Input Elements

File Input

Source text file in some file system

• Name — name of the graphic element.

• Input Path — path that shows the source file location.

The Input Path parameter can be filled out manually or using Browse.

Actions:

1. Click the Browse button to open the Browse dialog.

2. Select the data source type in the Source Type drop-down list (currently, Local or Named Paths).

3. Depending on the selected data source type, specify the other parameters:

• For the Local type: Location of the input file and Path to this file using the suggested folder directory.

• For the Named Paths type: Named Paths and file input path using the Named Path Content box (use search capabilities if needed).

Note: Input files in compressed archive format (e.g., zip and gzip) can be used and specified.

4. Click the OK button.

Web Input

Text file located in the web

(FTP/SFTP, HTTP location, HTTPS, Amazon S3 )

• Name — name of the graphic element.

• Input Path — URL of the source file.

In the Input Path field, naming macros may be used. To do this, click the Insert Macro icon and select the naming macros from the drop-down list. (NOTE: The ability to use naming macros is only available for Visual Processes.)

Note: If some web input file requires authentication, you should add the Credentials element and connect your Web Input element with it. In properties of the Credentials element you should specify the User Name and Password parameters.

Database Input

Database file

• Name — name of the graphic element.

• Data Source — data source to be determined. Specify this parameter manually or click the Browse For... button to select one of the following data source types:

• Local or Web File

• Data Link Wizard

• Data Link File

• Connection Definitions

Then select the required file using the displayed dialog.

NOTE: In addition to Excel file types .xls and .xlsx, .xlsb and .xlsm file types may be used as database file input.

If the input file is password protected, select the Include password check box and enter the required password in the  corresponding field.

To select a specific table within the input file to export data to, click the Table drop-down arrow and select the required table.

To replace nulls in the table, select the Replace nulls with default values (empty strings, zeros, and default dates (1/1/1970)) check box.

To apply filtering to the table during the export, select the Apply Filter check box and click the Change button below to specify necessary filters.

NOTE: Filters are not applicable when applied directly to a Workspace-based dataset. To implement a filter for a Workspace-derived export, apply a change list to the preceding Workspace object as part of the load plan selection.

Note: When Automator exports the table data, the filter(s) you selected will be applied to it. Only the data that matches the filter's specifications will be exported.

To include column names in the table with the exported data, select the First row contains column names check box.

To choose an Excel engine, click on the Excel Engine drop-down list, and choose Legacy or Modern.

Note: For the Modern Excel engine, password-protected Excel files can be used.

Delimiter character — specifies the delimiter (i.e., comma, tab, semicolon, pipe, space, other) used in the file to separate values.

If values may run beyond one line (i.e., the value includes a line break), select the Quoted values may contain embedded line breaks check box.

Text qualifier — specifies what character is used (i.e., double quote, single quote, none) to enclose values. When Automator encounters this qualifier in a line, all of the text following this character and preceding its next instance is imported as one value, regardless of the delimiter used.

Note: If the delimiter is a comma (,) and the text qualifier is a double quotation mark ("), e.g. "Boston, Massachusetts" is imported into one cell as “Boston, Massachusetts.” By contrast, if no character or the single quotation mark (') is specified as the text qualifier, "Boston, Massachusetts" is imported into two adjacent cells as "Boston" and "Massachusetts."

Character set — specifies the type of encoding to use when interpreting data.

Lines to skip at start — the number indicated in this box instructs Automator to skip n lines before beginning data import.

Content System Input

Reports from the Content System document type

• Name — name of the graphic element.

• Document type — Content System data container the report input is taken from. Specify the document type of the reports to be considered as input.

You can search for documents using the following search criteria:

• By date: define a date range and then specify whether you want to find documents that were filed (registered) or documented (created) within this range.

• Files from filing result that triggered the process: this option means the search will find only the report(s) that triggered the most recent process launch.