Relativity - Brief Notes On Working with Load Files

Here are just some brief notes on working with load files in Relativity. Load files use the .dat extension, and are imported with a separate application, the Relativity Desktop Client [RDC].

You begin by setting the column; quote; newline; multi-value; and nested value fields on the 'Load File' tab of the RDC, and then move on to the Field Map tab.

Before actually loading the file, if you must first create new fields in the web based version of Relativity. There doesn't appear to be a way to automatically create new fields - [one could use a 'field load file' in effect]. Relativity apparently considers it best practice to use a fixed length text field of 5 characters for file extension fields; fixed length text fields of 255 characters for the email subject and from fields; but long text fields for email to, CC, and BCC fields.

After adding the new fields in the regular web-based Relativity, you can press F5 in the RDC while on the Field Map tab to display these new fields. RDC includes the ability to overlay data into existing fields.

To ensure the load file brings in the extracted text instead of just the file path, be sure to select the 'Cell contains file location' check box, and set the Extracted Text encoding for undetectable files to Western European (Windows). Relativity apparently prefers load files in this format and Unicode (UTF-8).

As you can see, the RDC works with the standard side by side pick lists to match up the database fields with the fields in the delimited load file. Note that your folder path and file paths don't go in the main pick list - instead refer to the Folder Info and Native File drop down lists below.

You have the option in the import menu to preview the load file first. When you're sure you have things right, you can save import settings with the extension .kwe.

If there are errors in the import process for the load file, after the import finishes you will be prompted to save a separate error file. You can then edit this file and re-import the data that failed to import correctly. The error file will have a .dat extension as well.