We need a simple two-way utility (to be called the ADU) that will assemble and disassemble delimited text files that conform to our specification. There will be no user interface to ADU. It must run as an executable that can be run from a batch file with command-line arguments. The ADU will serve as a component of the import/export subsystem of our product-oriented content management system (CMS).
Background:
Some of our customers will be editing their data in a master spreadsheet, which may have hundreds of columns. Users will save their spreadsheet as a single master delimited text file, which they will upload to our ftp site. A separate process will then launch the ADU with the appropriate arguments. The ADU will divide the delimited file into a set of smaller delimited files, each with a separate subset of columns. The ADU will read parameters from a separate map file in order to know how to dissassemble the master file into the subfiles.
The ADU will also work in the opposite direction. CMS will export the separate subfiles. A separate process will launch the ADU which will assemble the master text file from the multiple subfiles. The ADU will use the same map file mentioned above in order to know how to assemble the master file from the subfiles. Our customers will then download the master text file onto their computers for editing.
We will expect this first version of the ADU to be sufficiently robust that it is crash-proof. It is possible, for example, that some or all of the rows of the source master text file will be missing columns. We are expecting at least minimal error reporting. The ADU will need to generate a report file indicating the success or failure of the assembly or disassembly, as well as any error conditions. It is outside the scope of this project, but eventually we will want the ADU to assemble and disassemble other structures as well, including XML. We have no strong preference as to the language that ADU is written in. However, VB seems like a good idea because it may then be more easily integrated with Access or Excel at some future date.
## Deliverables
1) Complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done.
2) Installation package that will install the software (in ready-to-run condition) on the platform(s) specified in this bid request.
3) Exclusive and complete copyrights to all work purchased. (No GPL, GNU, 3rd party components, etc. unless all copyright ramifications are explained AND AGREED TO by the buyer on the site per the coder's Seller Legal Agreement).
## Platform
Win 2K