Parse data from text file into comma delimited values - sql

Question

I have thousands of records like below in a line spaced text file. I am trying to create a delineated file of some sort to import in SQL. Be it by script, function, even excel I just can't get it.
RECORD #: #####
NAME: Tim
DOB: 01/01/2012
SEX: male
DATE: 07/19/2012
NOTES IN PARAGRAPH FORM
END OF RECORD
RECORD #: #####
NAME: Tim
DOB: 01/01/2012
SEX: male
DATE: 07/19/2012
NOTES IN PARAGRAPH FORM
END OF RECORD
Desired output:
RECORD #: #####,NAME: Tim,DOB: 01/01/2012,SEX: male,DATE: 07/19/2012,NOTES IN PARAGRAPH FORM
RECORD #: #####,NAME: Tim,DOB: 01/01/2012,SEX: male,DATE: 07/19/2012,NOTES IN PARAGRAPH FORM

Answer 1

A plan:
Use .ReadAll() to load your input file into memory (fallback: line by line reading, "END OF RECORD" triggers processing of record)
Use Split(sAll, "END OF RECORD") to get an array of records (strings). For Each sRecord
Use Split(sRecord, EOL, 6) to get 5 'one line fields' and 1 text/notes/memo field that may contain EOLs or not
Use one RegExp ("\w+\s*#?:\s*(.+)") (fallback: specialized RegExps) to cut the data from the 'one line fields', trim leading/trailing whitespace from the 6th
Transform fields as needed: string data should be quoted, EOLs and quotes in the 6th should (probably) be excaped, using a standard date format (yyyy-mm-dd) may avoid problems later
.WriteLine *Join*(aFields, sSep) to output.csv
Describe the format of your output.csv in a schema.ini file (choose easy/save column names!)
Use the import facility of your DBMS or ADO to import the .csv into the database
Feel free to ask for details.