Use job files for DataFinder and Data Preprocessor instances to process specific files and specific folders. You can use job files in a batch process while data indexing or during data preparation.

Job files for DataFinder and Data Preprocessor instances have an almost identical structure. With a DataFinder instance, you can automate systems to create job files. This creation occurs after generating a file batch and prompting the indexing process. For example, you can generate a job file in a specified location with the Create Index Job File VI in LabVIEW.

The following table displays the properties of job files.

Property Description
File type Text
File extensions
  • A DataFinder instance: .dfij
  • A Data Preprocessor instance: .dfpj
Maximum number of lines 100 lines
Maximum file size 100 KB
File encoding
  • UTF-16LE
  • UTF-8 with BOM
  • ANSI

The following table describes the structure of job files:

Row Syntax Description
1 DFSEBatchIndexer/PreProcessorJobFile This syntax identifies the file as a job file for DataFinder and Data Preprocessor instances.
2 Version 1.0 This syntax represents the version number. The version number must be 1.0.
3-n <Command>;"<Path>";<Parameter=Value> This syntax defines the files and folders to be indexed or processed.
Note You must verify that the files and folders you define exist in the raw data and the search areas. The files must exist for both processing and indexing in Data Preprocessor and DataFinder.
Command Description Parameter Parameter Values
IndexFile Indexes a file. Reindex
  • True (default) - DataFinder instances and DataPreprocessor instances always redo the indexing or processing of the file.
  • False - DataFinder instances and DataPreprocessor instances index or process the file only under the following circumstances:
    • If the file changes.
    • If the file has been added since the last indexing or processing.
IndexFolder Indexes a folder. Reindex
  • True - DataFinder instances and DataPreprocessor instances always redo the indexing or processing of the folder.
  • False (default) - DataFinder and DataPreprocessor instances index or process the folder only under the following circumstances:
    • If the files in the folder changed.
    • If the files in the folder were added since the last indexing or processing.
IndexFolder Indexes a folder. IncludeSubFolder
  • True (default) - DataFinder and DataPreprocessor instances also index or process subfolders.
  • False - DataFinder and DataPreprocessor instances do not index or process subfolders.

Separate several parameters with commas, for example, <param1>=<value1>,<param2>=<value2>. The order of the parameters is arbitrary. If you do not specify a parameter, the DataFinder and Data Preprocessor instances use the default value of this parameter.

The following is an example of a job file: 

DFSEBatchIndexer
Version 1.0
IndexFile;"\\Server\TestData1\MyFile1.tdm";
IndexFile;"\\Server\TestData1\MyFile2.tdm";Reindex=True
IndexFolder;"\\Server\TestData2";Reindex=False,IncludeSubfolder=True