Multifile Import in a script / workflow

[#1]

What is the best way to use Multi File Import in a script?

[I want to give the user the chance to edit the settings and then click on Import.]

My current approach:

1. Pause the script till the import is ready:
   - use a while loop
   - stop it via Set Import Callback
   

   finished= 0;
   mfi = Multiple File Import(
   	<<Set Import Callback( finished=1)
   );
   
   my win = mfi << createwindow;
   while(not(finished), wait(1));

2. get a list of the imported data tables:
   via _wfb_Listdiff() (from Workflow Builder):
   

   _wfb_ListDiff = Function( {tempOld, tempNew},
   	For( i = 1, i <= N Items( tempOld ), i++,
   		For( k = N Items( tempNew ), k >= 1, k--,
   			If( tempOld[i] == tempNew[k],
   				Remove From( tempNew, k, 1 )
   			)
   		)
   	);
   	tempNew;
   );
   Custom_step_tables_old = Get Data Table List();
   MFI();
   while(no(finished), wait());
   Custom_step_tables_new = Get Data Table List();
   dts = _wfb_ListDiff( Custom_step_tables_old, Custom_step_tables_new );

3. if there is no data ..
   

   To stop the execution of subsequent code, check 

   if (items(dts) ==0, Throw("no data"));

   did you know that stop() inside a Workflow step just stops the execution of the current step?
   so: Throw(). 
   
   
   

4. The user can close the MFI dialog via 

   
   then the while loop will run forever (or: till the user presses ESC)
   -> add an on close script:
   

   my win = mfi << createwindow;
   wait(0);
   current window() << on close(finished=1)

[#2]

You should be able to get the list of imported tables from the callback function, look at the SetImportCallback example.

If JSL does the <<ImportData, that also returns a list of tables. But in your case, the user presses a button and the callback is the only way to report them.

[#3]

hi @Craige_Hales 

As an alternative, I changed the behavior of the Import button:

my win[ButtonBox(8)] << set function (dts = mfi << Import Data(); wait(0); finished=1);

But, unfortunately, the original import is triggered as well.

... so I replaced the import button with an alternative one:

my win = mfi << createwindow;
my win[ButtonBox(8)]  << sib append (Button Box ("Import +",dts = mfi << Import Data(); wait(0); my win << close window()));
my win[ButtonBox(8)] << delete

What example are you referring to, I couldn't find it.

[#4]

Make sure the category selector shows objects (or all.)

[#5]

: )