User manual

Data on the left that is not aligned with a field on the right will not
import. If a field name on the right is dimmed, it’s a calculation,
summary, or global field that can’t accept imported data.
To Do this
Re-order all fields Choose an option from the View By list. To list the fields by:
in the Fields in list at
1 names that match, choose matching names. (If
once
importing from a file format that stores field names,
like Microsoft Excel, DIF, DBF, Merge, or
FileMaker Pro)
1 the order used the last time FileMaker Pro imported
data into this file, choose last order
1 the order the fields were created, choose creation order
1 name in alphabetical order, choose field names
1 the types of fields, choose field types
1 a custom order (created by dragging field names),
choose custom import order
Move one field up Move the pointer over a field name in the Fields in list.
or down in the When the pointer changes to a double arrow, drag the
Fields in list name to a new location.
13. In the Import Field Mapping dialog box, set each pair of fields
(from the previous step) to import, not import, or use as match fields
for import update.
If the symbol between the fields in each pair is not the one you want,
click it once or twice until it becomes the correct symbol.
To The symbol should be
Import data on the left into the field on the right An arrow
Prevent data on the left from being imported A null symbol (Ø)
Specify match fields for import update A double-headed arrow
14. Click Import.
15. If you see the Import Options dialog box, select options, then
click OK.
FileMaker Pro displays this dialog box if:
Importing and exporting data 12-5
• your file has fields that automatically enter data, or if
• you are adding records and you’re importing data from a
FileMaker Pro file with repeating fields. See “Defining automatic
data entry” on page 5-8 and “About repeating fields” on page 5-11.
To: Do this
Auto-enter new data Select Perform auto-enter options while importing.
in fields defined with
If you select this option and you import into fields set to
auto-enter options
auto enter modifier name, modification date or time, or
looked-up values, the auto entered data overwrites data
from the source file in these fields.
Specify how data is
1 Select Keeping them in the original record to maintain
imported from
the field(s) as repeating fields.
repeating fields
1 Select Splitting them into separate records to import
each repeating value into a separate record. For
example, if a record in the source file has values in
three repetitions, you import three records, each
identical except for the values in the repeating field.
Use this option to work with individual values in
repeating fields (for example, to sort or summarize
them).
To stop importing, press Esc (Windows) or 2+period (Mac OS.) To
delete the records already imported, choose Records menu > Delete
All Records.
Keep these points in mind:
• The records you import become the found set. After importing,
check the data in the found set.