for extraction.

- [The result] (only active when extraction has run) is where the output result file is displayed, in order to allow an immediate control.

- The [Previous jobs] is the log trace of all what has been done by McXtract. This log is saved to the MCX32.LOG file. The lines are reversed sorted by the job date/time, ie the last job is displayed on the first line.

To retrieve the desired window, it is just necessary to chose Window on the menu.

The active window name is displayed on the main program bar (or highlighted if this window is not maximized). If you get lost, just click on the menu Window and chose the place you want to go.

You can have an eye on:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PierreGeevers/mcx.htm


Trial version limits

McXtract is a shareware program, it is downloadable as a trial version. So there are some differences with the registered version.

They are listed below, located by differents windows available in the program.

General data

 - field separator is only a semicolon (";")

 - No unique records

 - No adding line number to the output file lines

 - No upper limit

View input file

 - Rule length limited to 60 characters

The result

 - No 'select all'

 - No copy

Previous jobs (log)

 - Registration reminding line added

 - No editing

 - No 'select all'

 - No copy

So there are some advantages to register... And by registering, you  give to the product its good luck!