To import a folder of text files:
1. In the Finder, make sure that every text file in the folder to be imported has a .txt or .text file name extension. This is the only way iData 2 has of recognizing valid text files. (Note: However, you should not try to import files of other types by simply changing the file name extension. This will not work, and may cause iData 2 to crash.)
2. In iData 2, select Folder of Text Files... from the Import menu under the File menu.
3. In the Open dialog that comes up next, navigate to your folder, select it, and click the Open button.
4. The following dialog will appear. If there is no current datafile open, only the first option will be available. (Note: Although iData 2 will only create freeform datafiles from folders of text files, because the imported data goes into the Freeform Text Area, it is possible to import them into field-based datafiles, as well as into freeform datafiles.)
5. If applicable, select one of the radio buttons. Here are what the options mean:
a. Create new freeform datafile - As you might expect, this will create a new datafile containing the imported data. You will be able to save the new datafile with any name you desire.
b. Add to current datafile - If this option is available, it will cause newly imported records to be added at the end of the current datafile. If you are re-importing some of the same files that were used to create the current datafile, you will probably end up with duplicate records.
c. Merge into current datafile - If this option is available, after adding the newly imported records, iData 2 will automatically remove all exact duplicates, so this is probably the best option for repeatedly updating a datafile from a folder that may contain previously imported text files. Note that removing duplicates requires that the datafile be sorted by the contents of all the fields in order, so if you have rearranged the datafile for any reason, that order will be lost.
6. Click the OK button to start the import.
7. Once the import is complete, if you selected the first option, the result will be a new untitled datafile. In this case, we recommend that you save the new datafile right away, giving it the same name as the file from which it was imported, but retaining the required .idata file name extension.
