"Export Field Contents" Stopped working after changing to External Storage.

[1FilemakerMan]

  Hello again everyone 🙂

   We have a big database that keeps track of several records that people scan and attach files to.  Example, a court case and people scan in a police report, or drug tests, etc......    That database is setup to simple click on a button and it will export that data by using the "Export Field Contents" command on a button.  It has been working fine for years..............   But the database file has gotten bigger, and BIGGER throughout the past 10 years!!!  So they asked me to find a way to export our data, pdf's, pictures, etc.. outside the database.    Which I did 🙂 .   

  But now when I click on the button to export the data, NOTHING happens 😞 .  I am not sure what has changed or is missing.   Our screen still shows that the data is there, but the export port buttin isn't working.  I have added new data to a field by importing a pdf, and it right away allows me to export it.   So only old data isn't exporting.  You guys/gals have any ideas?? I will attach some pics.

 

 

Below our pictures to help describe and show you what changes have been made.  I am clueless as to how the old attachments files aren't popping up to be exported when I click on the export file button.    THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Below is a picture of the simple "Export File" button.

It simply runs this script.

 

And if you click on CIE::Record_1 it simply shows what is below.

 

And below is what "Record_1" is now.  I changed it so that the data is storseparatelyaly from the actuall database, which is awesome and has shrunk it, but does no good if we can't retrieve the data.

 

[comment]

If I had to guess (and with the most important piece of the story missing, guessing is all I can do), I would say that nothing exports because nothing is there.

You say that the "screen still shows that the data is there". I am not sure what that means. What does:

GetContainerAttribute ( CIE::Record_1 ; "general" )

return?

 

28 minutes ago, 1FilemakerMan said:

So they asked me to find a way to export our data, pdf's, pictures, etc.. outside the database.    Which I did 🙂 .   

Well, are you sure you did this correctly?
https://fmhelp.filemaker.com/help/18/fmp/en/index.html#page/FMP_Help%2Ftransferring-container-data.html%23ww1065805

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P.S. Please update your profile to reflect your version and OS.

 

Edited August 22, 2019 by comment

[1FilemakerMan]

21 minutes ago, comment said:

If I had to guess (and with the most important piece of the story missing, guessing is all I can do), I would say that nothing exports because nothing is there.

You say that the "screen still shows that the data is there". I am not sure what that means. What does:

GetContainerAttribute ( CIE::Record_1 ; "general" )

return?

 

Well, are you sure you did this correctly?
https://fmhelp.filemaker.com/help/18/fmp/en/index.html#page/FMP_Help%2Ftransferring-container-data.html%23ww1065805

--
P.S. Please update your profile to reflect your version and OS.

 

Yes, I am sure that I did this correctly, as far as the data coming out of the database and being stored separately.   I am not sure what you are trying to get from the getconainerattribute command? I am still new to filemaker, so I looked that command up.  It looks like that is used to return text number, time date, etc....   I need to return actual files that have be put into these records, pdf's and stuff.

I am sure that the database can still see this files, because it also displays them in the media windows, which are in the first picture I put up there.  I am not sure why it sees the external data, but doesn't want to export them.

Thanks.

 

 

 

[comment]

1 minute ago, 1FilemakerMan said:

 I am not sure what you are trying to get from the getconainerattribute command?

I am trying to diagnose the problem before suggesting a solution. I know this is not very common practice in the Filemaker community, but that is how I prefer it.

[1FilemakerMan]

Ok well thanks.  I am still very new to FM, and I love it, it's just so frustrating cleaning up other peoples databases!! As I am sure you know.   THey should of set this database up to save the attached documents and pictures outside of it from the beginning.

 

[1FilemakerMan]

So get this,,,,,,,,   

 

I remote into the FileMaker server and through the Admin Console shutdown the databases.  I then start up FileMaker Pro from the server, load the program, and I can export the data without any problems!  This is driving me nuts!!!!!    Something happens when I connect to the database remotely that doesn't allow me to access those files.

[OlgerDiekstra]

It looks like you don't have access to the external location from the clients. I haven't worked much with external storage on FM, but assume the FileMaker client retrieves the external location where the files are stored and then tries to access it itself.