The Data Magician
	The Data Magician was designed to provide an easy way to transfer data between various database, text-base and library automation systems. It also has the power and flexibility to manipulate the contents of fields while transforming the actual format of the file. It performs magic on your data!

Flexible Input

The Data Magician can accept data in a variety of file formats from a multitude of sources. Specific formats (and examples) accepted are: ASCII delimited (eg: PC-File, Pro-Cite, and most database systems); Fixed-length fields, Tagged files (eg: Dialog, BRS, Medline, Infomart, and most other on-line or CD-ROM text database systems); dBase II, III, or IV files (including Memo fields); INMAGIC and DB/TextWorks dump files; MARC Communication format; Cuadra's STAR; Micro CDS/ISIS (including ISO 2709); or LIBRARY MASTER.

Flexible Output

Regardless of the format of the input data, The Data Magician can create a file in any of the following formats: ASCII delimited (which can be read by most database systems); INMAGIC or DB/TextWorks, LIBRARY MASTER or STAR load formats (which can be read by many text-based systems); Micro CDS/ISIS; or even in MARC Communication format (which can be read by most library automation systems). You can also custom design most Tagged formats.

The data is presented in a standardized form - regardless of the original file type!

Magical Transformations

While converting the file, The Data Magician can break fields apart, put others together, perform wildcard substitutions, convert upper to upper/lower case, convert date formats, strip excess spaces or punctuation and much more! The Data Magician includes an extensive conversion language!

Summary of Features

The following is a list of just some of the many features of The Data Magician:

• reads multiple input file types
• creates multiple output file types
• specify field-by-field which input fields to put in which output fields. Combine fields, add text, or break fields apart in a variety of ways
• sophisticated, field-specific wildcard search and replace function
• substitute values through look-up tables
• case conversions: to uppercase, to lowercase, capitalize first word or all words
• automatic incremental numbering of new records
• date format conversion (eg: 12/31/82 to Dec. 31, 1982)
• break up Library of Congress call numbers (eg: "QA76.7.A14" becomes "QA 76.7 .A14")
• provides conditional processing of fields/records
• command line controls allow you to perform a conversion from a DOS command line, or from a batch file
• test records one-at-a-time to check your conversion parameters or run the whole file
• provides estimated time of completion during a conversion
• on-line, context-sensitive help for all prompts and error messages
• extensive sample conversions already set-up and included on disk
  
  

Examples of Use

Over 1000 users around the world are using The Data Magician for all kinds of data conversion projects. Here are just a few of the things they are doing:

• Users of Marc-based library automation systems (eg: Columbia Library System, Dynix, Horizon, MultiLis, etc.) are taking records from non-Marc sources (eg: dBase III, INMAGIC Pro-Cite, Library Master, etc.) converting them to Marc format and loading them into their system
• Users of text-base systems (eg: INMAGIC, Pro-Cite, STAR, LIBRARY MASTER, EdiBase, etc.) are taking records downloaded from on-line or CD-ROM databases (with appropriate permission) and converting them into a form they can load
• Users of non-Marc library database systems (eg: INMAGIC, dBase, LIBRARY MASTER, Paradox, EdiBase) are taking records from Marc sources (eg: Utlas, OCLC, BiblioFile, LazerQuest, Dobis, RLIN, WLN, etc.) and converting them for use by their system
• Others are converting between traditional database systems (dBase, Paradox, PC-File, Smart, Lotus, etc.) and text-base systems (INMAGIC, EdiBase, Pro-Cite, STAR)
• One group moved data files (from BuCat, Dynix, Eloquent Librarian, dBase, and MS Word) from 22 colleges and universities and created a union catalogue in INMAGIC, then back to MARC!
  
  

System Requirements

• IBM PC or compatible microcomputer
• 512K internal memory (RAM)
• minimum one floppy disk drive for small conversions, however a second floppy or a hard disk is recommended
• MS-DOS 2.0 or higher
  
  

Ordering The Data Magician

Price: $250.00 (Canadian) or $195.00 (U.S.), plus applicable taxes and shipping

A Demonstration version is available for $50.00 (Canadian/U.S.) - includes full manual, program and examples, but is limited to converting the first 10 records of a file.

For more information, or to order The Data Magician, please contact:

email: sales@folland.com

http://www.folland.com