Create an Import Map from an ODBC Database

Notes:

This task requires previous experience working with databases. Ask your technical staff for help if necessary.
Use only a Western character set to create records for an import file. If you use any other character set to create the field names and data in a record, the import will fail for that record.
If you use Character Map (a Windows function) to insert special characters into the data that you plan to import, use only characters that belong to the Windows Western character set. Otherwise, the characters are converted to the Windows: Western character set and may not appear as you want.
Prerequisite: Create at least one 32-bit ODBC data source. See Administrative Tools in the Microsoft Control Panel.
Text file and Comma Separated Value (CSV) file names cannot include spaces and may include only the following characters: .$_1234567890ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Column names cannot includes spaces and may include only the following characters: .$_1234567890ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

To create an import map from an ODBC database:

On the Import-Export tab, select Create/Edit Map. The Create or Edit an Import or Export Map window appears.
Under New Map:
Select Import from ODBC Database.
Click the down arrow in the Map Type box and select the type of data to import (such as Address Book, Commodity, or Shipment).
In the Name box, type the name you want to assign to the import map.
Click the Create button. The Select an ODBC Source window appears.

Select the ODBC data source. Make sure to select an existing database. Do not select a template, which typically appears as an Excel, a FoxPro or an Access file. If needed, enter your user ID and password for this ODBC source.

Tips:
If you do not supply the required user name and password, the ODBC application asks for this information when WorldShip tries to connect to that database.

Click OK. The Edit Import Map window appears.

The left side of the window displays the data fields in the ODBC data source. The right side displays the WorldShip data fields. You must associate the fields in the ODBC data source with the corresponding WorldShip fields.

Tip: If a column name under ODBC Tables contains a space, you can not associate that column name with a field name under WorldShip Fields.
Specify the primary table. If the ODBC database has more than one table with data you want to include, specify the primary table by clicking the down arrow, selecting the primary table on the left side of the window, and then clicking the Define Primary Key for Import button. A $image\keytable.gif$ identifies the primary table.
Make the first field association:
Select a field under ODBC Tables.
Select the field under WorldShip Fields to associate with that ODBC field.
Click the Connect button. A $image\link.gif$ appears beside each field and a new line displays under What You Have Mapped So Far that shows both sides of the link.

Repeat step 7 for each field association. If you link several WorldShip fields to a single ODBC field, a $image\linkmany.gif$ appears beside the ODBC field.
Make any necessary adjustments:
To remove a field association, select both sides of the link and click the Disconnect button. Any $image\link.gif$ or $image\linkmany.gif$ symbols are removed from those fields.
To quickly display both sides of a field association, scroll through What You Have Mapped So Far and select the association you want to see. ODBC Tables and WorldShip Fields display both sides of that field association.
To sort the entries in the tables by column, click a column title, and the entries are sorted by that column. A small arrow shows how the column is currently sorted. An up arrow indicates ascending alphabetic or numeric order; a down arrow indicates descending alphabetic or numeric order.

Decide if you need a translation that converts the information in a column of the ODBC database to values that WorldShip uses. For example, if your ODBC database uses number codes to represent UPS services, translate those codes into the service names recognised by WorldShip. To create a translation, see Create an Import/Export Map Translation.
Click the OK button. WorldShip saves the import map and displays the map in the Existing Maps grid in the Create or Edit an Import or Export Map window.