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Saving, importing, and exporting data
F
ILEMAKER PRO HELP 520
7. Save the layout.
Importing XML data
FileMaker Pro can import XML data into an existing FileMaker Pro file, or convert XML into a new
FileMaker Pro file.
The XML can be a physical file, or the result of an HTTP request sent to a web server. For example,
you could set up an Orders database to send tracking numbers to a package delivery company in
the form of an HTTP request, and their web server could return the latest package tracking
information in XML format, ready to be imported into the Orders database.
The XML that you import must conform to the FileMaker FMPXMLRESULT document type definition
(
DTD). If your XML is in a different format, you can apply an Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSLT)
style sheet during import to transform your XML into the FMPXMLRESULT grammar. See XML
FMPXMLRESULT grammar.
To import XML:
1. What you do first depends on whether you are importing XML into an existing FileMaker Pro
file, or converting XML into a new FileMaker
Pro file. Do one of the following:
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. Open the FileMaker Pro file that you want to import records into (the target file).
4. 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.
5. 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 field name) to ensure
that data you’re importing replaces the correct records in the target file.
• If you’re updating matching records, make sure the found set contains only the records
you want to update. Records outside the found set will not be updated, even if
match
field data matches.
6. Choose File menu > Import Records > XML Data Source.
The Specify XML and XSL Options dialog box appears.
7. Skip ahead to step 10.
You should only follow steps 8 and 9 if you are converting XML into a new FileMaker Pro file.
To import XML Do this
Into an existing FileMaker Pro file Continue with step 2.
By converting the XML into a new
FileMaker
Pro file
Skip ahead to step 8.