Working with partial data on a CD-rom

[Peter Bonte]

hello,

I distribute a database where the user installs the runtime database on the HD but leaves the large images-file on the CD-rom. At first run the user needs to locate the fmpro-fle on the CD to see the images, so far so good.

Some users loose the link with the file on the CD (how can this happen?) or pick the wrong file. The relationship is now gone.

How can I resolve this problem?

(mac/pc)

[Mike D.]

I'm guessing that it is primarily the PC users who lose the link. It is probably because on your computer the CD drive may be the D drive while on others it has a different letter assigned to it. When referencing an image, FileMaker remembers the path to the file. If the path is slightly different on another computer, FileMaker may not be able to find it.

HTH, Mike

[kenneth2k1]

Hi:

Why not put the images in the solution folder so that it is stored on the HDD and the reference will be the same for everyone?

[Peter Bonte]

Hi,

The file was 550 mb, is now 1,1 gig and 2 gig is on the near horizon. The next step will be 2 or more files to overcome the 2 gig limit. The ultimate size will be 4,5 gig in a few years. A lot of users will want to leave these files on the CD/DVD.

I understand that filemaker needs to link to the files on the CD, he asks the user to locate the files and all works well after that. But with some users the link disappears for 1 reason or the other.

How can the user relocate this link if its lost and FM doesn't asks for it. I want to force FM to re-link with the files on the CD. But how?

[kenneth2k1]

Don't know what to tell ya, dude.

All I can say is, if your system was in a controlled environment where you can control the directories, then the images stored on a cd/dvd drive is viable. I would guess that it might lose the path if the file is open and the cd is not mounted. I could be wrong. Besides, what happens when they open the file and the images are stored across several cds? When you scroll through the records, the unmounted images won't show.

I wonder if references to the files are actually being stored if the file will grow to over 2GB soon.

As far as re-linking, you might need to delete the record and re-create it. I would suggest looking at a plug-in like Troi File. www.troi.com

[Peter Bonte]

At this moment the only thing a user can do is to delete and reinstall the complete solution. I will look into the Troy file plug-in but its an expensive solution for a small developer like me.