>>>I need to automate importing data that was exported from the mainframe in a fixed-width format. The import wizard does a fine job of doing this, but I want to do this without any user intervention.
>>>
>>>Any advice?
>>
>>APPEND FROM .... TYPE SDF
>
>Thanks for the reply Edward! I browsed through the help file for APPEND FROM but didn't notice the SDF type. I never heard of a System Data File before (I guess I was looking for a type PRN!)
>
>How does APPEND FROM...TYPE SDF know which column begins a new field?

Firstly, you
SELECT mytable
and then VFP will divide text file according to table (cursor) structure, therefore you should have:
1. Exact length corresponding between table and text file.
2. Each text line should be ended with CR and LF chr(13)+chr(10)