Transferring File Entries

Transferring Data Within the Same File

You can use the Transfer File Entries option to merge two entries that are in the same file. To do this:

1. Identify the input and output file as the same
   
   
2. Identify the two entries

Data values are then transferred from the FROM entry to the TO entry. The following example shows the simple dialogue:

Select OPTION: TRANSFER ENTRIES   

Select TRANSFER OPTION: ?
 ANSWER WITH TRANSFER OPTION NUMBER, OR NAME
CHOOSE FROM:
   1           TRANSFER FILE ENTRIES
   2           COMPARE/MERGE FILE ENTRIES

Select TRANSFER OPTION: 1   TRANSFER FILE ENTRIES 
 
INPUT TO WHAT FILE: PATIENT
TRANSFER FROM WHAT FILE: PATIENT
TRANSFER DATA INTO WHICH PATIENT: RECIPIENT,ROGER
TRANSFER DATA FROM PATIENT: SENDER,SAM 
WANT TO DELETE THIS ENTRY AFTER IT'S BEEN TRANSFERRED?  NO//

If the TO entry (Roger Recipient in our example) already has a value on file for a given field, that value will be preserved (i.e., it will not be overwritten by the corresponding field value in the FROM entry). This rule applies to word processing data fields also. If the recipient has any text on file, corresponding text from the sender's entry is not merged with it. Thus, if you decide to delete the FROM entry (Sam Sender here), you may lose some data.

In the case of distinct Multiple-valued subfields, merging will take place. The subentries in the FROM entry would be added to the Multiple in the TO entry. Further, if two subentries have the same .01 value and if any of the subfields are blank in the TO entry, the FROM subentry's data will be placed in the blank subfield. In this way, data is added to Multiples in the same way that it is added to files.

For example, suppose DIAGNOSIS is the label of the .01 field of a Multiple and AGE AT ONSET is a subfield in that Multiple. If Roger Recipient has a DIAGNOSIS of "Angina" and Sam Sender has one of "Diabetes", Recipient ends up with both "Angina" and "Diabetes". Further, if both Recipient and Sender had "Angina", but Recipient had no AGE AT ONSET for that subentry and Sender did have one, the Sender's AGE AT ONSET data for "Angina" would be transferred to Recipient.

The following example illustrates the transfer of data values from one entry to another in more detail. (These two entries will also be used in the discussion of the Compare/Merge File Entries option.) Before the transfer, the Inquire to File Entries option displays these two entries from the SCHOLAR file:

NAME:  RUSSELL,BERTRAND A.  SSN:  999-99-9999
    SUBJECT AREA:  PHILOSOPHY
 TOPICS:  RUSSELL'S PARADOX
 TOPICS:  PRINCIPLE OF EXCLUDED MIDDLE 
 TOPICS:  SET THEORY
 TOPICS:  THEORY OF TYPES
 TOPICS:  LIAR PARADOX

NAME:  RUSSELL,BERTRAND W.  DATE OF BIRTH:    1872    SSN:  888-88-8888
    SUBJECT AREA:  MATHEMATICS
  TOPICS:  RUSSELL'S PARADOX
  TOPICS:  SET THEORY
  TOPICS:  THEORY OF TYPES
  TOPICS:  AXIOM OF INFINITY

The transfer is then initiated with the following dialogue:

Select TRANSFER OPTION: TRANSFER FILE ENTRIES 
 
 INPUT TO WHAT FILE: SCHOLAR
 TRANSFER FROM FILE: SCHOLAR
 TRANSFER DATA INTO WHICH SCHOLAR: RU
      1    RUSSELL,BERTRAND A.
      2    RUSSELL,BERTRAND W.
 CHOOSE 1-2: 1
 TRANSFER FROM SCHOLAR: RUSSELL,BERTRAND W.
     WANT TO DELETE THIS ENTRY AFTER IT'S TRANSFERRED?  NO// YES 
  ...EXCUSE ME, LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT A MOMENT..... 

Data values are then merged such that no pre-existing values are overwritten but new values are added. The DATE OF BIRTH is added since the pre-existing value was null. Different subentries in the TOPICS Multiple are added to the pre-existing list of topics. The Inquire to File Entries option shows the result:

NAME:  RUSSELL, BERTRAND A.  DATE OF BIRTH:  1872   SSN:  999-99-9999
   SUBJECT AREA:  PHILOSOPHY
 TOPICS: RUSSELL'S PARADOX
 TOPICS: PRINCIPLE OF EXCLUDED MIDDLE
 TOPICS: SET THEORY
 TOPICS: THEORY OF TYPES
 TOPICS: LIAR PARADOX
 TOPICS: AXIOM OF INFINITY
 
The entry for Russell,Bertrand W. has been deleted.

Reviewed/Updated: March 4, 2007