.. _FileAlternatives:

Alternatives Data File
-----------------------

Alternatives data files contain data about alternatives,
which is exported and imported through :ref:`File Menu <XMenuFile>` commands:
``File/Export alternatives...`` and ``File/Import alternatives...``, respectively.
In DEXiWin, the contents and format of alternatives' files are controlled at the following points:

-  In 'Import alternatives' and 'Export alternatives' dialogues that are used to
   specify file names and basic file format, which is either
   'Tab-delimited' or 'Comma-separated (CSV)'.
-  In :ref:`Settings/Import-Export <XSettingsImportExport>`, where you can
   specify further details under "Alternatives data format".

Examples
~~~~~~~~

1. Tab-delimited alternatives data file containing both alternatives from the
`Car Evaluation <https://dex.ijs.si/documentation/DEX_Method/DEX_Car.html>`__ model,
exported using the default Import/Export settings: : using 'Base 1' values, displaying
all attributes using indentation, normal orientation, invariant (international) CSV format.
Here, the TAB character is denoted ``¬``.

| ``¬Car1¬Car2``
| ``CAR¬4¬3``
| ``. PRICE¬3¬2``
| ``. . BUY.PRICE¬2¬2``
| ``. . MAINT.PRICE¬3¬2``
| ``. TECH.CHAR.¬4¬3``
| ``. . COMFORT¬3¬3``
| ``. . . #PERS¬3¬3``
| ``. . . #DOORS¬3¬3``
| ``. . . LUGGAGE¬3¬3``
| ``. . SAFETY¬3¬2``

2. The same data as above but using the comma-separated format, 'Base 0'
values and including only non-indented basic attributes in normal
orientation.

| ``"","Car1","Car2"``
| ``"BUY.PRICE","1","1"``
| ``"MAINT.PRICE","2","1"``
| ``"#PERS","2","2"``
| ``"#DOORS","2","2"``
| ``"LUGGAGE","2","2"``
| ``"SAFETY","2","1"``

3. The same as above, but with text values and transposed orientation.

| ``"","BUY.PRICE","MAINT.PRICE","#PERS","#DOORS","LUGGAGE","SAFETY"``
| ``"Car1","medium","low","more","4","big","high"``
| ``"Car2","medium","medium","more","4","big","medium"``

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