Importing Mailing List from Microsoft Access

[David Turner]

I am new to Filemaker and am about to start work on preparing a mailing list (250 names approx.).

The mailing list is currently held by a colleague (on MIcrosoft Access).

Is there any way to import it into Filemaker Pro 3.0?

My OS is Mac 8.6

[Lee Smith]

Hi David and welcome to the list.

This topic comes up from time to time. A search for "Access" here in the Forum brought up this recent thread, which seems to answer your question.

Click Here to go to the Thread

HTH

Lee

[Steve T.]

Hi, David! Lee's link to Vaughan and Reed's answers is helpful, but my favorite data dump format is tab-separated raw text, especially for things like mailing lists which may contain commas in the addresses. If there's a lot of fields in the Access database, you may want to see if the field names can be exported with the data into text or excel format to make it easier for you to import into FileMaker. I usually just try to have the first record have the names of the fields stored in their corresponding fields so that when I import the data into FileMaker, I can easily match the FMP fields with the appropriate data.

If you have CREATION DATE, MODIFICATION DATE, AUTO-SERIAL, etc. functions, you'll have the option of having FMP perform those on import or just import the data as-is.

When you make your labels layout, you'll find a bunch of pre-designed Avery layouts available.. just have the product name/number handy or you can custom make your layout based on the label dimensions. If you need edge-to-edge label sheets like XEROX 33-UP, then set the layout page margins to zero with 3 columns and then just visually make sure you don't go tighter to the edge than your printer can do.

You'll find FileMaker an amazing product that's easy to use but with plenty of power and capability to grow into as you learn the application. You'll probably start making FileMaker db's for all sorts of things, and that's good... even on FileMaker Pro 3.0... just be advised that I think FMP3.0 has issues w/2-digit years now that we're passed 1999. I'd suggest using 4-digit years.

Have fun!

--ST

[David Turner]

Dear Lee,

Many thanks for reply.

As process seems a little complicated (and my colleague is ill at the moment). I think I'll just start from scratch.

One further question which I haven't found the answer to yet is how to run a postage report on the mailing list (which is for a quarterly magazine)

i.e I want to know how many 48c/60c/65c stamps I will need.

I'd be grateful again if you could point me in the right direction.

David

[David Turner]

Hello Steve,

Thanks for replying and also for your tip about year dates.

One further question which I haven't found the answer to yet is how to run a postage report on the mailing list (which is for a quarterly magazine)

i.e I want to know how many 48c/60c/65c stamps I will need.

I'd be grateful again if you could point me in the right direction.

David

[Steve T.]

Hi, David! I'm not sure I understand your stamps question but it probably depends on how the data is stored, e.g. do you have a 48c field, 60c field, and 65c field, or do you have 1 postage field? If the former, you can probably use summary fields to count them up. If the latter, I'd just do a simple FIND for each to get a quick count.

Hope this helps some!

--ST

[David Turner]

Hello Steve,

Thanks very much for your tip - it solved my problem.

Filemaker workerd fine for me as I compiled a 300 name mailing list - reports/ labels etc.

Thanks for taking the time to help a beginner.

David