After realizing that it would be way too tedious to import using a tab-delimited file (too many fields), I tried exporting as a DIF file and using "Matching names" as an import option. My problem is, this only imports 265 records out of 6489... no error message, it simply stops importing as if the process was done. Any hints as to what might be wrong? Is there no simpler way of exporting/importing... In concept it's pretty simple... take the records out, put them back in... why is it so complicated in practice?!

Hi,

Here are a few things to check...

- do you have a 'found set' of 265 records

-- FMP will only 'found' records

- have you tried exporting with a different file type (DBF, SYLK, Comma)

-- some file types have 'unique' limitations

- have you replaced the DIF 'translator' file

-- some translators do get corrupted

- do you have any 'large' text fields (over 256 characters)

-- some file types have field length limitations

- do you have any fields with 'strange' characters (tabs, returns)

-- some file types have restriction on types of characters

As for the simplist way to export...

- TEST, TEST, TEST!!!

-- I create files with the number of records I believe a client may 'grow' to

-- I then export them in various file types to see whats smaller & faster

-- I then import them and check for data 'integrity'

-- I then import a second time to have double the records

Other things I do...

- export in FileMaker format or 'save as' to anaother file

-- this allows for scripts in both files to 'check' the progress

- create a 'exportmark' field in all files

-- after an export, scripts verify record counts in both files

-- once verified, another script 'sets' the 'exportmark' field to "1"

-- this is good for backups, archiving, moving data between systems, etc.

Hope these ideas help... Oh, while I was doing this reply... I ran a DIF export of over 45,000 records with 32 fields... they imported back in just fine. Using FMP 5.5. No 'large' text fields. No 'strange' characters.

Good Luck!

Bob Kundinger