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Changes to Electronic Data Deliverable Formats
9, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 are covered by the above links
The other items
are below.
3. Fix of a software incompatibility issue
The DEP Site Remediation Program
(SRP) has identified a major problem when using Microsoft
Excel® to create .WK1 (1-2-3) files. This may
result in the inappropriate rejection of electronic
data submissions.
The DEP routinely receives .WK1 (1-2-3)
files created in Microsoft Excel®. After running
the EDSA7 checker the DEP may see an error message
that states "Mandatory Field has been left blank"
even though the field contains data. It appears that
the data has not been saved in a true .WK1 format.
Columns that contain both numeric entries and text
entries are incorrectly read by a number of common
applications.
There are two ways to fix this problem.
One involves saving the files in an ASCII tab delimited
format. For this reason, ASCII tab delimited files
are now acceptable formats for electronic data deliverable.
The file should include the .DBF headings, and the
file must have a .TXT extension. The second solution
is to enter a single quote before each numeric record.
For more information, see the detailed instructions
below.
IDENTIFYING AND FIXING THE PROBLEM
- Review the Sample or Results Error Report provided
by the EDSA7 application. (You should run the EDSA7
application, or the DEP will have provided the
error report to you). If the error report states
that a "Mandatory field has been left blank",
you need to determine if you have been affected
by the problem stated above.
- Go back to your appropriate file (HZSAMPLE or
HZRESULT) and check the Record Number indicated
on the Error Report. REMEMBER to add "1" to the
Record Number to determine which Row to check,
i.e., Record Number 3 is actually Row 4 of the
spreadsheet.
- If there is data in the cell
you are checking, then your application is not
saving that in a .WK1 format.
- At this point, there are two fixes. Either save
as an ASCII file, or place a single quote " '
" in front of each problem record
- To Save as an ASCII file: In Excel®, from
"File" on the Main Menu, go to "Save As" and
then "Save As Type" and select "Text (tab delimited)".
YOU MUST delete the files you have replaced.
- To Save as a Label: If you have only a few
problem records, it may be simpler to put a
single quote " ' " in front of the data in the
affected cells. This will cause that data to
be treated like a label or text field. In this
case you would still save the file in the .WK1
(1-2-3) format. (NOTE: When Saving As a .WK1
(1-2-3), Excel® will pop-up a warning that
says you may lose formatting. DO NOT resave.
This will cause the file to be converted back
to Excel® format, and therefore rejected
by SRP.)
- DEP will now accept an ASCII tab delimited format
2.
Due to issues outlined above, DEP will now accept
ASCII tab delimited formats.
Info
about saving ASCII tab delimited files
1.
DEP will no longer accept .XLS files
DEP SRP applies several tools to
the electronic data submissions to determine acceptability.
Currently there are 4 possible acceptable formats.
This has resulted in implementation difficulties due
to compatibility issues among different applications.
To reduce format compatibility problems, SRP is now
accepting ASCII files, and will be phasing out other
formats in the future.
Furthermore, effective immediately,
SRP is no longer accepting XLS file formats for electronic
data submissions. As of 1/28/99 you will be asked
to resubmit XLS-formatted data in either ASCII, .WK1
or .DBF format.
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