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Transferring data to Triple-S
You can transfer data to Triple-S files by using the Triple-S DSC. The Triple-S DSC can output files that meet version 1.2 or version 2.0 of the Triple-S standard. Version 2.0 of the standard supports case data files that contain either fixed-format fields or comma-separated values, while version 1.2 of the standard supports only fixed-format fields. However, the Triple-S DSC cannot output hierarchical data (which was introduced in the version 2.0 standard). For more information, see Triple-S DSC.
Writing to new files
If the Triple-S metadata and case data files you specify in the OutputDataSource section do not exist, the Triple-S DSC will create new files.
Writing to existing files
The Triple-S DSC will append data to an existing file that has the same name as the Triple-S case data file to be written, but does not attempt to check whether the format and structure of the existing data and the new data are the same.
Note The Triple-S DSC always overwrites an existing file that has the same name as the Triple-S metadata file to be written.
Specifying the format of the Triple-S case data
By default, the Triple-S DSC outputs fixed-format fields. To specify that you want comma-separated values, you must include the MR Init Custom connection property in the connection string for the OutputDataSource, as described in “How do I specify an export to Triple-S files?” below.
Output metadata
Typically, you will want to write the metadata to a Triple-S metadata file, so that the case data and metadata can be read together by a third-party application that supports Triple-S. However, you can also (or instead) output a metadata document (.mdd) file, which you might want to do if you plan to read the Triple-S case data using another UNICOM Intelligence product. In general though, it is better to use a UNICOM Intelligence Data File to store “offline” interview data.
How do I specify an export to Triple-S files?
In the connection string in the OutputDataSource section, specify mrTripleSDsc for the Data Source and the MR Init MDSC connection properties. Specify the name and location of the Triple-S case data file, which will normally have a .asc, .dat, or .csv extension, for the Location connection property. Then specify the name and location of the Triple-S metadata file, which will normally have a .sss or .xml extension, for the Initial Catalog connection property.
Finally, if you want the case data to consist of comma-separated values instead of fixed-format fields, you must include the MR Init Custom connection property as shown below:
OutputDataSource(Output, "The output data source")
  ConnectionString = "Provider=mrOleDB.Provider.2; _
    Data Source = mrTripleSDsc; _
    Location = <Name and location of .asc, .dat, or .csv file>; _
    Initial Catalog = <Name and location of .sss or .xml file>; _
    MR Init MDSC = mrTripleSDsc; _
    MR Init Custom = 'SssFormat = csv'"
End OutputDataSource
To export fixed-format fields, simply omit the MR Init Custom property or set the value of SssFormat to “fixed” instead of “csv”.
If you do not require a Triple-S metadata file, simply omit the Initial Catalog and MR Init MDSC connection properties. To create a metadata document (.mdd) file instead, add a MetaDataOutputName statement to the OutputDataSource section. For example:
OutputDataSource(Output, "The output data source")
  ConnectionString = "Provider=mrOleDB.Provider.2; _
    Data Source=mrTripleSDsc; _
    Location=C:\Program Files\UNICOM\Intelligence\<version>\DDL\Output\MyTripleSData.asc"
  MetaDataOutputName = "C:\Program Files\UNICOM\Intelligence\<version>\DDL\Output\MyTripleSData_asc.mdd"
End OutputDataSource
Example
This example has two OutputDataSource sections, which create two Triple-S case data files containing fixed-format fields and comma-separated values:
OutputDataSource(myOutputDataSource1, "Output metadata and fixed-format case data")
ConnectionString = "Provider=mrOleDB.Provider.2; _
Data Source=mrTripleSDsc; _
Location=C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS\DataCollection\7\DDL\Output\RDBToTripleS.asc; _
MR Init MDSC = mrTripleSDsc; _
Initial Catalog = C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS\DataCollection\7\DDL\Output\RDBToTripleS_asc.xml; _
MR Init Custom = 'SssFormat = fixed'"
End OutputDataSource

' Output the Triple-S metadata file
' and comma-separated case data file
OutputDataSource(myOutputDataSource2, "Output metadata and comma-separated case data")
ConnectionString = "Provider=mrOleDB.Provider.2; _
Data Source=mrTripleSDsc; _
Location=C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS\DataCollection\7\DDL\Output\RDBToTripleS.csv; _
MR Init MDSC = mrTripleSDsc; _
Initial Catalog = C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS\DataCollection\7\DDL\Output\RDBToTripleS_csv.xml; _
MR Init Custom = 'SssFormat = csv'"
End OutputDataSource
Note This example is taken from the RDBToTripleS.dms sample file, which is installed with the UNICOM Intelligence Developer Documentation Library. For more information, see Sample DMS files.
See also
Writing data