Setup Conversion of Old Formats

If you have defined local formats and/or blocks, you will need to define a mapping file so that conversions of formats created with the previous format program will succeed. The mapping file has a very simple format and it specifies that relations between the previous format program's data and the current format program's data.

Creating a Mapping File

A conversion mapping file is stored in the format_defs directory and has the format <name>.convert. There can be several mapping files so you can organize things for easier maintenance.

Comments

Any line of text that does not match a relationship statement or blank lines are considered a comment line and is ignored. The recommendation is to begin comment lines with a # for convenience. Comments cannot be at the end of a line. They can only be the entire line.

Border Relationships

To define a relationship between the previous program's formats and borders, use a statement in the form:

Border: <old format ID>/<old size ID>, <border ID>/<size ID>

Whereas:

<old format ID> - the ID of the format in the previous program

<old size ID> - the ID of the size in the previous program

<border ID> - the ID of the border to convert to

<size ID> - the ID of the related size

Block Relationship

To define a relationship between blocks, use a statement in the form:

Block: <old block ID>, <block ID>/<style ID>/<location ID>

Whereas:

<old block ID> - the ID of the block in the previous program

<block ID> - the ID of the block to convert to

<style ID> - the ID of the block style to use

<location ID> - the ID of the location to use

Alternatively if the style and/or location of the converted block depends on the old format, use this form:

Block: <old format ID>/<old block ID>, <block ID>/<style ID>/<location ID>

Whereas:

<old format ID> - the ID of the format in the previous program

<old block ID> - the ID of the block in the previous program

<block ID> - the ID of the block to convert to

<style ID> - the ID of the block style to use

<location ID> - the ID of the location to use

Field Relationship

To define a relationship between the fields, use a statement in the form:

Field: <old block ID>/<old field ID>, <block ID>/<field ID>

Whereas:

<old block ID> - the ID of the block in the previous program

<old field ID> - the ID of the block's field in the previous program

<block ID> - the ID of the block the field is now in

<field ID> - the ID of the field in the block

Entry Field Relationship

To define a relationship between the table entry fields, use a statement in the form:

Entry: <old block ID>/<old field ID>, <block ID>/<field ID>

Whereas:

<old block ID> - the ID of the block in the previous program

<old field ID> - the ID of the block's field in the previous program

<block ID> - the ID of the block the field is now in

<field ID> - the ID of the field in the block