---
title: "Import Fixed Position"
slug: "import-fixed-position"
updated: 2025-02-21T17:09:37Z
published: 2025-02-21T17:09:37Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/import-fixed-position"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Import Fixed Position

| ## Step Details |
| --- |
| **Introduced in Version** | 4.0.0 |
| **Last Modified in Version** | 7.12.0 |
| **Location** | Data > Excel and CSV |

The Import Fixed Position step is used to import rows from an excel file starting from a specific row and character position. Each row is treated as a single string.

---

## Properties

#### Error Handling

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extra Columns in Input | Will provide an error if extra columns are found in the input (Add Outcome: provides an outcome path, Throw Exception will throw an exception on reaching error, Ignore and Continue: will add an outcome path and ignore the error.) | --- |
| Less Columns in Input | Will provide an error if the columns found are less than expected (Add Outcome: provides an outcome path, Throw Exception will throw an exception on reaching error, Ignore and Continue: add an outcome path and ignore the error.) | --- |
| Value Conversion Error | Will send an error if a value can not be converted (Add Outcome: provides an outcome path, Throw Exception will throw an exception on reaching error, Ignore and Continue: add an outcome path and ignore the error.) | --- |

#### Import Raw Lines

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Import Raw Lines | Add data of row into the specified field | --- |
|  | Into Property | Specify the mapped data field | --- |

#### Input Data

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Input File Type | Defines what the data type of the input file is | --- |
| CSV Delimiter | Defines the delimiter specified in the CSV file | --- |
| Ignore Quotes (Do not treat as escaped) | Ignores column names that contain quotes | Boolean |
| Input File Encoding | Defines the encoding type | --- |
| Number of Columns | Specifies the number of columns that will be imported | Int32 |

#### Output Data

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Output Data Type | Defines the output data type | --- |

#### Inputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| File Data | The CSV or Excel file | FileData |
| Mapping | The defined settings used to map the row to the fields to the output data type | --- |

#### Outputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Done |
|  | Imported Data | Returns the data that was successfully imported | List of [Data Type] |
| Extra Columns Error |
|  | Actual Columns Number | Returns the number of columns | Int32 |
|  | Input Line | Returns the input line or error | Int32 |
|  | Line Number | Returns the line number of error | Int32 |
| Less Columns Error |
|  | Actual Columns Number | Returns the number of columns | Int32 |
|  | Input Line | Returns the input line or error | Int32 |
|  | Line Number | Returns the line number of error | Int32 |
| Value Conversion Error |
|  | Column Number | Returns the column number of error | Int32 |
|  | Error Message | Returns the error message | String |
|  | Input Line | Returns the input line or error | Int32 |
|  | Line Number | Returns the line number of error | Int32 |
|  | Source Value | Returns what the source value is | String |
|  | Target Type | Returns the expected data type | String |

---

## Example Inputs and Outputs

| Input | Output |
| --- | --- |
| CSV File | Mapped Data to a DataType |
| .txt File | EXCEPTION MESSAGE |

#### ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1673031998523.png)

---

## Common Errors

### Start position outside of the length of the string

If the start position for a mapped field is outside the specific length of the string, then the following error will be thrown. To ensure this does not occur, set the Start position to be a value that is available for all rows.

#### Exception Message:

```csharp
Exception Stack Trace: DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Import Fixed Position (Runtime Mappings) 1[ImportFixedDynamicStep] in flow [Testing Flow]: Index and length must refer to a location within the string. (Parameter 'length') ---> System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Index and length must refer to a location within the string. (Parameter 'length')
   at System.String.Substring(Int32 startIndex, Int32 length)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.CoreSteps.CSV.ImportFixedDynamicStep.Run(StepStartData data)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.RunStepInternal(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, KeyValuePairDataStructure[] stepRunDataValues, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData)
   at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.Start(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, FlowStateData data, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData, RunningStepData currentStepData) 
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
```

---

Related Information

Training Video: [Dynamic Excel Creation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcIiRwi_8wo)