Skip to Content

"Simple" export and import format for addresses

1564  Addresses (BiblioMaker)

The predefined "Simple" import and export format is the one we recommend for exchanging address data either with another BiblioMaker database, or with other software (e.g. a school library could import students registered by the secretariat).

The import/export file is in text format, with a tab mark between fields and a line feed between records. The character table can be UTF-8, Windows or macOS.

To import addresses into the software, the most common method is to prepare the file to be imported with a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc, which make it easy to define the order of the fields by moving columns. To this end, the first column in the table below contains the letter of the column in which the field is to appear.

The order of the fields is pre-defined:

Column Field Remark Example
A Code max. 20 characters AB123
B Title   Mister
C First name   John
D Last name obligatory Smith
E Road 1 1st address line Bahnhofstrasse 34
F Road 2 2nd address line Post box
G Post code   8000
H Town   Zurich
I Region   Deutschschweiz
J Private phone   044 123 45 67
K Category   Young
L Status   AB
M Sex 1=male, 2=female 2
N Date of birth   27.12.2018
O Authorisation Max number of simultaneous loans 5
P Country   Switzerland
Q Custom 1 alphanumerical  
R Custom 2 alphanumerical  
S Custom 3 alphanumerical  
T Custom 4 alphanumerical  
U Language   German
V Telefax   044 123 45 67
W Canton   ZH
X E-mail   john.smith@bluewin.ch
Y Web page   www.facebook.com/john_smith.html
Z Remarks alphanumeric  
AA Notes    
AB Last loan   24.11.2023
AC Loans forbidden 0=no, 1=yes  
AD Client Nr   123ATS
AE Reference person   Mr. Doe
AF Currency   CHF
AG Outstanding   0
AH Revenue   0
AI Period/delivery in days 14
AJ Period/reminders in days 14
AK Type   Reader
AL Subscriber since date 22.11.2020
AM Subscription expired on date 20.20.2023
AN End date return of loans date 24.10.2024
AO Number of authorised reservations number 4
AP LDAP ID   ABC123
AQ Correspondence 0 = post, 1 = e-mail 1
AR Allow displaying of past loans 0 = no, 1= yes 1
AS Mobile phone   079 543 23 45
AT Professional phone   022 123 45 67

If the code is not imported and the Automatic Numbering box is checked in the Options of the Addresses file, a new record will be created for each imported record and the code will be generated by the program (if the Automatic Numbering box is not checked, the records will not be imported). If the code is imported, the program searches for the imported code in the data file : if a record with the same code is found, the corresponding record will be updated with the data of the imported record, otherwise a new record with the imported code will be created.

If the address type is imported and the type does not exist in the data file, the program will create this type in the Addresses Options. If the type is not imported (or if it is imported but an imported record does not contain any type), the program will give the imported record the type by default chosen in the options of the import format.

Some fields, if empty, automatically assume default values defined in the options. These fields are Sex, Authorisation, Language and Status.

If the field Road 2 contains the ASCII character 189 (Mac) or 166 (Windows), it is understood as and replaced by a carriage return. A post address on several lines can be imported with this line separator in the Road field.

Tip: to facilitate the preparation of an import file, you can export address files from BiblioMaker using the Simple export format and open this file in a spreadsheet program. You'll then have a template with the columns in the required order. All you need to do is prepare your import file based on the template.
"Simple" export and import format for addresses