User manual

Importing and exporting data | 167
You also specify the fields you want to import. The contents of all fields you
select to import, in all matching records, will overwrite data in the target file,
even if the field in the source file is blank.
When the target file contains a found set, only the found records are updated.
(If the source file is another FileMaker Pro file, you can also import only from
a found set.)
The following example shows how a record in a target file appears before and
after being updated by a matching record in a source file.
About the importing process
The basic steps for importing records are:
1. Make a backup copy of the target file you’re importing into.
2. If the source file is a FileMaker Pro file, perform a find so that the found set
in the current window contains only the records you want to import.
3. Open the target file, and if it has multiple tables, select a layout that shows
records from the table you want to import data into.
4. If you’re updating existing or matching records, make sure the found set in
the target file contains only the records you want to change or update.
–>
=
–
–>
–>
–>
–
–>
–
= indicates a match field
–> indicates to import the field
– indicates to not import the field
123-456-7890
Source file
John
Q
Smith
456 New Rd.
Newtown
USA
123-456-7890
Target file
John
Smith
123 Main St.
Anytown
USA
3/3/1960
408-555-6789
123-456-7890
After updating
John
Q
Smith
456 New Rd.
Newtown
USA
3/3/1960
Before updating matching records
Target file
φμπ10_υσερσ_γυιδε.βοοκ Παγε 167 Μονδαψ, Αυγυστ 25, 2008 3:59 ΠΜ