Export templates in the Newton Connection Kit for Macintosh write data into ASCII text files. Fields are delimited by a TAB character and records are delimited by a Carriage Return (CR) character. This is customizable within the connection kit. The problem here is that the text being exported from the Newton, a to-do item, contains one of the delimiting characters, a carriage return. When another program reads the exported file, it will read the embedded carriage return in the text as a record separator. The following excerpt from the Newton Connection Kit 2.0 read me file details the problem:
"There are situations in which a file exported using a template and then reimported into a Newton Connection Kit file may lose information. The templates import and export files with text only. This means that any graphics in your Newton data will not be exported if you use a template. Furthermore, if your data contains tabs, returns or multiple paragraphs (**), some of it may be lost if you export with a template that uses Tab and Return as the field and record separators. To avoid this, click Options in the Template dialog and choose a character that does not appear in your data as the separator, or export in Newton Connection format. If you want to move all information from one Newton Connection Kit file to another, it is strongly recommended that you use the Newton Connection format to import and export the information.
(**) Multiple paragraphs are concatenated with Carriage Returns. "
This type of problem is common throughout the computer industry.
Workaround
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An option is configuring the Newton connection kit to have specific delimiters with the import and export programs.
With Newton Connection 2.0 for Macintosh, you can do the following:
1) Go to the File menu and choose "Create Template..." and pick an application you wish to create a template for. Use "Edit Template..." if you are modifying an existing template.
2) Click on the "Options" button
3) Configure the record and field separator characters in the spaces provided. It is helpful to choose "non" display characters that will not be embedded in the text. The "Key Caps" application available from the Apple Menu can provide some good choices.
Then, when you want to import the data in another application, configure the import option to use the same delimiters. You need to consult the documentation for your specific application if you need additional information on how to do this. However, there can be additional problems since not all applications can be configured. In those cases, the only solution is to change the text that contains one of the delimiters on the Newton.