Field contents disappear during export

[jmiked]

I have a database that I routinely have to export to sync with another application on a handheld unit. I've found that one field will consistently not export it's contents (text) in DBF or Comma Separated formats. The field ends up empty (i.e., as ""), save the occasional "0" inside it.

The field exports correctly in Tab Separated and in MER formats.

I have a work-around, but I'd like to find out why this is happening. This is a text field of two to five characters, and the field has a name of "Category," with a label of the same name. It occurs with both FM Pro 4.1 and 5.5 on Mac and Windows.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Mike D.

[Vaughan]

Is it (accidentally) a number field?

[jmiked]

Huh. You're exactly right. Somehow, the text field got changed to a number field (there are never any numbers in this field). I verified that when the database was created, and up through a copy late last year, it in fact *was* a text field, then somehow it changed to a number field. I think that when I back-converted from FMP 5.5 on the Mac to FMP 4.1 on Windows by exporting and importing, that's when it probably came unglued. I'll remember to check that in the future.

Thanks.

Mike D.