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# Adding a Format as Flat File Task Step

About the Format as Flat File Tool

The Format as Flat File tool takes a King Task Centre recordset and converts it into a flat file to be used by another task step or external program. The flat file output can be delimited or fixed width. You can also choose whether the flat file contains data for single or multiple record types.

At the time of writing, only King Task Centre recordsets can be formatted as flat files.

## Where Should I Use a Format as Flat File Step?

Typically, you would add a Format as Flat File step after a step that exposes King Task Centre recordsets, for example, the Convert XML to Recordset tool.

You would then follow the step with a tool that can consume and use the document exposed by the Format as Flat File step. For example, the Save File or Print Document tool.

Example

The following example shows a process flow using a Format as Flat File step:

A Database Query (ODBC) step is used to extract sales data from the database. The outputted recordset is formatted as a CSV file, which is then opened in Microsoft Excel for further manipulation (not part of this task).

For a detailed list of those tools the Format as Flat File tool can interact with, go to Working with Other Tools.

## Adding a New Task Step

To add a new Format as Flat File step to an existing task, do the following:

1. Open the relevant task (for creating new tasks, see Creating a New Task).
2. Either:

|  | Click and drag the Format as Flat File icon from the Task Browser to the task Design area.

|  | Click on the Environment tab in the Task Browser. Right-click on Steps and select New > Format > Format as Flat File.

|  | From the task's Design tab, right-click on empty space and select New > Format > Format as Flat File.

3. Continue to the General tab's help.

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