What is Complex Data
This article provides examples of both simple and complex data structures. For handling complex data, we recommend using Advanced ETL Processor . If your data is simpler, Visual Importer ETL may be a better fit. If you’re unsure which tool to choose, please contact us , and we will be happy to assist you .
Simple Data Examples
Delimited File
Simple data has a consistent structure, with each cell containing a single value. Most database tables and delimited files fall into this category, except when a field contains multiple values or XML data.
Simple XML File
A simple XML file has tags in a fixed order, a consistent number of elements, and no attributes. This type of XML can be loaded directly into a database without requiring additional transformations.
Complex Data Examples
Complex XML Message
A complex XML message has an inconsistent structure, varying numbers of elements per record, and may include attributes. Such data often requires transformation before processing.
Complex Text File
Some text files have irregular structures, where data is spread across multiple rows. Certain rows may need to be ignored, while others must extract information from headers.
SQL Insert Script
SQL insert scripts contain structured commands that must be parsed and processed before the data can be extracted. These scripts often require additional transformations to be used effectively.
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