Version 5.0.0.0 Changes

New Features & Changes

DataLoad version 5 is the most significant update to DataLoad ever released. The changes in this version are summarised below but there are also a large number of other minor changes to improve usability, add new functionality or fix issues.

• Many changes to update the user interface and improve usability
• Reduced memory consumption, especially with very large spreadsheets
• Significant internal redesigns to improve performance and aid future developments
• Browser Control enables fast & accurate loads into browser forms, such as Oracle E-Business Suite Self Service
  • DataLoad won't send data faster than it is processed by the browser
  • Full integration mode enables DataLoad to inject data into named browser fields
• DataLoad Scripting integrates PHP with DataLoad to enable new custom functionality to be added to loads
  • Functions and events allow PHP to change DataLoad's behaviour and retrieve and set the spreadsheet data
  • Enables extensive range of functionality to be added, e.g. custom validation, data import/export, etc
• Data can be loaded directly in to Oracle databases using DataLoad Scripting
  • Oracle Instant Client shipped with DataLoad Scripting to simplify access to Oracle databases
  • Custom PHP class provided to simplify using Oracle databases from PHP
• Data validation rules enable users to define what data is allowed in each DataLoad column
  • Rules for uniqueness and not null as well as the data type and format
  • Data is validated as it is entered. Where possible data is corrected, e.g. converted to uppercase where required
  • Invalid cells are shaded and the current number of invalid cells is shown in the status bar
• New header & footer spreadsheets added to make it easier for loads to have one-off actions at the start or end of the load
  • Header & footer spreadsheets have all the functionality of the main spreadsheet and work with DataLoad Scripting, Macros, Browser Control, etc
• Method to obtain coordinates for the Macro loading *ML, *MR & *DL commands re-written and simplified
• Macro recorder added to record keystrokes and mouse clicks while users work
  • Enables Macro loads to be built more quickly & simplifies the encoding of keystrokes
• DataLoad cell data can now contain multiple lines, including characters such newlines and Tabs
• Caps Lock key can now be toggled in Macro loads using \{CAPSLOCK}
• Support for F17 to F24 function keys added to Macro loads
• Macro load Command Groups can now be added, deleted and renamed
• Wider range of Macro Command Groups included with DataLoad, including Peoplesoft, SAP, etc
• Step Mode in Macro loads is now available in DataLoad Classic (previously Professional only)
• *DL & *PROMPT commands in Macro loads now available in DataLoad Classic (previously Professional only)
• Canceling Macro loads using Esc key is now more responsive and reliable
• A Macro load can now be cancelled by pressing Esc during a *SL sleep
• Load Control desupported and removed from DataLoad
• Pasting and importing large volumes of data is now 4x faster
• Progress form redesigned and updated for use with Scripting

Bug Fixes

• F13 to F16 didn't work in Macro loads
• droplists.dat would sometimes not be writeable and the user would see a warning when opening forms playback files
• Forms playback commands where the record number must be updated would get the wrong record number if the command was after the last value in the load
• Columns may not be inserted or deleted if the spreadsheet didn't contain data even though column titles were set
• DataLoad didn't save column titles if no data was in the spreadsheets and didn't save titles beyond last populated column where data does exist
• "New" didn't clear titles if no data in spreadsheet
• A blank row for new Macro commands was not automatically inserted when the current new command row was used
• Fixed "out of memory" issues during very large pastes
• When click on 'X' at top right of DataLoad window there wasn't an option to cancel the close
• When Macro load sent data as keystrokes the Shift key could be left down in certain circumstances
• Sort could sort data incorrectly when the data had mixed upper/lower case data and/or non-English characters