Tab-Delimited Data Files

Corda® Server™ can load tab-delimited files, which are very common and can be exported by most database and spreadsheet applications. Tab-delimited files only support data, and not formatting options or data annotations.

This section is divided into the following topics:

• Formatting Data

• Importing with Corda Embedder

Formatting Data

Tab delimited data files are files in which each cell of data is delimited by a tab character, and each row of cells is delimited by a line break. Upon import, Corda Server translates these files directly into a spreadsheet.

When preparing tab-delimited data files, organize the data in tables consistent with the spreadsheet format used by Corda Builder's Data Editor. For more information about organizing data, see Graph Data and About Maps in the Corda Builder™ User Guide.

For non-standard graph types (X-Y and Time Plots), see Data Organization in the Corda 7 Graph Guide.

Graphs

The example below displays tab-delimited graph data:

Example Data in Tab-Delimited Format (Graphs)

If a graph uses data categories, the file can also be organized as shown in the example below, where each row of data represents a single data value. For more information, see Alternative Data Organization Format in the Corda 7 Graph Guide.

Example Data in Alternative Tab-Delimited Format (Graphs)

Maps

The example below demonstrates tab-delimited map data.

Example Data in Tab-Delimited Format (Maps)

Note: The first row contains optional header information that is not used by Corda Server except in support of meta tags (or macros). For more information, see META Tags.

Each row represents a separate map data item. The first column identifies the map shape to which the data value belongs, while the second column specifies the actual value.

If it's necessary to identify map items by names other than the one specified in the name attribute of the map shape, use its long-name or code attribute instead. For example, a database might store information for a TX object under Texas, or a database might use FIPS codes instead of county or state names.

Any map data items referenced in the data file must already be defined in the Image Template file, or Corda Server ignores all data associated with that reference.

For information about adding map shapes to a map, see Adding Point Layer Data Items and Adding Area Data Items in the Corda Builder User Guide.

Importing with Corda Embedder

To import tab-delimited data files into graphs, use the loadData() method. To import tab-delimited data files into maps, use the loadMapData() method. Both function in the same manner, as described below.

Important: In order for Corda Server to load any kind of file or data source, it must be given permission to read data from the specified path or domain. For more information, see Setting Path Permissions in the Corda 7 Install and Administration manual.

Graphs

The loadData() method accepts two parameters for tab-delimited data:

• The name of the graph object into which you want to load the data (the default graph name is graph).

• The path and file name of the data file. This string can be a URL, a file name relative to <document_root>, or an absolute file name using the Universal Naming Convention (UNC).

Important: ASP/VBScript requires five parameters. The last three parameters are empty strings (““).

For example, to load a data file named <document_root>\data\prices.dat, use the following Corda Embedder method call:

myImage.loadData("graph","data/prices.dat");

Similarly, to load data from a Web application at http://Webapp.mycompany.com/getdata, use the following Corda Embedder method call:

myImage.loadData("graph","http://Webapp.mycompany.com/getdata?year=2002");

Note: The code above assumes a Corda Embedder object named myImage.

Maps

The loadMapData() method accepts three parameters for tab-delimited data:

• The name of the map object into which you want to load the data.

• The name of the map layer to which you want to send the data. For more information about map layers, see Map Layers in the Corda Builder User Guide.

• The path and file name of the data file. This string can be a URL, a file name relative to <document_root>, or an absolute file name using the Universal Naming Convention (UNC).

Important: ASP/VBScript requires five parameters. The last two parameters are empty strings (““).

For example, to load a data file named <document_root>\data\prices.dat, use the following Corda Embedder method call:

myImage.loadMapData("map","Area","data/prices.dat");

Similarly, to load data from a Web application at http://webapp.mycompany.com/getdata, use the following Corda Embedder method call:

myImage.loadMapData("US","Points","http://webapp.mycompany.com/getdata?year=2002");

Note: The code above assumes a Corda Embedder object named myImage.