User manual

12-6 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
1 If you replace or update records, be sure your records are correct
before discarding the backup copy of the file.
1 FileMaker Pro doesn’t validate imported data.
Converting a data file into a new FileMaker Pro file
You can convert data from another application into a new
FileMaker Pro file. The data must be in one of the importable file
types listed in “About file formats” on page 12-1.
The new file has all of the original data, one standard form layout,
and one columnar list layout. Except as noted in the table below,
field names in the new file are generic (f1, f2, f3, etc.) and fields are
of type Text.
1. In the other application, save the data you want to import in a file
type supported by FileMaker Pro.
2. In FileMaker Pro, choose File menu > Open.
3. In the Open File dialog box, select the type of file you want to
import, select the file, then click Open.
4. If you’re converting a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, select a
worksheet from the workbook file, then click OK.
5. If you see the First Row Option dialog box, choose an option.
6. In the next dialog box, type a name for the new file, select a
location, then click Save.
7. If you’re converting a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet,
FileMaker Pro scans the incoming data to assign an appropriate field
type to each column.
Mac OS: If the spreadsheet is large, you might see a progress dialog
box. To stop the scan, click Skip to assign field types based on the
records already processed. Number, Date, and Time fields can hold
only 255 characters, so long text in these fields might be truncated.
Exporting data from FileMaker Pro
You can export FileMaker Pro data to a new file, then open it in
another application.
You can exchange FileMaker Pro data with ODBC compliant
applications. For example, you can chart FileMaker Pro data in
Microsoft Excel. See chapter 15, “Using ODBC with FileMaker Pro.”
To export data:
1. Open the FileMaker Pro file and find the set of records you want
to export.
2. Sort the records in the order you want them exported (optional).
3. Choose File menu > Export Records.
4. In the dialog box, type a name, then select a location for the file.
Important If another file with the same name already exists in this
location, this new file replaces the existing file.
To obtain Use one of these file types
Field names Microsoft Excel, ClarisWorks, DIF, DBF,
Merge, FileMaker Pro
Number, Date, Time, and Text
field types where appropriate
Microsoft Excel, ClarisWorks, DBF,
FileMaker Pro