FAQ:RightFielder Software

RightFielder Basics

What is RightFielder?

Answer

A software solution that “re-fields” badly fielded lists: distinguishes names from companies; primary addresses from secondary addresses; domestic from international; etc. It then organizes names into name fields, companies into company fields, etc. when, for example, record 1 starts with a name and record 2 starts with a company. Analyzes “print image” or “top justified” files and moves data into your preferred field layout in database form.

Are there different versions of RightFielder?

Answer

Yes, the Windows version comes in a Standard version and a Professional version. It is also available as a programmer’s library version for developers who want the same re-fielding logic but want to implement it into their own application in a real time environment, or need to process custom data formats the Windows version doesn’t handle.

What’s the difference between Std and Pro versions?

Answer

The Professional processes twice as fast. It can also be called from a batch file or run from the command line. While the Standard version contains a handy set of File Control tools, the Pro version contains an additional set that allows you to filter, print, search, delete, copy, count and edit records. You can also directly process ASCII files and end in the original ASCII format without having to import the file first.

Can RightFielder process Print Image or Label Files? What other types of files?

Answer

Yes, as long as they are ASCII text or dBASE files. Three across label format in Microsoft Word or Excel, for example, must be saved as any ASCII text file type before RightFielder will import them.

Will RightFielder convert images to text?

Answer

No. You need an OCR software program to do that.

Will RightFielder re-field Full names into separate First and Last name fields?

Answer

No. If field data contains a first name or a full name, it will be recognized as a name data type. We have another program, Personator, which splits full names into parsed name fields.

What data types does RightFielder recognize?

Answer

RightFielder will recognize Names, Companies, Departments, Addresses, Cities, States, ZIP codes, Phone numbers and Countries, and therefore re-field them correctly.

What if my records have more than one type of data in their field?

Answer

RightFielder is meant to differentiate data types between fields, not within. In other words, for each record, it will decide whether the contents of field “F1,” for example, are a Name? Company? Address? etc. It will not take the contents of field “F1” and determine that there is a Name and a Company and an Address and re-field them into separate fields. The only exception is a City-State-ZIP field which can be parsed into separate fields or joined together when re-fielding. For Name splitting or Address splitting see Personator for Windows.

How does RightFielder know which data type a field contains, therefore how to re-field?

Answer

RightFielder uses programmed logic to intelligently identify the contents of the field and neighboring fields. It also relies heavily on lookup tables that help identify key words in your data that are associated with specific data types.

How do I know what data types my fields may contain?

Answer

Select the Profile Database button on the Input/Output tab of the setup. The graphs you see give you an overview of what your incoming database contains, also broken down to the field level. Use this information to determine which fields you need to re-field, and what type of output fields you need to create.

What are the Lookup tables?

Answer

The Lookup tables are program files that are lists of keywords known to be associated with certain data types. “Ex,” “Corporation,” “Inc,” and “Agency” are in the Lookup tables and associated with a “C” – a Company designation. Fields that contain one of these key words will probably be fielded into the output Company field.

Do I have any control over how RightFielder processes my file?

Answer

Absolutely! Recognized key words are coded in the accompanying Lookup tables for which you can modify the data type association, add new entries, or delete others. Editing how the keyword is coded in the Lookup table can change which output field your source data will be re-fielded to. The setup Options tab gives you control over the order of the output address lines, as well as options to slightly tweak the way data is processed.

What if I don’t like the results?

Answer

Even though you should always back up your database (or have RightFielder back it up), you can simply reprocess after making setup changes. Your original data fields are still intact. The appended fields that contain the re-fielded data can be overwritten or deleted. You can also use the analyzer to manually change individual results.

What does the Analyzer analyze?

Answer

The Analyzer lets you focus on one or all types of fielding errors RightFielder has identified. You can scroll through records marked as errors- or the entire database- letting you manually change the output location of your fielded data. You can also copy records marked as errors to a new file and even have them removed from the original file, or just their error marks removed.

RightFielder Basics

Can I run RightFielder unattended as a batch file or from a command line?

Answer

Yes, if you have the Professional version.

Can I run the program or process over the network?

Answer

Yes, you can access your data and process over the network. You can also run the program over the network – keeping in compliance with your site license agreement of course.

Will RightFielder re-field international records? Canadian records?

Answer

Canadian records can be processed right alongside domestic US records using the default US Lookup table. For files that contain mostly Canadian records, choose the Canadian Lookup table (in Tools | User Settings) which contains slightly different coding for states, cities, and provinces. RightFielder will only detect international records by re-fielding the Country field, but will not recognize and re-field international companies, addresses, departments, etc.

Can I run any of the File Control utilities as a process, or automate from a batch file?

Answer

No. This toolset will allow you to edit data, copy, print, sort, count, and perform many other database tasks only through the interface when the database is open and in view. Using a merge process in MatchUp would allow you to access some of the file control tools from a batch file or command line.