import from .csv and retain tabs

I'm trying to import ~1500 lines of object headings and object texts along with two columns of attribute data that I'd prefer to not enter in the DOORS module by hand. I've been doing this from a .csv file but because I have to convert from Word to Excel to get to .csv (right?), I'm losing the tabs in the Word file. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I've considered replacing the tabs in the Word file with a specific character (like a tilde) and doing a Find/Replace in DOORS and replacing the tilde with a tab, but I haven't found out yet if DOORS has a specific character for a tab.

Re: import from .csv and retain tabs
PekkaMakinen - Mon Sep 05 06:11:40 EDT 2016

If your requirements and attributes are in a Word table, you do not have to use Excel in between. In Word use the Table / Convert to Text tool, separating the table columns with commas. Save the file from Word as a text file and import that to DOORS.

Have not tried this exactly, but I have done similar imports as a tab-separated file, so I presume something like this would would work also for comma-separated files.

Re: import from .csv and retain tabs
CJane - Mon Sep 05 16:44:25 EDT 2016

Thank you for your response, Pekka. It makes perfect sense, but when I tried it, I didn't make it all the way over the finish line. I may have done something wrong.

I converted the main content (object headings and object texts) to a single column table, then added sample attributes in two additional columns, then converted table back to text with comma separators, then saved as a .txt file. I imported as Plain Text (right?). When you import as Plain Text you have to select the Decomposition level. I tried it w/ None, and then Paragraph, and in each case just ended up with one object that contained one very long run-on paragraph.

I'm trying to import a lot of objects with multiple attributes from Excel. The two downsides with this approach have been 1) I have to manually create the outline structure, and 2) the tabs from numbered lists aren't imported. I did get an answer about adding tabs to data imported from a .csv file and I think that reduces the hurdles on one. Which I think I can live with :)

Again . . . thank you.

Re: import from .csv and retain tabs
PekkaMakinen - Tue Sep 06 03:21:42 EDT 2016

No, do not use the DOORS Plain Text import. You have generated a CSV file from Word, so use the Spreadsheet import as you would use for the file saved from Excel.

Re: import from .csv and retain tabs
CJane - Tue Sep 06 10:19:08 EDT 2016

Yes, that makes sense, but I'm still not getting there. I created a sample Word file (01_ in the attached files), then converted it to a table with what I think is the necessary layout and heading rows (02_), and then converted it to a .txt file (03_). When I import I just end up with a series of heading numbers.

BTW, I'm working on this from a number of angles with the aim of reducing the amount of post-import manual labor. It would be nice to import the object headings and texts and the attribute data in one shot, while maintaining the outline structure with the heading levels and the tabs in the list items. I may be asking for too much :)

One thing I've considered but that doesn't seem possible is to import the object headings and texts from an .rtf file so I maintain the outline structure and the tab . . . and then add the attribute data somehow. This doesn't seem possible but maybe there is a way?

Thanks again for your time.