The only method I have found is as you suggest
- export data from file1
- run a script in file2 that imports the data
It's the easiest method and doesn't involve to much processing.
I have been using ABS(field) to test if field is numeric or text. This works for all text except words that start with the letter T. The abs() of "T" returns a value of 1. For any other letter it is blank. Why is this so??? Is it a special feature in Filemaker 4.1?