#Please insert up references in the next lines (line starts with keyword UP) UP arb.hlp UP glossary.hlp UP arb_export.hlp #Please insert subtopic references (line starts with keyword SUB) #SUB subtopic.hlp # Hypertext links in helptext can be added like this: LINK{ref.hlp|http://add|bla@domain} #************* Title of helpfile !! and start of real helpfile ******** TITLE Export File Formats OCCURRENCE ARB_NT/File/Export/Export to external format DESCRIPTION The export format description file (*.eft) describes the format. It contains different sections: SECTIONS SUFFIX suffix ;The suggested file suffix # headerinfo ;Header information BEGIN ... ;the main section The main section is part of a 'SRT' (see LINK{srt.hlp}) conversion (in fact the main section S is replaced by "*=S" and the SRT is started on an empty string). That means: 1. All simple 'text' is written to the output file. 2. All references '*([ref][:|#modifier])' are replaced by the [modified] value of the reference 3. All lines containing the word '$$DELETE_LINE$$' are deleted. 4. Lines ending with a \ are joined with the next line. SPECIAL SECTIONS PRE_FORMAT xxx.eft [ DESCRIPTION "text describing generated export format" ]+ SYSTEM "command" First a output is created using xxx.eft. Then command is used to convert the result into the wanted result. In command use $< as input-filename $> as output-filename INTERNAL type used for formats hardcoded in ARB_NT. Supported types: 'xml_write' Writes all none-hidden fields to XML. NOTES The best ways to design new formats are: 1. Copy an existing format and modify it step by step. 2. Design a simple format and modify it step by step. For a list of common database entries see LINK{sp_info.hlp}. EXAMPLES Edit the files in '$ARBHOME/lib/export' WARNINGS Don't change an '*.eft' file, if you don't understand how it works. Be careful when using ':' or '"' symbols. Escape them if those symbols don't have a meaning. BUGS No bugs known