Abstract: An entirely automated system for the interpretation of the field layout for multi-field files uses a rich contextual framework constructed by the interaction of three subsystems to provide a holistic view of the contexts of a structured data file as defined by the location and data type of each field. The roles of each of the subsystems are (1) the determination of the file's metadata and positions of the different data fields; (2) the use of fallible oracles (i.e., no oracle must be capable of identifying the type for every record) to provide a set of interpretations of the fields at several levels; and (3) the accurate determination of the location and specific data type for each field without the necessity to interpret every record correctly, even in the presence of ambiguity of data. The system may operate on both delimited and fixed-width structure files.

Abstract: An entirely automated system for the interpretation of the field layout for multi-field files uses a rich contextual framework constructed by the interaction of three subsystems to provide a holistic view of the contexts of a structured data file as defined by the location and data type of each field. The roles of each of the subsystems are (1) the determination of the file's metadata and positions of the different data fields; (2) the use of fallible oracles (i.e., no oracle must be capable of identifying the type for every record) to provide a set of interpretations of the fields at several levels; and (3) the accurate determination of the location and specific data type for each field without the necessity to interpret every record correctly, even in the presence of ambiguity of data. The system may operate on both delimited and fixed—width structure files.