# tFileInputARFF

Reads an ARFF file row by row to split them up into fields and then sends the fields as defined in the schema to the next component.

## tFileInputARFF Standard properties

These properties are used to configure tFileInputARFF running in the Standard Job framework.

The Standard tFileInputARFF component belongs to the File family.

The component in this framework is available in all Talend products.

## Basic settings

| Properties | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Property type | <ul> <li> <p>Either <span>Built-in</span> or <span>Repository</span>. </p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Built-in</span>: No property                     data stored centrally.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Repository</span>: Select the                     repository file where the properties are stored. The fields that follow are                     completed automatically using the data retrieved.</p> </li> </ul> |
| ![](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/Resources/images/Save_Icon.png) | Click this icon to open a connection wizard and store the Excel<br>file connection parameters you set in the component Basic settings view.<br><br>For more information about setting up and storing file<br>connection parameters, see [Setting connection parameters](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/setting-connection-parameters). |
| File Name | Name and path of the ARFF file and/or variable<br>to be processed.<br><br>For further information about how to define and<br>use a variable in a Job, see [Using contexts and variables](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/contexts-and-variables).<br><br>Information noteWarning: Use absolute path (instead of relative path) for<br>this field to avoid possible errors. |
| Schema and Edit Schema | <ul> <li> <p>A schema is a row description, it defines the                     number of fields to be processed and passed on to the next component. The                     schema is either <span>Built-in</span> or stored remotely in the <span>Repository</span>.</p> <p>Click <span>Edit        schema</span> to make changes to the schema. If the current schema is of the <span>Repository</span> type, three options are available:</p> <ul> <li> <p> <span>View schema</span>: choose this                option to view the schema only.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Change to built-in property</span>:                choose this option to change the schema to <span>Built-in</span> for local changes.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Update repository connection</span>:                choose this option to change the schema stored in the repository and decide whether                to propagate the changes to all the Jobs upon completion.</p> <p>If you just want to                propagate the changes to the current Job, you can select <span>No</span> upon completion and choose this schema metadata                again in the <span>Repository Content</span>                window.</p> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <p> <span>Built-in</span>: The schema                     will be created and stored locally for this component only. For more information about a component schema in its <span>Basic settings</span> tab, see <a href="https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/basic-settings-tab" target="_blank">Basic settings tab</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p> <span>Repository</span>: The schema                     already exists and is stored in the Repository, hence can be reused in various                     projects and Job flowcharts. For more information about a component schema in its <span>Basic settings</span> tab, see <a href="https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/basic-settings-tab" target="_blank">Basic settings tab</a>.</p> </li> </ul> |

## Advanced settings

| Properties | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Encoding | Select the encoding type from the list or<br>select Custom and define<br>it manually. This field is compulsory for DB data handling. |
| tStatCatcher Statistics | Select this check box to gather the processing<br>metadata at the Job level as well as at each component level. |

## Global Variables

| Variables | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Global Variables | NB\_LINE:<br>the number of rows processed. This is an After variable and it returns an integer.<br><br><br>ERROR\_MESSAGE: the error message generated by the<br>component when an error occurs. This is an After variable and it returns a string. This<br>variable functions only if the Die on error checkbox is<br>cleared, if the component has this checkbox.<br><br>A Flow variable functions during the execution of a component<br>while an After variable functions after the execution of the component.<br><br>To fill up a field or expression with a variable, press Ctrl+Space to access the variable list and choose the variable to use from<br>it.<br><br>For more information about variables, see [Using contexts and variables](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/contexts-and-variables). |

## Usage

| Usage guidance | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Usage rule** | Use this component to read a file and separate<br>the fields with the specified separator. |
| Limitation | Due to license incompatibility, one or more JARs required to use this component<br>are not provided. You can install the missing JARs for this particular component by<br>clicking the Install button on the Component tab view. You can also find out and add all missing<br>JARs easily on the Modules tab in the Integration perspective of Talend Studio. For<br>details, see [Installing external modules](https://help.qlik.com/talend/r/en-US/8.0/studio-user-guide/installing-external-modules). |

**Related concepts**

* [Displaying the content of a ARFF file](https://help.qlik.com/talend/en-US/components/8.0/arff/tfileinputarff-tlogrow-displaying-content-of-arff-file-standard-component-this)