Ultimately, they are sourced from an IBM Mainframe. Below is another example
(Notepad). Generally, the first byte of each record identifies that segment
(4 segments here). I'm looking for something that will allow me to plug in
the parameters (For example; 'Last Name' found in record 2, position 12-35,
'Filler' in record 2 36-37..etc) and easily see the data in columns. That's
easy enough when the records are strung out in one long string but not so
easy with mult-line records.

1010130QXY0000071
JNLXXXXXX05060705060720000000000000+00001602000+0DESCRIPTION LINE1
2DESCRIPTION LINE2 DESCRIPTION LINE3 DESCRIPTION LINE4 DESCRIPTION
LINE5 DESCRIPTION LINE6
3DESCRIPTION LINE7 DESCRIPTION LINE8 DESCRIPTION LINE9 000000
000000000+
40000000+ XXXXXROE AGENCY
9QXY00
"Doug Kanter" wrote:

> "danmcgov" <danmcgov@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:9034BD8E-7880-477F-8055-F2EA7E107B94@microsoft.com...
> > I'm looking for a way in Excel (even if I need to purchase an add-on) to
> > import .txt files that have fixed record lengths (generally 101 bytes) but
> > have multi-line records. The field lengths are variable and can sometimes
> > carry into the next record. Something like this:
>
> Because you said they "sometimes carry into the next record", I wonder why
> ALL of them don't. You didn't mention where the files originated (what
> software made them, in other words). Database report generators are pretty
> orderly things, and generally do what they're told to. If they're told to
> put each record on two lines, they'll do it all the time, not just some of
> the time. If told to put them on one line, then that's what they do, unless
> something fishy's going on.
>
> So.....some questions:
>
> 1) Have you opened one of these text files in a straight text editor, and
> checked to be absolutely sure that word wrap isn't turned on? By text
> editor, I mean Notepad, or if the file's too large for Notepad, then
> something like Wordpad or NoteTab (available for free at www.download.com)?
>
> 2) Do you have any control over how the original text files are created? If
> not, can you communicate with the person who's creating them and find out
> what software they originate with?
>
>
>