Can you import directly from an Excel file into Mainframe FOCUS? If so what needs to be done, and if not, is there a way to get around that?

Thanks in advance to all who reply!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kerry,

Are you talking about loading data from Excel into a FOCUS dataset on MVS? Wouldn't that be nice! That answer would be no - but you can do this:
1. export from excel as a flat file
2. upload (ftp or whatever method) into a dataset on MVS
3. create a master file describing the data
4. use a DYNAM ALLOC to point to the new dataset
5. read the file and hold FORMAT FOCUS.

FOCUS does a lot of things but it doesn't have that much magic. Nor do I believe there are many tools that can load directly from Excel into an MVS dataset. The good news - there IS a solution - just not as easy as you had hoped.

Yup, it would be nice, wouldn't it?? Thanks Darin, for replying. Your suggestion is what I'm already using, and I was hoping there was an easier way to do the pulling in of data. Oh, well.......

Thanks again!

You can't import it as an .xls file, but you can save it as .csv or .prn and import it.

This might be something Data Migrator can do. It is a separate product with it's own licensing, etc., but it might be able to read from a .xls and write out to an MVS flat file. Clif, if you're monitoring this forum, do you know?

Jessica Bottone

Thanks to all of you for responding! I saved the Excel file as a flat txt file and then ported it onto my MVS system, and from there, input it into my FOCEXEC.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions and advice!

I do this all the time, however, I ususally save the worksheet as a tab-delimited file. I then upload the data, parse it using GETTOK, then use MODIFY to load the data.

In fact Datamigrator should be able to do the job.
You need adapters but then it should be possible.

the strange thing on this is that I'm rather sure that PCFocus in the former century was able to read spreadsheets

Thanks to all who have replied....I appreciate it tremendously. It's great to see all the folks out there who are willing to help and give advice.

With out Data Migrator, how can I link to & read a dynamic csv flat file? I'm able to import, but not read (link to).

With this situation, you have several options, some of which have been suggested above.

Here are some more.

If you can access an MSSQL server from the MF, you can attach the XLS file to the server, then let SQL server read the file as an SQL source.

If you have WF 7.6.x, BI Dashboard has a little utility for uploading XLS/CSV files to a WF Server. Do a search for "Uploading Data Files".

I also have an old, little bit clunky Fex that uses the XL activeX object to read any file XL can read, and upload into Flat/XML/FOCUS/XFOCUS/SQL destinations. (Written for WF52).

AFS-Skier, you can create the focmast with following attributes to read a csv file.

FILE=filename ,SUFFIX=COMT
SEGNAME=segname ,SEGTYPE=segtype

This will allow you to read a csv file using a focexec.

Shrikant.

I think what we are not making clear is that you are going to have to create a master file definition (.MAS) for the file. In the example below, my file was saved as a .prn file (Fixed Print format for an EXL2K file).

$ excel print file at 163 characters for dec 2007
FILENAME=MEXLABOR, SUFFIX=FIX, $
SEGNAME=MEXLABOR, $
FIELD=FILLER1, ALIAS=, USAGE=A9, ACTUAL=A9, $
FIELD=MEMPLOYEENUM, ALIAS=, USAGE=A6, ACTUAL=A6, $
FIELD=OEMPLOYEENUM, ALIAS=, USAGE=A6, ACTUAL=A6, $
FIELD=EMPLOYEENAME, ALIAS=, USAGE=A27, ACTUAL=A27, $
FIELD=COSTCENTER, ALIAS=, USAGE=A4, ACTUAL=A4, $
FIELD=JOBTITLE, ALIAS=, USAGE=A23, ACTUAL=A23, $
FIELD=JOBCD, ALIAS=, USAGE=A6, ACTUAL=A6, $
FIELD=FILLERXX, ALIAS=, USAGE=A6, ACTUAL=A06, $
FIELD=HRSWORKED, ALIAS=, USAGE=P13.2, ACTUAL=A13, $
FIELD=RPTMONTH, ALIAS=, USAGE=A3, ACTUAL=A3, $
FIELD=FILLER6, ALIAS=, USAGE=A7, ACTUAL=A7, $
FIELD=RPTYEAR, ALIAS=, USAGE=A2, ACTUAL=A2, $
FIELD=FILLER7, ALIAS=, USAGE=A5, ACTUAL=A5, $
FIELD=JOBHOURS, ALIAS=, USAGE=P13.2, ACTUAL=A13, $
FIELD=TRAVELHOURS, ALIAS=, USAGE=P13.2, ACTUAL=A13, $
FIELD=EMPSTATUSIN, ALIAS=, USAGE=A1, ACTUAL=A1, $
FIELD=FILLER10, ALIAS=, USAGE=A13, ACTUAL=A13, $
FIELD=HSINDICATORIN, ALIAS=, USAGE=A4, ACTUAL=A4, $
FIELD=FILLER11, ALIAS=, USAGE=A2, ACTUAL=A2, $
$ filler11 changed from a7 to a9 in feb 06
$ did not balance on job hrs so changed excel to number and resent
$ then had to change back to a7

And a FILEDEF or APP FI.

Thanks to everyone's help & the tech info (see below). I set up the ODBC connection & my admin was able to configure WF for Excel. The info is located at http://techsupport.informationbuilders.com/tech/wbf/wbf_tcn_068.html.