{{ transformations:SplitFixedWidthTextAction.png}}
======SPLIT FIXED WIDTH TEXT======
Category: Transform / Advanced \\

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=====Description=====
This action splits text values of the selected column into multiple columns of values of specified lengths. It is similar to the [[transformations:importfixedwidthtext|Import fixed width text]] action with the difference being that it works with the already loaded dataset.\\

**Show preview:**  Preview the raw version of the column's data, and the post-split results, using the //Show preview// button at the top of the action settings window.\\

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=====Use cases=====
Use this action when you have a column of text-based data in which the individual values are defined by //positioning// (spaces, tabs, etc.) rather than delimiting characters, and you need to separate them into columns.\\
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If your data has //delimeters//, use the [[transformations:splitdelimitedtext|Split delimited text into columns]] or [[transformations:subfield|Split delimited text into rows]] action, instead.\\

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=====Action settings=====
^Setting^Description^
|Column|Select the column containing the text to be split.|
|Decimal separator|Select the character to represent the decimal point for columns determined to be containing numeric values, after splitting.  Options:  //Point// or //Comma//.|
|Thousand separator|Select the character to represent thousands places for columns determined to be containing numeric values, after splitting.  Options:  //Default//, //Comma//, //Point// or //Space//.|
|Treat numeric values|Select how EasyMorph should handle numeric values.  Options: //Always as numbers// or //Always as text//. |
|Keep original column|When selected, the source column will remain in the dataset.|
|New columns|Refer to the table below for //new column// settings.|
|Put remaining symbols into column|Check "on" to capture any characters falling outside the final column's defined width.|
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====New columns settings====
^Setting^Description^
|Add more columns|This button will open a list where the columns in the imported file can be explicitly defined by Name and Width.\\  NOTE:  Changes made here can be viewed in the preview pane by clicking the //Show preview// button at the top.|
|Name|The names to be assigned to the new columns.|
|Width|The size, in characters, of the column.  Characters that extend past the width of the final column are dropped unless the\\ //Put remaining symbols into column// option is used. See above.|

{{transformations:split_fw_text_settings.jpg}}

=====Remarks=====
Leading and trailing whitespace are automatically removed from values when the new columns are created.\\


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=====Examples=====
**Example:** Extract the year, month, day, hour, and minutes from the timestamps.\\
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**Source dataset:**
^ Timestamp ^
| 20170102T08:31|
| 20170103T08:22|
| 20170104T08:15|
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**Action settings:**
>  Column settings:  Set these in the preview pane or enter them under //New columns//.
>  Column 1 Name is "Year" and the Width is 4
>  Column 2 Name is "Month" and the Width is 2
>  Column 3 Name is "Day", and the Width is 3
>  Column 4 Name is "Separator1", and the Width is 1
>  Column 5 Name is "Hour", and the Width is 2
>  Column 6 Name is "Separator2", and Width is 1
>  Put remaining symbols into column "Minutes"

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**Result table:**
^ Year ^ Month ^ Day ^ Separator1 ^ Hour ^ Separator2 ^ Minutes ^
| 2017|01 |02 |T |08 |: |31|
| 2017|01 |03 |T |08 |: |22|
| 2017|01 |04 |T |08 |: |15|
Use the [[transformations:keepremovecolumns|Keep/Remove columns]] action downstream to remove the "Separator" columns if not needed.

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====Community examples====
  * [[https://community.easymorph.com/t//1972/2|Read Data with two line header]] ([[https://community.easymorph.com/uploads/short-url/4YFQxslIv3pmgtF2eRywf4wpcFQ.morph|Project]]; Module: //Main//; Group: //Tab 1//; Table: //Headers//; Action position: //4//)
  * [[https://community.easymorph.com/t//2454/2|.txt to .csv - Multiple Line & Character Length HELP!]] ([[https://community.easymorph.com/uploads/short-url/6zwA1kxDaRgN7GvTUUmi8r1Qgn4.morph|Project]]; Module: //Main//; Group: //Group 1//; Table: //Type 01//; Action position: //4//)
  * [[https://community.easymorph.com/t//2008/2|“Printed” Text File: Could EasyMorph import this?]] ([[https://community.easymorph.com/uploads/short-url/kIb1qqOJb9WK6D1N1jFZdnHzC46.morph|Project]]; Module: //Parse Group//; Group: //Tab 1//; Table: //Header//; Action position: //3//)

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=====See also=====

  * [[transformations:importplaintext|Import plain text]]
  * [[transformations:splitdelimitedtext|Split delimited text into columns]]
  * [[transformations:subfield|Split delimited text into rows]]