Remote Container Fields

Hello, I am currently migrating my container fields that used references to their files to the new external container fields in FM12. When I import my data into the new file, the references in the containers did not migrate to the container that I set up. What am I missing? If I add new data to the containers, they do go to the remote container, but those that already had a reference are not. Thoughts? Thanks, Stephen

Hello, I am currently working on converting over to an external container secure storage for my solution. In my current solution the container's content are images. I have a script that opens the image in Preview for Mac when the user selects to do so. My question is how can I accomplish this same use case with the new secure storage? Ideally, I would like the user to click the button "View Image" and it would open up. I know I can export the contents, let's say to the desktop, but I would like to make this as straight forward for the user as possible. One thought I had was to export it to a temp location and then open it. Thoughts? Thanks, Stephen

Sorry if not the correct area for this, as it does not involve remote fields, but does involve container fields. I am converting an FMP11 solution to FMP12. I have a repeating field (container) that I scripted the ability to put up to 3 pictures, as defined by a lookup based on the id. The pictures reside in a separate file. Works fine in 11. Converted to 12, and sometimes the picture shows up, sometimes I get a 'counter-clockwise arrow' showing up. Pictures are all small (thumbnail) jpegs, nothing large. Any ideas on what is happening? Thanks for any assistance.

I am trying to find out if there is a way to rename a file stored in a container without performing an Export Field Contents ( $customFileName ) and Import File ( $customFileName ) script steps. I know it's possible using the above method but seems cumbersome to have to completely export a file, rename it and then re-upload it. If this is the only method then so be it, but I figure I would ask before going down that road.

I have a FM11 file converted to FM12 and I realized that, unlike FM11, double-clicking the container fields does not launch acrobat reader and open PDF attached in the container. Did I missing something?

I have a container field in which I am using the drag and drop feature to store files on the FM server. When I drag in PDFs and JPEGs however no file name or file icon appear. Is there a way to make it simply appear with the PDF icon and its file name? I have tried both formatting options for the field, however I don't see any difference between the two (Images and Interactive Content). Â Attached is reference. The blue box at the bottom is a PDF. I would like to appear as the first two lines do. Â Thanks David

I feel I've got a grip on setting up the new container fields with external storage okay, but I just realized I'm unclear on how I can allow a user to draw upon these images external to FMP -- in other words, if you want to copy a container field image file to the desktop, or to open the actual image file in another graphics program for manipulation. It seems as though it would be the most natural thing in the world to be able to drag-and-drop an image out of a container field onto the desktop -- just as you can drag one *in.* But this doesn't work, right? This really feels like a big disappointment, as I have a lot of solutions where the whole point of the database…

We are storing .mp4 files in records which have a container field optimized for video. The FM file is hosted on FM12 server. The files insert correctly and the field transforms into a player but clicking play does nothing. The files are 4-8 MB. Deleteing the file, re-inserting it as a file (as opposed to a video) and then exporting the file with the the additional instruction to oepn upon export will successfully export, open the Quicktime player and play the file when the play button is clicked on the QT player. The workstation is XP sp3, FM Pro 12.v2. Am I missing any settings or plug-ins that are required for playback on Windows? What video format …

This problem is absolutely driving us nuts, and has been for a week straight. Full disclosure, I just started this job and have never worked with FM before, so I have no doubt we're just missing something. Here's what's happening: We have an application that stores all of its images in an external container field set to [hosted location]/[database location]/Files/Container. The images were originally stored inside of SuperContainer, so we wrote a quick script to import them into the new version of our application. This worked fine. The issue we're now having is that we have a variety of servers as well as clients running our app on their own local servers,…

What is the best way to attach a file located in a container field from a current record when I use the send e-mail script? Does it matter if the file is hosted remotely and container data stored externally?

I seem to be getting into trouble with broken path directories to my remotely stored container files. For some records the container displays "<Missing:myfilename.JPG>. It seems that sometimes a new folder is created to remotely store the file even though it is the same field. Since the field cannot display images remotely stored in two different paths, some are shown as missing. In a simple test database, I was able to correct this by creating a third folder and recreating the base directory to point to that new folder, and then transfer the data. However when I did this for my main database, which had multiple subfolders in the base directory before getting t…

Hi everyone. I'm using the new Filemaker Pro 12 to build a product database off-line (in the office) and then exporting the date to a remote server for our on-line e-commerce system. In the office, without internet, we want to use the Container field to store and manage images and other file types with the External container feature. When syncing the filemaker database with our website host service, we'll just upload the images in the external folder onto the server (with FTP). However I want to try and generate a file name and path with a calculation in Filemaker which will then be used as a URL in the website server. My table would then have the following tw…

Hi, I converted my database from Filemaker pro 11advanced to 12 advanced. Now insert pdf option not exist. How to insert interactive pdf to my container. I used insert file option. while transfer content to memory it is showing error 1 gb space required. but my disk has 150 gb of free space. kindly help to resolve. Thanks in advance.

Is there a way to open a PDF from a container field other than to open url pointing to the path if the pdf is stored remotely and not encrypted?

Has anyone encountered a problem resizing a container with an image (jpg, png, etc.)? It works fine when the db is local, but when hosted on FM12 server, we get "Missing File" in the container rather than the scaled image. This is the case if we choose embedded or secure storage for the container. The store by reference option is the only one that continues to support scaling. The weird thing is that you can see the image if you make the container big enough (almost as big as the original image size), but it vanishes when you shrink the container. For the moment, we're working on converting our existing containers (created in FM11) from embedded storage to store-…

This message is from Wim Decorte and Steven H. Blackwell. We are continuing to hear reports of confusion and misunderstanding about the new Remote Container functionality, especially in conjunction with FileMaker® Server 12. Some of these reports are focused on efforts to manage the location of the containers containing the binary objects in relation to the FileMaker® Pro 12 files. When files with remote container data are hosted on FileMaker Server, the container data will always be in a subfolder of the FileMaker file's location. This is different than what you can do with non-hosted files, where you can choose where the container data will be saved, inc…

In this solution users capture a signature to print on a Bill of Lading. The signatures are captured using a plugin (eSign Signature Capture) and signature pad and all is working fine in FileMaker 11. I did a test conversion to FileMaker 12. Navigation and scripts all work fine. The client is happy with the conversion and the new features they will get. However, there seems to be a problem with the signatures that have been captured. After conversion, the image shows up as a generic file icon with a title untitled. In the 11 version of the file, I can right click on any signature and select 'export field contents...' on the 12 version of the file, this is…

Can anyone tell me whether a remote network drive needs to be mounted in order to drag (or import) a file into it via a container field? I would like to drag PDF's into a container field which is located on a networked attached drive. I am running a client copy of FM on my computer and remotely logged in to my database which is hosted on FMS. Joseph

Hello everyone, It's been a while since I last developed in FileMaker (back in version 7). I've recently taken on a new project and have been getting myself back up to speed and familiar with new features. I haven't spent any time at FMForums since that last project, but was very appreciative of the great advice I received back then. I'm hoping some of you gurus can answer a few questions for me about container fields and file storage changes in FM12. We're hoping to build some simple file management into our database using container fields and have FileMaker store the document externally on our file server. Once a document is final, it is added to the datab…

12 Days of FileMaker 12 Series April 26, 2012 Webinar 6: Container Field Enhancements About this Webinar: FileMaker Pro 12 brings a new storage method for container fields. This webinar will introduce both users and developers to the new storage method from a practical usage point of view as well as from a technical point of view. Topics Include: The new File-> Manage -> Container menu option Thumbnail generation Storage tab updates including secure storage Remote container data transfer Inspection options Insert file script step Converting older databases to use the new storage methods Title: Webinar 6: Container…

On a hosted FM12 database, it does not appear possible to have the storage location be on a connected hard disk, e.g., a FireWire volume. e.g., when the "Base Directories" in "Manage Containers" is set to "/Volumes/ExternalHD/FolderName/" on a local FM12 file, this works fine and the files are stored in the expected location. When the same file is uploaded to Server, however, the path appears to be treated as relative to the [hosted location] FileMaker documentation is (deliberately?) ambiguous - from Q&A at http://help.filemaker.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10244/kw/opening%20files%20in%20container%20fields "Can external storage be located on diffe…

When using FileMaker's new remote containers - and the databases is hosted here are a few caveats that you may wish to employ... Each container field in each table must be setup which should include the serial number of the record you are on (either a sequential or the UUID) This way EACH image you add to the table on the back end the server will create a directory for this file image. [hosted path]/TableName/ContainerField/1234/myfile.jpg [hosted path]/TableName/ContainerField/1235/myfile.jpg If you don't include this ID into the path and you add the SAME image or file to multiple records on the server you will only have ONE copy of this binary obje…

When checking for existing files on an external share, I use an "Insert File" Script step with two Paths and insert the file into a global field. Like this: Path 1: $Path Path 2: Get ( FileMakerPath ) & "XText.dll" Then I check to see what file is in the global field so I can see if there is an existing file or not. Obviously if there is the global fields content will have the same name as "$Path" else "XText.dll". Maybe this is a new definition or a bug? Does anybody have a differen method of accomplishing this? Thanks. Ron