In This Chapter

A format describes the structure of the data in a data file. Before you can import records from a data file into an Informix database or export records from a database to a data file, you must define a format that describes the data file. You do not need to define a format for the database because ipload already knows the schema (the organization) of the database table.

This manual uses the word format in two ways:

• To refer to the arrangement of data fields in a record of a data file
• To refer to the HPL component that documents the arrangement of the data fields

This chapter describes the formats that the HPL provides and shows how to prepare and edit the format component.

After you familiarize yourself with the concepts in this chapter, you might save yourself some work by using one of the Generate options to create formats automatically. For a description of these options, see Generate Options.