Importing Database Records into an Existing Database or to Create a New Database Introduction MGI stores database information in a proprietary database format for the database that is built into the MGI code. However, you can use the export and import features of the mgiEditDatabase tag to move database records between different programs or to easily edit existing data or database structures. A file must be in a tab-delimited format in order to import. MGI cannot import any other formats, however tab-delimited is a common, standard format for database and spreadsheet programs (e.g., MS Excel, FileMaker, etc.). You may import record data into an existing database structure (i.e., add records to a database) or you may have MGI create a new database structure (i.e., create fields and add records) during the import. Creating a new database with a simple import is ideal for minor adjustments in the database structure. MGI Tags mgiEditDatabase Steps Create a database administration page in a text editor. Insert the mgiEditDatabase tag. Save the database administration page. Create a tab-delimited import file. Save the import file. FTP the database administration page and import file to the web server running MGI. View the database administration page in a web browser. Select an existing database or create a new database. Import the file. Step 1: Create a database administration page in a text editor. Create a new page in a text editing program to display the web-based, database administration interface. Step 2: Insert the mgiEditDatabase tag. On the database administration page, enter the mgiEditDatabase tag. <mgiEditDatabase> Step 3: Save the database administration page. Save the database administration page and name it "dbadmin.mgi". Step 4: Create a tab-delimited import file. Depending on the current format of your data, you may need to "export" or "save as.." from an existing program in order to create a tab-delimited file. If you choose, you may also prepare your data directly in a text file. In any case, create a text file of tab-delimited data to import.   Next, enter the field definitions and field names as the first row in your import text file. Field definitions should be written within parentheses and the field name should be to the right of the parentheses (no space). Field names are case-sensitive. Each type of MGI field (text, long text, boolean, etc.) is represented by a letter: B - True/False (Boolean) I - Whole Number (Integer) U - Positive Number (Unsigned Integer) N - Decimal Number (Multi-Precision Float) T - Text L - Long Text Text and decimal number fields are followed by a comma and the specified number of characters (text) or decimal places (decimal number). Field definitions followed by a comma and an "X" are indexed. Field definitions followed by a comma and a "Q" are unique. All lines in the file should end with a carriage return (Mac) or carriage return/line fee (NT).   The field definitions and names should also be tab-delimited and should match the order of your tab-delimited data. However, the fields are not required to match the order of an existing database structure - fields will be matched during import even if they are in a different order. If your field order does match the field order in your existing database, the easiest way to get the field definitions and names is to export the existing database structure in MGI, then copy and paste the field definition line to the top of your import file!   The following is an example import file. The text in this example is wrapped for viewing purposes, however each record is actually only one row of tab-delimited text. The triangles in this example represent tabs and the horizontal lines as the end of each row represent a carriage return. Step 5: Save the import file. Save the import file. In this example the import file is named "import.txt", but you may choose any name. Step 6: FTP the database administration page and import file to the web server running MGI. Upload the database administration page (dbadmin.mgi) and import file (import.txt) from your local computer to the web server using an FTP program. Step 7: View the database administration page in a web browser. View the database administration page (dbadmin.mgi) in a browser. The first screen of the web-based, administration interface is displayed. Step 8: Select an existing database or create a new database. To import data and add records to an existing database, select a database and click the "Records" button, then click the "Import" button on the record screen of the administration interface. The import screen of the administration interface displays.   To create a new database structure (create fields and add records) during the import, create a new database by enter a database name under "Or, enter the name for a new database" and click the "Import" button. Database names are case-sensitive. The import screen of the administration interface displays. Step 9: Import the file. Whether you are adding to an existing database or creating a new database structure, the import screen of the administration interface is the same (except for addition buttons in the first version). Enter the name of the import file in the text box and click the "Import Now" button to import. Any import errors will be displayed or you will return to the record screen of the administration interface when the import is complete. The total number of records in a database is located in the upper right corner of all record screens. Comments and Notes The mgiEditDatabase tag gives you and anyone who views the page in a web browser access to modify databases. Keep your databases secure by password-protecting the database administration page with an mgiAuthenticate or mgiAuthenticateDB tag.