Many businesses have a need to import data into their JD Edwards World system from programs such as a spreadsheet on a PC, and export data from their JD Edwards World system into a spreadsheet or other programs on a PC. This includes Microsoft Excel and other Windows-based spreadsheets. You can import data into your JD Edwards World Software system using the CSV (Comma Separated Values) file format or XML (extensible Markup Language). You can export data from your JD Edwards World Software system to CSV, XML (eXtensible Markup Language), XSD (XML Schema Definition), TXT (Text), and PDF (Portable Document Format) file formats.
JD Edwards World uses the XML export format to integrate reports with Oracle Business Intelligence Publisher (BIP), which is a report formatting and distribution application available to JD Edwards World users. Export is also integral to the JD Edwards World Electronic Document Delivery (EDD) system. See Chapter 8, "Overview to Electronic Document Delivery (EDD)" for more information.
Files are imported and exported using the Integrated File System (IFS) on your System i server. In this document, the name System i includes the IBM servers AS/400, eServer iSeries, System i5, System I, or Power Systems running IBM i for Business.
When you import data from the IFS into your JD Edwards World system, the data must undergo the same rigorous editing and security that is inherent in the JD Edwards World Software system prior to entering your system's database. To maintain data integrity, JD Edwards World Software restricts the import to batch input files. After importing, you process records in the batch input files using existing batch updates.
The JD Edwards World system imports data interactively from the IFS using CSV files. When importing data interactively, the system uses the features of JD Edwards World interactive software programs to control the editing, security and update capabilities of the data. When importing data in a batch mode, a batch import program converts CSV file records or XML file records into World Z file batch update records and thereby enters imported data into the database as a normal batch transaction. PC applications can access files in IFS folders through network drives you map on your Windows PC.
JD Edwards World can generate CSV files that you can use as spreadsheet templates when importing data into your system. The templates contain column headings and database field names for each column of data in the spreadsheet that you import. The database field name allows the import process to map data from the spreadsheet columns to the corresponding database field in the batch input file or interactive subfile.
In addition to other methods of importing and exporting data, JD Edwards World provides the following:
Two methods to import data:
Interactive - from various application programs
Batch - from import programs
Six methods to export data:
Interactive - from various application programs
Batch - from various DREAM Writer report programs
World Writer - from a spooled World Writer report
World Writer - directly from the database files
FASTR - from FASTR spooled files
STAR - from STAR spooled files
Import/Export includes the following:
Set Up Import/Export
Work with Import/Export
Understand Import/Export Messages
Implement Import/Export