ODBC and JDBC Guide

Chapter 2 | Accessing external SQL data sources 10
6. Using the FileMaker Pro SQL Query builder dialog box, you can construct a query. Select the
table from which you want to import, and then select specific columns you want to use in your
SQL query. Use the WHERE tab to construct search criteria and the ORDER BY tab to specify
a sort order.
You can also type an SQL statement directly into the SQL Query builder dialog box.
You can execute the query immediately, or you can use the Import Records script step or the
Execute SQL script step to execute a query as part of a FileMaker script.
Note ODBC import, the Execute SQL script step, and external SQL data sources are not
supported in runtime solutions created with FileMaker Pro.
See FileMaker Pro Help for information on importing data, using the SQL Query builder dialog box,
and creating FileMaker scripts. See FileMaker SQL Reference for information on SQL statements
and syntax supported by the FileMaker Platform.
Executing SQL to interact with data sources via ODBC
In addition to importing data into a FileMaker Pro database file via ODBC, you can also interact
with data sources using SQL statements through the Execute SQL script step and the
ExecuteSQL function. The Execute SQL script step may use any SQL statement supported by the
data source, such as INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. The ExecuteSQL function supports only
the SELECT statement.
You can also use SQL statements that go beyond simply importing data into a FileMaker Pro
database file. For example, you could execute SQL statements that add records to a database
table in SQL Server, using information from a FileMaker Pro database file.
See FileMaker Pro Help for information on creating FileMaker scripts that use the Execute SQL
script step and the ExecuteSQL function. See FileMaker SQL Reference for information on SQL
statements and syntax supported by the FileMaker Platform.