Quotes on imported records

[Dave Sandburg]

This question has probably been answered before, but I recently imported records into FM and the data for each record was preceded and followed by quotation marks. I don't know why or the easiest way to get rid of the quotes. Apparently, the original DB required these quotes

[Lee Smith]

You can get rid of them by using one of the two following methods (you can also script this):

Use the New Find and Replace feature in version 6 (i.e. put your cursor in the offending field, go to the Menu - Edit - Find and Replace, put a " (quotient) in the Find box and nothing in the Replace, and then hit the Replace all).

Since earlier version did *not* have this function, the old fashion way is to use the Replace function (i.e. put your cursor in the offending field, go to the Menu - Records - Replace (Cmd = on a Mac). Select the option Replace by calculated result, in the calculation box, choose the Substitute Function, the calculation should look like this Substitute(yourfield, """, "")

Note One: (") are considered operators by FileMaker, so it takes more than two or three, so you may have to use four """" in the first set, the second set of just two is correct.

Note: replace yourfield with the field that is your offending field.

HTH

Lee

[CobaltSky]

Hello Dave,

Attached is a sample file that I happened to have created recently for a client. It shows an example of a procedure for applying a scripted application of the 'Replace( )' command to remove quotes from imported data.

Since it uses the Replace command rather than the 'Find and Replace' feature, it will work in versions of FileMaker from 5.0 and up (and could be replicated in .fp3 format if required).

RemovingQuotes.zip

[Dave Sandburg]

Thanks a lot guys for the response. Ray, it's nice to hear from you again.

dave