Merge

Using the Merge functions on the File tab, in the Data File group, you can transfer selected data from a data file or an ASCII text file into another file. When you run this function, the data from selected fields will be copied from the source to the target file.

You can select records based on up to three matching keys (and you can further refine the selection by applying a filter). as well as transferring data between records with matching keys, you can also specify a value that you want written into one or two fields, for those records. This can be used to indicate the records that have been successfully merged, or can contain a date, a prospect number, or some other piece of information. Alternatively, you can append all source file data to the end of the target file.

This is typically used to merge data from an assay laboratory file into an existing file in the program. In that case the sample numbers could be used as the key to match records between the two files.

Input can come from either a text file (Merge text ), from a comma-delimited or column-delimited laboratory file (Merge Lab Data), or from another file in the program (Merge Micromine).

The Merge Text and Merge MM functions work like the options on the the File | File Editor tab, in the Data File group. However, if you want to use macros, you must use the functions on the File tab.

Another difference is that in this merge, your choice to match key fields as numeric or characters applies to all keys, while in the File Editor it applies to individual keys.

File Editor

Merge takes data from a source Text file or Data file and writes it to the fields in a Target file based on one or two matching key fields. Typically, it is used for such tasks as merging data from a Laboratory Assay file into an existing file. In such a case, the sample number would be used as the key.

Text (ASCII) files must be column delimited. The function will not work with comma or tab delimited files. If the file containing the data you require for the merge is not column delimited, import it into the program and use the Merge | Text function on the File tab, in the Actions group.

Whether you are merging a Text file or a Data file, the Target file is always the file which is open in the active window of the File Editor.