Excel File

Select this option if the data source is an Excel file. The Source tab layout is then as shown below - .

Figure 1 - The Source tab with Excel selected as the Source Type

The properties and options are as follows:

• Excel version - the system supports .xls (default) and .xlsx formats. Select the appropriate type from the drop-down.
• Locale – specify the area or country in which the data in the file is to be used. This will allow the system to format fields such as date fields according to local standards.

• Sort Data - In Excel import, the data in all sheets must be sorted by key columns. If the data in your import file is not sorted, check this box to instruct the task execution to sort the data in all the Excel sheets automatically. Note that with a large database, sorting may take some time.
• File location - select the source of the file. Import files can be uploaded directly in the browser, placed on a Forsta FTP server and retrieved from there, or imported from an external FTP server.
• Local file - if you wish to upload the source file from your server network (perhaps the file has been stored there after having been sent to you via email), then select this option, click the Upload File link, then click Browse. A standard browser window opens, in which you can search for and select the file you wish to upload.
• FTP - if your company has licensed the FTP add-on and it has been enabled, this option will be active. You can then fetch the source file from Forsta's FTP location. Type in the file name. Forsta's FTP address is specified as part of the enabling procedure and cannot be changed.

Note: Forsta FTP imports support the use of wildcards in the file name. * gives zero or more characters, ? gives exactly zero or one character. For example, myFile?_*.txt - will match myFile1_20082012.txt and myFile2_22082012.txt.

• External FTP - files can be taken from an external FTP location. In this case the file name, Folder Name (at the external FTP location), the Host Name, and the FTP User name and Password must be specified. The Verify connection button is provided to allow you to check whether the FTP settings are correct.

Note: Wildcards are not supported when using External FTP.

• If you select one of the FTP options, then you can also decide what to do with the original files on the FTP site; leave them there or delete them. Note that fetching from FTP can allow automation of data flows, since you can set up the system to pick up files automatically.
• Encrypted File - if your company has licensed the Encryption add-on and it has been enabled, the data transfer encryption functionality makes it possible to perform secure data transfers in Forsta. If the source file has been encrypted by the sender using your PGP public key, you will need to decrypt the files using your private key. Note that an administrator setting makes it possible to force every Forstauser within a company to use encryption and FTP server during data transfer.

1. Make the required selections and save them.
2. Select the Uploaded File or Pick up from FTP Location radio button as appropriate.
3. Depending on which button you have selected, click the Upload File link or type the file name into the FTP field.

If you have clicked Local File, a standard Windows File Upload dialog opens.

4. In which case, browse to and select the file to be uploaded.

The name of the selected file is displayed alongside the Uploaded File button.

5. Click Save to save the changes.