Multi-File-Import: restrict number of lines to read

[hogi]

What inspired this wish list request?

MFI is a versatile tool to load multiple files at once. 

There are many settings to adjust the behavior like:  import as table/rows, adjust separators ...

For the header, there are options to specify the first header line and the number of header lines.
For the data, unfortunately, there is just an option to specify the first line with data - but no option to restrict the number of lines to read
MFI: load some rows 

What is the improvement you would like to see? 

Please add an option to specify the number of lines to read.

Why is this idea important? 

If a restricted number of rows has to be read [e.g. if the user wants to read (part of) a complicated header], the only way at the moment is to read the whole file and then delete the unwanted part.

The new option to restrict the number of lines to read will make MFI more versatile - and faster for cases where just a part of the file has to be read.
It can be extremely useful in combination with the option

<<Set Import Mode( "Row Per Line" ) 

[Craige_Hales]

Take a look at the random sample options from the other csv import so this can look similar.

I think there is a request to ignore comment lines identified by a prefix, as long as you are in that code.

[hogi]

ah, thanks, even more options that make sense.

a pity that the options are just available in the open csv dialog:

[hogi]

Another thing:
There are files with "header" lines below the data block (some infos about the measurement system). So, somehow a "footer".
At the moment, without the possibility to restrict the length of the read-in data block, such lines can ruin the data import.

With the new option to specify the number of lines to read , the issue can be solved.

but most likely, the data block doen't have a specific length.

So perhaps, in addition to
- End of Field characters

- End of Line characters

Jmp could ask for a  

- end of DATA block character sequence 

e.g.: data block ends if there are 2 consecutive newLines:
MFI (<< end of DATA block("\!n\!n"))

[hogi]

@Sarah-Sylvestre .
-> wish can be marked as Duplicate.

There is already a wish form 2019 - with status Acknowledged:
a way to specify when the data ends or the number of data rows to import when using multiple files i... 

let's hope that it will get accepted soon ...