Printing to file or exporting field definitions

[red]

Hi,

I'm trying to either export or print to file the field definitions for my FM database. In Filemaker Developer 6, I've tried going to the Print menu and choosing the Print To File option, but after asking me to name the file, FM says that it has logged an error and is quitting.

Any ideas as to how I can accomplish this?

Thanks!

[-Queue-]

Can you print to PDF? You're not going to get much of anything useful (visually) if you print to file.

[red]

I'm not actually setup to do that -- I don't have Adobe on my machine.

I'm not looking for anything visual, I'm looking for something I can import into Excel or something of that nature.

What I'm really trying to do is put together a data dictionary for a big database and instead of typing out all of the info that is in the field definition, I was hoping to export it and import it so that there is limited info I need to add manually.

[Lee Smith]

What Platform and OS?

You can use the Merge export function and Excel will bring in the names of the fields. No field defination information is included though.

Lee

[red]

Windows 2000

[Lee Smith]

I was afraid of that. I'm a Mac guy and know zip about Windows Printing options, so others will need to assist with your printing problem.

On the Mac side, there is a utility called Print2Pict that will allow you to print to text file, and I positive that there is an equivalent for Windows.

If know one chips in, I see what I can find.

Lee

[kenneth2k1]

Well, since you have Developer, you could make a DDR of your files. Make them an XML sheet and you can view just about everything in your database through a web browser.

Ken

[red]

You know what -- I do have access to a Mac, though I'm not very familiar with them - is that Print2Pict thing fairly easy? Is it in the FM print menu or elsewhere?

Thanks for your help!

[kenneth2k1]

Trust me- a DDR will give you the results your looking for, and it would hardly take any time.

[red]

So, I would be able to pull it into another file where I coudl edit the info?

How do I do this DDR thing?

Thanks for your help!

[Lee Smith]

I don't have Developer, so if the DDR can do this, than I agree with Kenneth that it would be the simplest.

However, to answer your question about Print2Pict, is as easy as choosing a printer from the Chooser to use. Once chosen, there are several options to then select from including print to a text file. It is a very handy utility when it comes to developing and moving data.

Lee

[kenneth2k1]

You can also create a FileMaker File DDR.

A DDR is a Database Design Report. If you open you file and go File/Database Design Report, you can select the files you want to create a report for.

Be advised that either way, you will not be able to create fields automatically from other files.

ken

[kennedy]

kenneth2k1 said:

You can also create a FileMaker File DDR.

A DDR is a Database Design Report. If you open you file and go File/Database Design Report, you can select the files you want to create a report for.

Be advised that either way, you will not be able to create fields automatically from other files.

ken

I've never had the luxury of FMD, so I am not sure how well a DDR will work for you. So the following might be helpful...

For those without FMD, the following will definitely be helpful...

Bob Weaver's SoftDoc utility will create a FM database out of your databases, which you can use for all kinds of analyses (like "where used"). Check it out.

Brian

[Lee Smith]

Hi Kennedy,

[color:"blue"] > I've never had the luxury of FMD, so I am not sure how well a DDR will work for you. So the following might be helpful...

> For those without FMD, the following will definitely be helpful...

Neither have I, that's why I know of all of the Free Utilities to use as workarounds. However, the Developer edition is starting to sound more like a necessity than a luxury.

[kenneth2k1]

I checked out this SoftDoc.fp5. I am impressed. When viewed in Windows, some things are out of place, but on Mac it's fine.

It's actually pretty darn close to what a FM File DDR will give you. The XML DDR is different because it gives you the info on XML forms.

This SoftDoc gives you all references, calc syntax and more. An excellent alternative to the DDR of Developer.

But the guy said he was using Developer 6, so using the DDR was a quick solution.

There are some problems with the FM File DDR. So I wouldn't go out and buy Developer just for this feature. Just ask Steveinvegas.

Ken