Text/bitmap/Excel/CSV files
To import external files into PhraseExpress:
- Open the main program window.
- Highlight the desired target folder in the phrase tree view.
- Click
- Selected the file(s) to import.
Alternatively, drag & drop the file(s) into the desired target phrase folder in the phrase tree view.
Depending on the file type, PhraseExpress shows a selection of following options:
| Import Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Imports the entire file contents as a whole. | |
Splits the source file line-by-line and generates separate phrases for each imported line. | |
PhraseExpress creates a new phrase with a macro function that opens the external file with it's associated default program (defined in the Microsoft Windows settings). Example: If you import a Microsoft Excel .XLS file this way, PhraseExpress will launch Excel and load the Excel spreadsheet. |
Embedding vs Linking
You can either copy the contents of the source file into the phrase library or alternatively create a dynamic link between PhraseExpress and the source file:
Imported data is transferred from the external data source and stored in your PhraseExpress phrase file as an independent copy. Thus, the external file is not required anymore by PhraseExpress. There is no link between the external data and PhraseExpress. Later changes in the external data source are not reflected by PhraseExpress. It would require you to delete and reimport the data.
Linked data is dynamically mapped into the PhraseExpress phrase library. PhraseExpress updates the data in PhraseExpress automatically if the linked source data changes.
The external data file is dynamically linked which means that PhraseExpress generates the phrases from the data source every time it is launched. Changes in the external file are reflected in PhraseExpress.
To dynamically link individual data items of an external file, check out macro functions to link external data into phrases.