Barrettb

Thanks for the reply - wasn't sure how active this forum was. Think I'll stick with export as excel with header row. Open in excel. Save as tab delimited to get what I want. Really makes me wonder what goes on in the developer arena at FM... to leave out something simple like that.

FM 9 and you still cannot Export as tab with header row ! I see the only solution is to export as excel with header row. Open in excel. Save as tab delimited to get what I want. Merge was close but had to be cleaned of quotes and commas while risking corruption in case the data had a comma. Is there a plugin or something to add that basic feature?

I went in circles with this a while back and pretty much gave up on it for now - other fires to put out. http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/190241/ If you are like me in your needs what you are asking for is not any more complicated than what we ask a basic html page to do in a browser - simply display the image found at the end of a "calculated" path with a preplanned name.jpg.....

FM 8.5 Should we be able to use ODBC JDBC to Connect a Mac to MSSQL on a PC ? We simply want to import all the data for ease of use in FM. If yes, is it via ODBC or JDBC ? Should the FM provided drivers work ?

I was just contemplating the same issues and about to post for FM9.... I'll have to add this to my list of reasons to It never ceases to amaze me how development managers not just at FM manage to leave out solid globally usable sensible functionality. Now to ice the cake they are usually such big operations you can't even get through all the layers past the script readers. In this case it is obvious that FM should have included a built in licensing/demo anti-piracy feature no more complicated than setting up and Adobe pdf. Common sense I say.

Will FM 9 allow me to connect from a Mac to a live MSSQL database running on a PC ? Simply want to read or import the data and leave the PC side untouched.

didn't work

Does anybody know how to purge a drive of the trialware spyware file from Filemaker so that the trial can be reinstalled and actually work : Why ? I downloaded the trial around a month or so ago to test for display of images via path or calculated field aka "web browser style" - it failed. I deleted the trial. Yesterday I discover FM 9 has some new slick MSSQL feature that may solve another problem for us and now the rep tells me I'll have to wipe my drive or go find another computer. Ok Ok I guess I do have two or three PC's within visual range or a Mac mini with only 256mb ram..... but darn it I want it on my dual screen workstation !

http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmp/sql.html Is anyone using this new feature already ? I'm curious if you connect to an MSSQL data base with unknown structure, tables, relationships etc if Filemaker magically figures all this out and will allow for simple import of the data... I'm especially interested in steps needed to do this from an OS X Mac over the local network. I drilled around at this for a few minutes while still at the office with no luck. We currently run an application that runs on top of MSSQL on a PC. That application uses xsl/xml templates for getting data and reporting that far exceeds my skill level and or attention span. I hope FM could take us away from all that.

Ok so a simple relative path like and html page in a folder ain't happening. So just for my entertainment now what would the syntax be for the "calculation" string to display an image in a calculated "container" results field ? file://MacintoshHD/Users/barrettb/Pictures/press.JPG (this BB keeps cutting ofF the .JPG) FM won't allow that for the calculation, but does allow the Field Name that holds the string. Result is display of the Finder based file icon instead of the image.

Ok maybe I'm getting lost in the forest...and think I see what you are getting at now. All the work I do has always been rooted in matching of a Product Code as golden. I have or can create a correct file with Product Codes and Image Names like: PRODUCT_CODE,Image_name_Old "26-00-01","batthamgf.jpg" "26-01-01","batexclv2.jpg" "26-01-02","batsphflp.jpg" "26-02-01","batexclv1.jpg" "26-02-02","batsphflpp.jpg" "26-03-01","batexclv5.jpg" "26-03-02","batsphflpy.jpg" On "Import Records|Folder..." I see I can match on the File Name given my source file is known correct. Ok all that is likely doable then. NOW let me turn up the heat. Many and in future most records with have an image on a path like these: Notice all the same except unique for the directory that is match for Product Code again. In this scenario if you have 10,000 records you have also 10,000 folders/directories Image URL Calc "/26-00-01/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-01-01/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-01-02/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-02-01/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-02-02/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-03-01/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-03-02/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-04-01/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-04-02/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" "/26-05-01/TileGroup0/4-5-5.jpg" This is where I get into what I perceive as a severe FM limitation. Will FM not allow for creation of a calculated field through string concatenation with the results as a Container to display the resultant image I would expect to be able to specify a relative path where the images folder resides in the same as the FM file and not have to worry about breaking the links when moving the project folder around. Very simple for an html project.

I contacted FM for presales tech info on FM9 today. This was the second time since I did not get an email back from the first guy I ran this by and stumped him. Today the next guy was way too cocked and locked to go into the spew about custom development bla bla bla I think I pretty much concluded FM 9 is NOT capable of doing what I need here. The import folder function is mighty close and imho some project leader needs to be hung by his or her tonails for not developing a simple path string import on a match field to easily associate a record with an image like in a product catalog project.

In a nutshell I need an efficient image display solution on a bulk import basis or calculated field with no manual record editing. Can FM 9 do this today ???

In FM9: I would like to provide FM a path to display an image during Browse and Preview on a layout for a record. This image is like a "product image" and part of the record NOT a decoration for the layout. The scenario would include about a million records and a preexisting local or web based folder of images. The path info string could either be preexisting in a field or calculated. file://localhost/Pictures/MadeOn_tang.gif OR maybe a url path http://domain/graphics/MadeOn_tang.gif

Hoping to save me some testing and time wasting. 2 possible goals here: With webviewer function be able to setup a dynamic or calculated string to cause the desired url to be called on a mass of records without going to each indvidual zillions of records to do it. example: http://domain.com/andpathalwaysthesame/image_fieldvalue example result: http://domain.com/andpathalwaysthesame/cats_and_dogs.jpg Another twist or solution desired would be to display in webviewere or container dynamically file://localhost/Users/G5user/Pictures/image_fieldvalue result: file://localhost/Users/G5user/Pictures/cats_and_dogs.jpg Basically I'm trying to get in concept typical token based templating. Thanks, Barrett

Yes the "Label Generator" file looks like it may be the viable solution. I may have tried to be too generic with may original post ref. address labels. Exactly what I'm doing is attempting a quick down and dirty barcode solution. I have a products database with unique product codes or part numbers. Using Code 39 font I intend to convert the product code into barcode and print on the Avery labels. These will be put on items that don't have barcodes at our massive glorified "garage sale" at our warehouse. The ladies did the first big sale all manually along with using browser based POS .... I built a quick and dirty POS solution in FM (since my search for one produced no fruit) that uses the product database, will allow scan of the barcode into the "product code" field in the "order items" portal, writes a TAB and jumps to next field..... It looks like I should be able to adapt the donated Label Generator file. I will get on it today. Our barcode scanner is coming along with a Linksys bridge to make all this stuff mobile....fun Another side twist to this is that if I find the sheet labels too expensive or problematic, I did get a vers. 8.5 upgrade last night that will let me run a copy on Windows. So who cares....well we do have the Zebra LP 2844 thermal printers and it turns out those yahoos only wrote the fricken drivers for windows ! PS the most extensive smilies I've seen LOL in case somebody is local here is google map for big sale sometime next month http://handmade-paper.us/contact.shtml Thanks, Barrett

Yes N-up is probably more like it laid out for specific "avery label" sizes. I have related thread that I think is getting more on target. http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/182547 I'll explain more there. thx

Can someone please update this to make sense for version 7.xx and up ? Their script steps and associated syntax do not match our version and even the article itself seems to contradict itself. http://tinyurl.com/w8qcq Answer ID 2654 APPLICABLE TO FileMaker Pro 4.x, FileMaker Pro 3.x This solution can be used to create return address labels, to duplicate a specific number of records, or to duplicate individual records a specified number of times. The solution assumes that you have already created the fields and records you wish to duplicate. Also, because this solution adds duplicate records to your database, you may want to apply the solution to a copy of your original database. Let's Begin: Step #1 - Create five new fields: - A number field called Amount of Duplicates The 'Amount of Duplicates' field is where you will enter the amount of duplicate records you wish to create for each record. - A number field called: Record Number The 'Record Number' field will be used to give each record a unique record ID. - A global field(number) called: Global Match For Duplicates The 'Global Match For Duplicates' field will be used in a comparison between it and the 'Amount of Duplicates' field. If they do not match, a duplicate will be created. If they do match, it will go to the next record to be duplicated. - A global field(number) called: Global Match For Records The 'Global Match For Records' field will hold the number of the next record to be duplicated. - A text field called: Original Marker The 'Original Marker' field is used to mark the original record before it is duplicated. Step#2- The Script The following script will use the fields we have made to create the duplicate records that we need. Between several of the script steps will be comments describing what the script is doing at that particular point: Set Error Capture [On] Find All Replace [No dialog,"Record ID", "Serial numbers"] Go to Record/Request/Page [First] Copy [select, "Record ID"] Enter Find Mode [ ] Paste [select,"Record ID"] Perform Find [ ] COMMENT: The script steps above prepare our database to create duplicates. So that the solution will run from beginning to end without interruption, we have Set Error Capture to On. This will prevent any error massaging from FileMaker Pro 3.0 or 4.0 to appear while the script is running. It will then find all of the records to be duplicated. Each record must have a unique ID. This is what our 'Replace' step is doing. Once each record has its unique ID, we will copy the number from our Record ID field and perform a find for the record which has that number. This will make it the first record the only record in our found set. Go to Record/Request/Page [First] Set Field ["Global Match For Records", "Record ID + 1"] Set Field ["Original","X"] Set Field ["Global Match For Duplicates", "1"] Loop If["Amount of Duplicates <> Global Match For Duplicates"] Duplicate Record/Request Comment: The script steps above will go to the first record in our found set. The found set should be only one record. We then will mark the record as our original with an 'X'. We will then set our field called 'Global Match For Records' to the 'Record ID' number plus 1. This number is the unique ID of the next record. Our Set Field script then sets our 'Global Match For Duplicates' field to the number 1 for the purpose of comparing this number to the number found in our 'Amount of Duplicates' field. If the numbers do not match, a duplicate record will be created. Clear [select, "Original Marker"] Set Field ["Global Match For Duplicates", "Global Match For Duplicates +1"] Comments: Once the duplicate is made, we will clear the 'X' out of the 'Original Marker' field in our duplicate and increase the number in our 'Global Match For Duplicates' field by 1. This number will increase until the number matches the number inside of our 'Amount of Duplicates' field. Else Set Field ["Global Match For Records", "1"] Copy [select,"Global Match For Records"] Enter Find Mode [ ] Paste [select, "Record ID"] Perform Find [ ] Go to Record/Request/Page [First] Set Field ["Original Marker","X"] Set Field ["Global Match For Records". "Record ID + 1"] If ["Status(CurrentFoundCount) = 0"] Find All Exit Script End If End If End Loop Comments: The Else script step, and the script steps below it, are the actions which will take place if the 'Amount of Duplicates' field matches the 'Global Match For Duplicates' Field. The steps will first set our 'Global Match For Records' field back to 1, so that it will be ready for the next batch of duplicates. We will then copy the number that is in the 'Global Match For Records'. Remember, this field will hold the next record ID. This number is pasted into the 'Record ID' field while in Find Mode and will find the one record with that ID. The found record will then be marked as the original and our 'Global Match For Records' field will be set for the next ID to search for in our database. After it goes through all of the records, our find should give us a result of zero records found. If this is the case, the script will find all of the records created and exit the script. How to delete the duplicates when you are done: After you are done using the script, perform a find for all of the records marked with an 'X' inside of the field called Orignal Marker and omit them. You should then have all of the duplicates created as your found set. Select Delete All from the Mode menu. This will leave you with all of your original records. Again, to avoid deleting all of your records by accident, it is recommended that you apply this solution to a copy of your original database.

Is the latest 8.5 version able to print duplicate labels such as return address labels without having to create duplicate records - a messy solution for a fundamental operation that should be built in for label printing imho.

I hope someone has a template file that would get me started with the POS basic structure needed to do simple invoices where orders/invoices are created by calling on a products db. Ultimately I'd like to use barcode scanner to quickly scan all of a customers items into a "field" (type of field I don't know), hit enter and have FM populate all the name and price fields and total it up just like any simple invoice. We have standalone card and check terminals and really only need to try and code up FM for a glorified garage sale at our warehouse. I really hope to avoid hours of wasted time figuring out reinventing the wheel. Heck I'd be open to paying a few bucks for a "shareware" type example file. Thanks, Barrett

Wow I see this post is an old one. Is this fundamental POS invoice foundation solution on here somewhere already ? I am searching....

Here is what one developer told me today that makes the most sense or confirms the maddness.... "The missing link is that Miva Merchant (and other) DBFs are not all created equally. Just as all MS Word files are not completely compatible, all DBF files are not compatible either. There are certain functions in some DBF editors that break Merchant DBF files...there is no rhyme or reason, they just do. For example, in older versions of DBF utils, packing a Merchant DBF file that had memo fields would corrupt the memo field file. (Don't know if that is still true--don't use the newer DBF version, just the old one and Access and I NEVER PACK OFFLINE)"

Generally I think FM is greatest thing since sliced bread......until... I have a file.dbf on a server used by server side appications. Needed to add some text to several records in one field. In this specific case; a "keyword" field for a search algo that uses the file. Downloaded the dbf file. No import function or open function. FM converts it to FM format; ok I'll go with that... I add my data to the desired field and records with Import|Match|update Made a tweak with the great built in Find/Replace function. Looked for Save As dbf NOT File Export as DBF Did this as unsorted and all fields in original table order. (can't remember if it was the Trial FM8 or my FM7) that at time would warn about truncated fields and records BAD BAD BAD) Pretty sure I started getting clean "exports" with FM7 for no apparent reason of change on my part. Tried to use the new dbf file at the server side with bad results. My developers response after looking at my work on the dbf was: ___________________________________________________ "Are you uploading this actual database? And what are you using to edit it? The Keywords field has been modified to be a character field, only to accept a maximum of 8 characters. Other fields have been modified as well. ou should be using an actual DBF tool. I use CDBF - which is a pretty solid tool. http://www.whitetown.com/cdbf/ _______________________________________________ I used the one free support call to FMinc....they better not call me up with a follow on survey...rather disappointing, but I expected as much; just hate that yucky feeling after being addressed like I only recently discoverd my computer mouse......with vauge answers.... Anyway so now that I want to try and do something "advanced", I use that term loosely, as this is pretty simple task I think...I'm advised to use a Windows based $35 app to do what my warm and friendly FM environment cannot ?? What good then is the DBF export functionality. What's it used for :? Good grief it sure seems like it ought to be a basic and simple task for FM and or the FM developers to provide for this. Maybe I should ask in a nutshell... Being that FM CANNOT edit .dbf's properly what the heck do you power users do when confronted with .dbf edits ? Thanks, Barrett