Fixed Width Text Writer

This transform will generate a Fixed Width Text file.

The field values are designated by their position in the file, as opposed to a CSV file where the fields are designated by a character separating them.

Transform > File Layout

The file layout tab defines the options such as the Target, and padding details.

Transform Id

The unique user-defined name for the transform.

Target

The controller type is defined here. This is the destination to where the Fixed Width Text files will be written, which can be File or Http.
See Input/Output Controllers (IO Controller) for more information.

Controller Options

This is the expandable options section beneath the Target drop-down. These options change according to the data destination selected.

See Input/Output Controllers (IO Controller) for more information.

Line Delimiter

The character(s) to separate each record. The line delimiter is selected from a fixed list of:

Name

Character(s)

Unicode Value

Windows

CRLF

U+000D & U+000A

Unix

LF

U+000D

Mac (up Os 9)

CR

U+000A

Form Feed

FF

U+000C

Next Line

NEL

U+0085

Paragraph Separator

PS

U+2029

Line Separator

LS

U+2028
     

Padding Character

The character used to pad a field when a field’s value length is less than the field's length.

By default this value is set to the space.

Write Header Rows

Hierarchical datasets will produce a separate line of headers, one for each transaction type.

  • If selected
    • Header rows will be written.
  • If deselected
    • Header rows will not be written.

Create File When No Data

When set to true will create a file irrespective of whether there is data available.

The file created when there’s an empty dataset will include field headers if they are also enabled.

Generate File Per Transaction

When a transaction Id is selected here, a file will be generated for each instance of that transaction, e.g. if an invoice transaction is selected, a file will be created for every invoice generated.

When the field is left blank a single file containing the whole dataset will be created.

When this field is in use, it is important to input a field reference(s) in the File Name field to create unique file names.

Transform > Field Mapping

Current Transaction Id

The transaction type being edited.

Export

When selected, includes the field in the resulting file.

Left Justify

When selected, will left justify the field value.

Otherwise the field will be justified right by default.

Allow Truncation

When selected will allow a field’s value to be truncated when its length is greater than the length of the field.

Position

The column position of the field within the file being created.

Length

The maximum number of characters (or length) of the field. Where a field’s length is less than this number, it will be padded with the character specified in the Padding Character field.

The Position and Length for each field must be arranged such that the fields are arranged in sequence. An error will be generated when the fields are not in sequence.

Field Heading

The Field Header if fields heading are exported.