Help

Saving, importing, and exporting data
F
ILEMAKER PRO HELP 515
closed, data on the recurring import layout will update the first time you view the layout
during your next FileMaker
Pro session.
• When data is imported for the first time, FileMaker Pro creates an Import log file in the folder
that contains the FileMaker
Pro file. This log file is updated each time data is imported into
any FileMaker
Pro file located in this folder.
• When you use the script button to update data, FileMaker Pro deletes all previously
imported records, reimports the data, and creates new records for any new data found in the
external file.
• As your needs grow, you might find that you want to modify the import script. For more
information about planning and creating scripts, see
Creating scripts to automate tasks.
• The automatically generated script FileMaker Pro creates for recurring import is not
supported in a FileMaker
Server scheduled script.
Related topics
Importing data into an existing file
Importing a folder of files all at once
FileMaker Pro can import a folder of files in a single operation. Instead of inserting several pictures
or
QuickTime files one by one, you can import them all at once. You can also import a folder of text
files, which is faster than copying and pasting the contents of each file.
FileMaker Pro can import any image file that you can insert with the Insert Picture and Insert
QuickTime commands, including GIF, JPEG, EPS, TIFF, QuickTime Movie, and many other formats.
Text files must be plain, text-only files with a .txt filename extension or a TEXT file type.
You can import a folder of image files into a container field, or import a folder of text files into a text,
number, date, time, timestamp, or container field. In addition to the file content, you can also import
information about each file: the filename, the
file path, and (for picture and movie files only) a
smaller thumbnail image.
To import a folder of files:
1. Open the FileMaker Pro file into which you want to import a folder of files.
You need an existing FileMaker Pro file into which to import a folder of files. FileMaker Pro won’t
convert the imported data into a new file.
2. If you’re updating existing or matching records, make a backup copy of the target file that
you’re importing into.
Important Updating existing or matching records overwrites data in the target file and
cannot be undone. Choose File menu
> Save a Copy As to make a backup copy of the
target file. Make sure you understand how updating records works. See
Methods of
importing data into an existing file.
3. If the target file contains multiple tables, use the Layout pop-up menu to display a layout that
shows records from the table you want to import data into.
4. If you’re updating existing or matching records, do the following before you import. (If you’re
adding new records, skip to the next step.)
• If you’re updating existing records in the file, make sure the found set contains only the
records you want to replace. Sort the records (for example, by the filename) to ensure
that data you’re importing replaces the correct records in the target file.